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Christopher Vitch Wins Third World Series of Poker Bracelet

Arizona Resident Bests 2,212 Entries In $1,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Event To Earn $262,734

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Christopher Vitch can now count himself among the elite list of 141 players to have won three or more World Series of Poker bracelets. The mixed-game regular defeated a field of 2,212 entries in the 2024 WSOP $1,000 buy-in pot-limit Omaha eight-max event to earn his third bracelet and the top prize of $262,735.

This was the second-largest tournament score of Vitch’s career, trailing only the $320,103 he earned as the winner of the 2017 WSOP $10,000 stud eight-or-better championship. His other bracelet came in the 2016 $2,500 mixed triple draw lowball event, which awarded a top prize of $136,854.

Vitch now has more than $2.6 million in career tournament earnings, with nearly $2.1 million of that coming from the Arizona resident’s 49 in-the-money finishes in bracelet events.

This was Vitch’s fourth final-table finish and first title of 2024. The 1,080 Card Player Player of the Year points he secured were enough to move him into 163rd place in overall standings presented by Global Poker.

The sizable turnout for this event resulted in a prize pool of $1,946,560, with the top 332 finishers all earning a share. Several notable players ran deep, including bracelet winner Phil Laak (33rd), bracelet winner Moshe Refaelowitz (16th), 2023 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure $25,000 pot-limit Omaha high roller winner Dylan Smith (11th), bracelet winner Chris Frank (8th), 2018 partypoker LIVE MILLIONS UK winner Ioannis Angelou-Konstas (6th), and two-time bracelet winner David Prociak (3rd).

Canada’s Thomas Taylor eliminated Prociak to enter heads-up play with 12,240,000 to Vitch’s 32,000,000. Vitch was able to stretch his lead even further ahead of the final hand of the tournament. He raised on the button to 750,000 with KHeart Suit10Heart Suit7Club Suit4Club Suit and Taylor defended his big blind with QHeart Suit10Diamond Suit9Heart Suit8Diamond Suit. The flop came down JHeart Suit6Diamond Suit2Heart Suit and Taylor checked. Vitch bet 600,000 and Taylor called. The 9Spade Suit on the turn gave Taylor a wrap straight draw to go with his queen-high flush draw. He bet 2,950,000 and Vitch called with his king-high flush draw and a gutshot straight draw. The 5Heart Suit on the river gave both players heart flushes. Taylor moved all-in for his remaining 2,000,000 and Vitch called with his higher flush to win the pot and the title.

Taylor earned a career-best score of $175,179 as the runner-up finisher. He now has nearly $1.4 million in career tournament earnings.

Here is a look at the payouts and POY points awarded at the final table:

Place Player Earnings POY Points
1 Christopher Vitch $262,735 1080
2 Thomas Taylor $175,179 900
3 David Prociak $126,853 720
4 Joe Firova $92,850 540
5 Jay Harwood $68,702 450
6 Ioannis Angelou-Konstas $51,396 360
7 Kharlin Sued $38,877 270
8 Christopher Frank $29,740 180

Visit the Card Player 2024 World Series of Poker page for schedules, news, interviews, and the latest event results. WSOP coverage sponsored by Global Poker.

Photo credit: PokerGO / Enrique Malfavon.