Perry Shiao Wins 2015 WSOP $1,500 'Monster Stack' Event

26-year-old Perry Shiao is a poker dealer by trade, but in the 2015 World Series of Poker $1,500 buy-in ‘Monster Stack’ no-limit hold’em event he earned an incredible payday on the other side of the felt. Shiao topped a field of 7,192 players to win his first WSOP gold bracelet and the $1,286,942 first-place prize.

Shiao has been dealing cards for seven years, currently working at the Seminole Hard
Rock Casino in Hollywood, Florida. He also plays poker in his spare time, and a recent $7,535 cash in a Florida State Poker Championship event at the Isle Casino in Pompano Beach was the sign he needed to take his first ever shot at a WSOP event. His first attempt at making his dream come true in the ‘Millionaire Maker’ event didn’t pan out, but he decided to give this deep-stacked tournament a shot and the rest is history.

“I came out here to chase the dream,” Shiao said afterward. “My birthday was the first
day this tournament started. I couldn’t have given myself a better birthday gift.”

Shiao came into the final table in seventh chip position, but was able to bide his time and survive to heads up play, which began with him at roughly a 2.5-to-1 chip disadvantage to Canadian investor Eric Place. Over the course of the next 40 hands though he was able to battle back, however, overtaking the lead and then extending it to a more than 4-to-1 advantage by the time the final hand arose.

With blinds at 1 million – 2 million with a 300,000 ante Place raised to 4 million from the button and Shiao called. The flop brought the K85 and Shiao bet out 4.5 million from out of position. Place moved all in with the KQ for top pair and
Shiao made the call with the 62 for a flush draw.

Place had the best hand at the moment and would be right back in it if his hand held up. But the 3 on the turn gave Shiao his flush, leaving Place drawing dead. The 10 on the river was a mere formality to make Shiao’s victory official and send Place to the rail as the runner up with $796,834 for his deep run.

In addition to the money and the bracelet Shiao also earned 1,320 Card Player Player of the Year points, enough to move him into 66th place in the overall standings.

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

For more coverage from the summer series, visit the 2015 WSOP landing page complete with a full schedule, news, player interviews and event recaps.

Winner’s photo and quotes provided by WSOP.

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