Retired dentist wins $294k on 2019 WSOP Circuit

We love a feel-good story here at LateReg and another has come along recently to make us smile.

Despite the average age of the field being a lot younger, the final 2019 WSOP Circuit Horseshoe Hammond event –  the $1,700 NL Hold’eM Main Event – was taken down by 72-year-old retired dentist Elik Vodovoz, originally from Ukraine but currently living in the US.

He entered a $220 to qualify and ended up walking away with a very tasty $294,290, not to mention his first WSOPC gold ring and a seat at the 2019 Global Casino Championship.

“Frankly, I really like playing poker,” he told reporters. “I just have fun playing. My son is also playing and he told me ‘You’re playing well. Take your time and in the future, you will win something.’ Well, the future came early.”

He beat 1,049 other entrants to take the biggest share of the $1,590,750 prize pool.

He certainly got a bit lucky on the final table, the final hand of the tournament being a prime example when his pocket 9’s hit a set on the river against the pocket 10’s of runner-up Derek Hanauer.

It just goes to show that it is never too late to change your life on the poker table.

The other players who reached the final table and respective payouts were:

Position Player Hometown Prize
1 Elik Vodovoz Skokie, Illinois $294,290
2 Derek Hanauer Chicago, Illinois $181,950
3 Brekstyn Schutten Grand Rapids, Michigan $135,214
4 Peter Kelly South Bend, Indiana $101,649
5 Amelito Umbao West Chicago, Illinois $77,295
6 Adam Greenberg Long Grove, Illinois $59,462
7 John Lizzio Chicago, Illinois $46,275
8 Soctty Mio Farmington Hills, Michigan $36,428
9 Even Scherer Deerfield, Illinois $29,015

Many congratulations to Vodovoz and all other winners from everyone at LateReg!