Max Steinberg Wins WSOP $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em Event No. 33

Max Steinberg has won the most recent 2012 World Series of Poker $1,000 no-limit hold’em event, topping a field of 2,795 to win his first gold bracelet, the $440,238 first-place prize and 1,200 Card Player Player of the Year points, moving him into 64th place in the overall POY rankings.

“It feels really, really good,” said Steinberg just after his win. “I got second two years ago, and I really wanted that bracelet. It just felt good to play really well at the final table, and get it in good and win, feeling like I was the best player there.”

The 23-year-old native of Fairfield, Iowa finished runner-up in a $1,500 no-limit hold’em event at the 2010 WSOP for $352,916, but was definitely ready to improve on his best finish this time around.

He had to deal with a number of tough players on the final day of play, including recent bracelet winner Vincent van der Fluit (11th – $25,331), Dylan Horton (4th – $139,258) and Matt Stout (3rd – $192,813). Eventually he got head’s up with Samuel Gerber for the title, and was able improve on his previous best finish, sending gerber to the rail in second place with $273,385.

“Once I got [to the final table], I felt really comfortable, even in the heads up. Someone asked me if I felt extra pressure because I had gotten second before, and it was actually the opposite, I felt no pressure at all.”

Steinberg’s comfort probably had a lot to do with his years of experience as a professional specializing in heads-up sit’n’gos online. But Max is not the only Steinberg to find success in poker world. His identical twin brother Danny Steinberg has also made a number of big live tournament scores, including a sixth-place finish in the 2010 World Series of Poker Europe main event for $247,615.

“We started playing poker when we were young, just playing in our friend’s basement,” said Steinberg. “We started really low, with like fifty dollars in a shared online account, and we just worked our way up and grinded our way up. We worked together to improve at poker, and eventually we both turned pro.”

In the wake of Black Friday, Max continues to play live poker event, while Danny has moved on to a new field.

“Now he works at a hedge fund sort of company, and I still play poker. But he still follows and cheers me on.”

Here is a look at the payouts and POY points awarded at this final table:

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