Mitchell Towner Wins 2016 World Series of Poker $1,500 Monster Stack No-Limit Hold'em Event

Before the 2016 World Series of Poker 29-year-old Mitchell Towner had never cashed in a major poker tournament.

“I’ve only played in like two events that were buy-ins of more than $100,” Towner told WSOP.com reporters.

The University of Arizona college professor was in Las Vegas for a conference and thought he try his hand in one event. He posted the $1,500 buy-in for the 2016 WSOP Monster Stack no-limit hold’em event and was one of 6,927 players with their eyes on the bracelet. After four days of intense action Towner emerged victorious, capturing his first WSOP title and the massive $1,120,196 top prize.

“I want to give a shout out to some of the podcast guys, and the television coverage I saw on [European Poker Tout] events and others where they talk about hands," said Towner. "I’m like a casual fan who invests maybe an hour a week in this, I really don’t play poker.”

Whether he ‘really’ plays poker or not, he has now won over a million dollars and a WSOP gold bracelet.

Towner came into the final day of play in sixth chip position with 26 remaining. He outlasted plenty of tough competition on the final day including Irish poker legend Donnacha O’Dea (21st – $39,027), six-time WSOP bracelet winner T.J. Cloutier (14th – $61,598), Matt Affleck (10th – $78,264), Andrew Moreno (6th – $219,632) and two-time bracelet winner David “The Dragon” Pham (5th – $289,497).

In the end it came down to a heads-up battle between Towner and Venezuela’s Dorian Rios. Towner began with a slight chip lead, but was able to take a 3-to-1 advantage before the final hand arose. With blinds of 400,000 – 800,000 Rios limped in from the button and Towner made it 3.3 million to go. Rios then announced that he was all in and after some thought Towner made the call with the A7. He was flipping against Rios’ 33.

The board ran out J97K9 to give Towner the superior pair, securing him the title and sending Rios to the rail in second place. For his deep run he earned $692,029.

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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