720 players started this $1,500 Pot Limit Omaha 8 or Better Championship, but it was Martin Klaser that shined above the rest. His aggressive style, coupled with catching the right cards at the right moments allowed him to rise above the rest and take home the bracelet in this event. Congratulations to Martin Klaser, Champion of the $1,500 Pot Limit Omaha 8 or Better event.
Martin Klaser dominated his first heads up appearance here at the ESPN final table. Out of nineteen hands dealt, Martin won all but three of them, two of which were walks for his opponent Casey Kastle.
Klaser played ultra-aggressive once going heads up, leading into every pot and apparently hitting every flop perfectly. Klaser had a group of friends supporting him on the rail and he was visibly excited after the queen hit on the turn to seal his fate in WSOP history.
For his work over the last three days, Klaser is taking home a very nice prize of $216,249. Not too shabby for his first appearance at the World Series of Poker.
Preflop, Martin Klaser bet the pot and Casey Kastle called. The flop came and Kastle moved all in for his remaining 120,000. Martin called and showed for an over pair while Kastle showed for top pair and a straight draw.
"Gimme a queen!" Martin yelled, wanting to make a full house to take the hand down. Martin got his wish as the fell on the turn and Kastle was drawing dead.
"YES!" Martin yelled for several seconds. This is Martin's first World Series of Poker appearance and he was clearly very excited to be taking home a bracelet his first time out.
Martin Klaser has been joking all day that he had x-ray glasses. After a recent fold where his opponent showed and a couple high cards, the tournament director got on the mic and said that "maybe those are x-ray glasses. Can I try them?" Klaser gave the glasses to the tournament director who put them on and proceeded to head over to a rather attractive lady over at the media desk. He then looked at the crowd and said, "they don't work."
Out of the last fifteen hands, Casey Kastle has won only two of them, both of them being after Martin Klaser gave him a walk. On the second one, Martin folded and Casey turned over A-3-4-6 and Martin joked, "I've got on my x-ray goggles!"
That could explain Martin's domination since going heads up.
Preflop, Casey Kastle called from the small blind while Martin Klaser checked his option. The flop ran and Klaser led out for 40,000. Casey called and the turn brought the . Both players checked the turn and the fell on the river. Klaser led out for 100,000 and Kastle laid it down.