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Another First-Time WSOP Bracelet Winner is Made

June 3, 2014

Another first-time bracelet winner was made at the 2014 WSOP. Event #6 $1500 NLH Shootout saw 948 registrants that dwindled down to a final table of all US players, one Belarussian, Alex Bolotin, and one Bulgarian, Dimitar Danchev. But Danchev was no match for Bolotin, who went into showdown together, Bolotin came out the victor, winning just shy of $260K and his first gold bracelet.

Bolotin has been around for about several years and has had quite a bit of success, as well as a long list of cashes, but never had he won a coveted bracelet—until now.

His theory on why his name isn’t as well known as some other NLH players is simple. Bolotin says, “The reason I flew under the radar is because I had a lot of final tables, but I didn’t have a lot of wins. Nothing feels sweeter in tournament poker than winning a tournament.”

This win brings his career WSOP winnings to $1.3+ million, almost half of which came from a second place finish in 2007 in a $5K Six-Handed WSOP event when he took second place to Bill Edler and earned more than $500K. But according to Bolotin, the money pales in comparison to the win.

Smiling, Bolotin explains, “I won double the money for second place and I was throwing my glasses against the wall. It wasn’t a happy day. Finishing second hurts. This feels much, much better. It feels euphoric, actually. So many close calls and that’s what we come here for every summer—to win gold. It is kind of a stamp on a long career; it feels sweet.”

Already number one on the Belarussian all-time money list, this further proves that he is the most progressive player from the European country. He will receive his bracelet with the Belarus anthem playing in the background. Though he lives in New York, he takes pride in his homeland.

He says, “It’s my homeland, so it does matter a lot to me. I’ve been living in the US more than 2/3 of my life, so now I feel more American than Belarussian, but I am happy to be the number one player from Belarus.”

The last 12 players standing included Josh Arieh and Shawn Busse both bracelet winners, finishing 4th and 8th, respectively. Jon Lane finished 3rd, while David Trager finished 7th. In 5th was Steven Loube, and in 9th, Maxx Coleman.

Other notable players included Greg Merson, 99th; Mike Matusow, 77th; Humberto Brenese, 71st; Joseph Cheong, 67th; and Shannon Shorr, 27th.

Written by Marcus · Filed Under Poker News 

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