Kyle Julius Wins 2016 World Series of Poker $1,000 Top Up Turbo No-Limit Hold'em

The first open-event gold bracelet of the 2016 World Series of Poker goes to Kyle Julius. The 29-year-old poker pro from Naperville, IL topped a field of 667 entries in the WSOP $1,000 top up turbo no-limit hold’em event to win the first bracelet of his career and the $142,972 first-place prize.

“It feels great. This is actually my first ever live win and for it to be a bracelet win is pretty cool,” said Julius after the win. “To get started with a win in the second tournament of the summer, it feels pretty unbelievable.”

The event featured a unique format. In addition to having a turbo structure it also allowed players to double their starting stacks by winning sit-n-go’s that were available both at the Rio and online on WSOP.com. For those who didn’t win the additional chips the ‘top up’ was also available to purchase for $1,000. 415 of the 667 entrants started with the 10,000 starting stack, with 235 topping up online, 99 at the Rio and 81 by paying the additional $1,000. In the end a total prize pool of $681,300 was built.

Julius was one of the players to top up via a sit-n-go at the Rio. He came into the final table in fifth chip position but made his way to heads-up, knocking out Ben Yu in third place to set up a final showdown against Belgium’s Bart Lybaert.

Heads-up lasted only one hand. Julius moved all in from the button with the 44 and Lybaert called with the K9. The board ran out K102A4, giving Lybaert top pair on the flop to take the lead but improving Julius’s pair to a set on the river to secure the pot and the title for the American. With that Lybaert was sent to the rail with $88,328 for his runner-up showing.

In addition to the money and the bracelet Julius also earned 840 Card Player Player of the Year points for the win. Julius also earned another big perk as a result of this title run. His fiancé and he are expecting a child later this summer and apparently winning his first bracelet has helped him secure naming rights for his daughter.

“We have been arguing about names and she was like, ‘If you win a bracelet you can name our child.’ It’s still going to be a mutual decision that we make together, but I think I have a little bit more say now,” said Julius with a smile.

Here is a look at the payouts and POY points awarded in this event:

For more coverage from the summer series, visit the 2016 WSOP landing page complete with a full schedule, news, player interviews and event recaps.

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