Event #14: $1,500 6-Handed No-Limit Hold’em

It was a long steady climb for Leo Soma to take home his first WSOP bracelet in Event #14: $1,500 6-Handed No-Limit Hold'em.

The event started with 2,393 entrants, but by the end of Day 3, Soma was the only one left standing taking home $456,889 for his efforts and of course a WSOP gold bracelet.

Just 16 players remained at the start of Day 3, with Soma starting in the middle of the pack. However, he quickly soared to the chip lead before the first break and never relinquished it. Throughout the day he was able to enjoy the unwavering support of a few fans, dressed in matching shirts with Soma's face printed on them.

Any time Soma scooped a pot, they made themselves heard, with chants, singing, and banging. Thomas Schultz finished in second place, taking home $282,358 for his efforts — a new career best cash for him.

Event #14: $1,500 6-Handed No-Limit Hold'em Final Table Results

Final Day Recap

Sixteen players started the final day, with five eliminated before the first break in an action-packed start. Maximiliano Gallardo flopped a straight flush while former bracelet winner Anson Tsang and Mustapha Kanit were sent to the rail.

A double elimination where both Ronit Chamani and Javier Garcirreynaldos hit the rail saw Soma's chip count continue to climb, overtaking start-of-day chip leader Daniel Wellborn.

The 2009 Main Event winner and four-time bracelet holder Joe Cada made it to the unofficial final table before he was knocked out in seventh place by Soma for $61,098.

Soma was in control, also sending Ivan Zhechev to the rail, before Gallardo attempted to close the gap with the elimination of Derek Sudell in fifth place.

Wellborn had held on to an above-average stack for most of the tournament and managed to make a deep run, but Soma was unrelenting and sent him to the rail as well. He took home $148,171 for his fourth-place finish.

In total, Soma was responsible for all but one of the eliminations at the final table, and although Schultz would double three-handed, Soma sent both him and Gallardo to the rail in quick succession to secure victory in front of a raucous partisan crowd.

With action on Leo Soma in the small blind, he raised to 1,500,000 and got called by Maximiliano in the big blind. The flop came down     and both players checked.

On the turn there was an  , Soma bet 2,000,000 and Gallardo called.

A   came down on the river and Soma moved all in. Maximiliano went into the tank for about five minutes before finally deciding to call. Cards went up and Soma showed    for a straight to the ten and Maximiliano had    , for a pair of sixes which sent him to the rails.

Leo Soma	54,500,000	13,500,000
Maximiliano Gallardo	0	-12,200,000

Leo Soma was the first to act. He moved all in. He received a call from Thomas Schultz, who had 4,250,000 behind.

"You're gonna win," Schultz told Soma matter of factly. The two fist bumped as they had previously when Schultz had gone all in against Soma.

Thomas Schultz:   
Leo Soma:   

A familiar chant of "King! King! King!" came from the rail as Soma's supports continued to make themselves heard. This time, their request was fulfilled, on the     flop, giving Soma a pair and putting him out in front. The   turn left Schultz one card away from elimination.

The   arrived on the river, giving Schultz a pair of aces, and saving his tournament life, doubling up in the process.

"Told you this was fun" Schultz quipped after a moment, once the excitement and noise from the rail had quieted.

Leo Soma	41,250,000	0
Thomas Schultz	9,000,000	2,800,000

Maximiliano Gallardo went all in on the button for slightly under 3,000,000 against Thomas Schultz. Schultz moved all in and the rest of the players folded.

Thomas Schultz:   
Maximiliano Gallardo:   

The board ran out       to give Gallardo a pair of tens to Schultz's ace-high, winning the hand and doubling up his stack.

Maximiliano Gallardo	7,500,000	3,450,000
Thomas Schultz	6,200,000	-6,050,000

Leo Soma opened from under the gun for 800,000. Action folded around to Thomas Schultz in the big blind. Schultz wasted little time before moving all in with 4,700,000 behind. Soma made the snap call.

Thomas Schultz:   
Leo Soma:   

"Good luck," Schultz remarked to Soma. As the dealer prepared to deal the flop, the two bumped fists, showing their respect for the other as players.

Schultz was going to need some help to stay alive in the tournament, and he got it in droves on the     flop, which gave him two pair, and making Soma's kings no good, for now.

"King! King! King!" could be heard from the rail, as Soma's vocal fanbase continued their unwavering support.

Their chants would go unfulfilled, however. The board finished out   , leaving Schultz with the best hand, and the double up.

Leo Soma	29,500,000	-4,100,000
Thomas Schultz	9,750,000	3,250,000

With 5 players remaining in the tournament, they have just been sent on their 60 minute dinner break.

Leo Soma opened to 600,000 from the cutoff. He received a single caller, Ivan Zhechev, in the big blind. The two went heads up to the flop.

On the     flop, Soma continued for 300,000. Zhechev called.

Soma fired again, now for 1,400,000 on the   turn. Zhechev again found the call.

On the   river, Soma fired his biggest barrel yet, to the tune of 4,000,000. Zhechev considered his decision a bit. A call here would be for all his chips. He eventually found the call, seemingly more out of frustration than an expectation to take the pot.

Ivan Zhechev:   
Leo Soma:   

While Zhechev had connected with the flop, he had not done so as well as Soma, whose flopped set was good enough to take down the big pot.

Zhechev was eliminated in sixth place and will take home a cash of $81,188.

Leo Soma	33,250,000	4,750,000
Ivan Zhechev	0	-5,575,000

On the button, Leo Soma raised to 1,700,000 and the small blind, Derek Sudell went all in for 2,725,000 which Soma called.

Leo Soma:   
Derek Sudell:   

The board ran out       and with Soma missing the five for the straight draw he flopped, Sudell's pocket aces held up to double him up.

Leo Soma	28,500,000	1,000,000
Derek Sudell	6,000,000	3,300,000