LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Damian Salas of Bueno Aires, Argentina, took down the World Series of Poker $10,000 No-Limit Hold-Em World Championship at the Rio hotel-casino on Sunday.
Salas was crowned international champion after defeating U.S. champion Joseph Hebert head-to-head at the final table.
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The 45-year-old gained his first WSOP trophy bracelet and a $1 million bonus on top of the $1.5 million in earnings for winning the international portion of the event.
After 173 hands and nearly six hours of play, the final hand saw Salas call Hebert's all-in before the flop with king-jack against ace-queen. Salas flopped a pair of kings to give him the lead, the turn card was no help to Hebert, and the river card sealed the deal with another king to solidify Salas' victory.
"Joseph was a very hard opponent, and he played really well. In a few instances, he was about to win, it was a real fight and he never slowed down," said Damian Salas. "Going into the championship, I felt all the energy and support from my family and friends in Argentina tonight, and that helped me."
While Salas is a poker champion, he says he is still passionate about his day job and will continue to be a practicing lawyer.
The event made millionaires of both first and second-place finishers.
