Jonathan Lessin rallies to win WSOP seniors title
Jonathan Lessin reversed a huge chip deficit to win his first World Series of Poker bracelet early Friday.
Lessin (screen name SugarJ) won Event 30 of the WSOP Online, the $500 buy-in No-limit Hold’em seniors tournament, earning $64,411.20. He prevailed in a field of 720 entries (541 players and 179 rebuys) on WSOP.com. Players had to be 50 or older to participate.
Lessin won heads-up against James Moore (muskrrr), who earned $39,819.60. Lessin began heads-up play at a 7-1 chip deficit but gradually pulled even and then ahead.
In the final hand, Lessin flopped two pair and called Moore’s all-in with two overcards and a straight draw. Lessin made a full house on the turn to seal the victory.
Lessin had only seven cashes for $5,218 in WSOP events before Friday’s win.
The U.S. leg of the WSOP Online concludes Friday with Event 31, the $1,000 No-limit Hold’em Championship. The tournament starts at 3 p.m. and is expected to end early Saturday.
The flagship WSOP that normally is held every summer at the Rio Convention Center has been postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.
A series for players who live outside the U.S. — or Americans who can travel out of the country — started July 19 and runs through Sept. 6 on GGPoker.
Contact Jim Barnes at jbarnes@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0277. Follow @JimBarnesLV on Twitter.