Sign Up For Card Player's Newsletter And Free Bi-Monthly Online Magazine

Carlos Welch Wins 2021 WSOP Online $888 Crazy Eights Event For $124,369

The Poker Pro and Podcast Co-Host Defeated A Field of 782 Entries To Earn His First Bracelet

Print-icon
 

Carlos WelchCarlos ‘CarlosWelch’ Welch defeated a field of 782 entries to come out on top in the 2021 World Series of Poker Online $888 ‘Crazy Eights’ no-limit hold’em event. The poker pro and co-host of the Thinking Poker Daily podcast earned his first WSOP gold bracelet and $124,369 as the champion. This was the largest recorded tournament score for the Griffin, GA native, topping the $15,000 he earned for a cash in the 2015 WSOP main event.

The top 126 finishers made the money in this event, with notables among those who cashed including Andrew ‘WATCHGUY42’ Lichtenberger (110th – $1,251), Ryan ‘Protential’ Laplante (84th – $1,376), Craig ‘imgrinding’ Varnell (54th – $2,127), Bryan ‘Pellepelle’ Piccioli (24th – $3,503), Ryan ‘Adopt_aDogg0’ Leng (22nd – $3,503), Martin ‘bathroomline’ Zamani (18th – $4,254), Daniel ‘pepperprince’ Zack (15th – $5,318), and Michael ‘miguelfiesta’ Lech (11th – $6,694).

The final table began with Dan ‘fatdan44’ Wach atop the leaderboard, while Welch sat in sixth chip position. Joey ‘JoeBeagles’ Katzen was the first to fall when his A-2 ran into the A-Q of the player known only by their screen name ‘PESOPESO’. Katzen was unable to come from behind and was eliminated in ninth place ($11,260).

Welch won a preflop coin flip to secure his first knockout at the final table, with his 10Heart Suit10Diamond Suit beating out the AHeart SuitQHeart Suit of Isaac ‘going2ship’ Fermin. Welch flopped a set and held from there to send Fermin home with $14,952. Despite coming into the final table with the lead, Wach was the next to hit the rail. He got the last of his chips in ahead with pocket nines leading the pocket sixes of Dylan ‘thesmith’ Smith, but a six on the flop turned the tables. Smith made a full house by the river to bust Wach in sixth place ($20,144).

John ‘thirteen’ Del Rossi’s run in this event came to an end when his A-J ran into the A-K of ‘PESOPESO’. Both players flopped a pair of aces, but the superior kicker of ‘PESOPESO’ played to earn them the pot and the knockout. Del Rossi earned $27,526 as the fifth-place finisher.

WSOP bracelet winner Joon ‘jykpoker’ Kim secure his first elimination at the final table when his A-10 held up against the A-4 of ‘PESOPESO’, who had shoved for his last 12 big blinds when it folded to them in the small blind. ‘PESOPESO’ was unable to come from behind and was eliminated in fourth place ($38,224).

The next big clash saw Kim min-raise to 320,000 from the button, prompting Dylan ‘thesmith’ Smith to three-bet shove for 1,784,760 out of the small blind. Kim snap-called with KHeart SuitKDiamond Suit. Smith showed KSpade Suit5Spade Suit. The board broght Smith no help and he settled for $53,802 as the third-place finisher.

With that, Kim took 7,801,700 into heads-up play against Welch, who held 3,928,300. The final showdown lasted less than a quarter of an hour. Welch doubled up to overtake the lead, and then sealed the deal when his AHeart Suit6Diamond Suit beat out Kim’s AClub Suit4Diamond Suit. Kim called all-in for just over 13 big blinds. The board ran out 8Spade Suit2Heart Suit2Diamond Suit6Heart Suit5Spade Suit and Welch ’s sixes and deuces with an ace were enough to secure the pot and the title. Kim was awarded $76,886 for his runner-up showing.

Here is a look at the payouts awarded at the final table:

Place Player Earnings
1 Carlos ‘CarlosWelch’ Welch $124,369
2 Joon ‘jykpoker’ Kim $76,886
3 Dylan ‘thesmith’ Smith $53,802
4 PESOPESO $38,224
5 John ‘thirteen’ Del Rossi $27,526
6 Dan ‘fatdan44’ Wach $20,144
7 Isaac ‘going2ship’ Fermin $14,952
8 Joey ‘JoeBeagles’ Katzen $11,260