Anthony Zinno Wins 2015 World Series of Poker $25,000 Pot-Limit Omaha High Roller

The type of run Anthony Zinno is on in 2015 is the stuff of legends. He already had won three major titles (including two World Poker Tour main events) and made nine final tables so far this year, but that just wasn’t enough for the 33-year-old poker pro from Boston, Massachusetts. So he went out and won one of the most prestigious and exciting events of the year, the inaugural 2015 World Series of Poker $25,000 pot-limit Omaha high roller. Zinno topped a field of 175 players to capture his very first WSOP gold bracelet and the first place prize of $1,122,196.

“This is certainly my best day as a poker pro," said Zinno after the win. "And it was made even better by winning it in a game I love which is PLO and also against a very skilled final table, which is something where I can take extra pride in that.”

In addition to the title and the money Zinno was also awarded 1,092 Card Player Player of the Year points. Zinno was already the leader in the POY standings, but has now taken a stranglehold on the lead with $3,418,327 in year-to-date earnings and 6,488 total points. To put those numbers in perspective, the last three Player of the Year winners put together point totals of 5,498 (Dan Colman), 5,140 (Daniel Negreanu) and 5,100 (Greg Merson) over an entire year and Zinno has managed to outdo their point totals by the start of July.

He started his incredible year out by winning the WPT Fallsview Poker Classic main event for $252,420 and then went on the win his second title of the year only three weeks later at the WPT L.A. Poker Classic main event for another $1,015,860. As spring came so did more big scores for Zinno, with a win in a $25,000 high roller at the Bay 101 Shooting Star and two final tables in smaller events.

At the WSOP he has cashed a total of five times including this latest win, making it to the final table each and every time. That’s pretty impressive no matter which events you’re talking about, but made even more alarming when you factor in that all of those scores came in what are widely considered to be tough events. He started off with a sixth place finish in the $10,000 Omaha eight-or-better championship event, then placed seventh in the $5,000 six-max no-limit hold’em three days later. It wasn’t long before he was deep again, this time finishing fifth in the $10,000 limit hold’em championship event. Three days later he made the final table of the $111,111 One Drop high roller no-limit hold’em event, finishing seventh after his A-K lost to A-Q all-in preflop.

In the $25,000 pot-limit Omaha high roller Zinno navigated his way through the tough field to make the final table as the chip leader. Although he had the momentum and the chips, it was far from a given that he would come out the winner as he had a number of top opponents to deal with including 2015 WSOP $10,000 pot-limit hold’em championship event winner Shaun Deeb, Ismael Bojang, Christian Harder and Finish poker legend Juha Helppi.

In the end it came down to a heads-up showdown between Zinno and Pakinai Lisawad. Zinno took just over a 2-to-1 chip lead into the final battle, but was able to quickly extend the lead.

By the time the final hand arose Zinno held a massive 12-to-1 advantage. Lisawad raised to 300,000 from the button and Zinno moved all in. Lisawad called for around 800,000 total and tabled the KJ73. Zinno was ahead with the AAQ10.

The board ran out 5437A, giving Lisawad two pair on theturn for the lead but Zinno a rivered set to secure the pot and the title. Lisawad earned $693,553 as the runner up.

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.

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