Stephen Song Wins $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em Bracelet

Stephen Song won his first World Series of Poker bracelet Thursday evening at just 23 years old. The poker pro from Connecticut defeated a huge 2,477-entry field to win $341,854 along with his first piece of WSOP gold in the $1,000 no-limit hold’em.

Song was just shy of the $1 million mark in career tournament earnings coming into the event and after the victory, the 23-year-old now has $1.32 million in live tournament winnings.

“The money’s insane,” Song told WSOP reporters after the tournament was completed. “_WSOP_ summer – it’s where you can actually make life-changing money. It’s pretty unreal.”

Song came into the tournament’s final day with a big chip led over the five other remaining players. When his parents found out about his final table and a good chance at his first major title, his father was able to catch a last-minute flight to Vegas to be a part of his son’s rail for the entire final day.

“My dad is the smartest guy I know,” said Song. “He’s super-good with money. I just give it to him and he takes care of it for me. They’re going to help me buy my first house, which is pretty sick. Now I’ll have to buy a couple more, just for the tax write-off.”

Along with the six-figure score and the bracelet, Song earned 1,080 Card Player Player of the Year points. It was his 11th cash and fifth final table of 2019, which puts him in 62nd place in the POY race, sponsored by Global Poker.

Card Player columnist and top poker pro Ryan Laplante finished third for $154,268. The only prior bracelet winner at the table was the biggest hurdle standing between Song and the win.

After starting the day with the lead, he doubled up Renato Kaneoya in a flush-over-flush situation. Then he was all in with a flush draw against Laplante’s trip aces. Song hit a club on the turn to make his flush, double up, and regain control.

“If he wins that, he has a sizable lead and probably wins the tournament,” said Song about the key pot against Laplante.

Song eventually finished off Laplante when his A-J bested Laplantes A-6 after all the money got in preflop. That left Song heads-up against Scot Masters with 80 percent of the chips in play. Heads-up only lasted nine hands before Song’s pocket nines held up against Masters’ pocket fives.

Masters picked up $211,177 for his second-place finish. Kaneoya finished fourth, Sevak Mikaiel busted in fifth and Dominic Coombe was the first out on Day 3, finishing in sixth.

The final table was reached late on Day 2. Three players were eliminated before the final six bagged up and returned on Thursday to play to its completion.

Final Table Results:

For more coverage from the summer series, check out the 2019 WSOP landing page, complete with a full schedule, results, news, player interviews, and event recaps.

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