"Now I'm a Millionaire, I guess..." - Daniel Lazrus

On Wednesday night, at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Daniel Lazrus found himself $1,000,000 richer as he became the latest 2021 World Series of Poker gold bracelet winner. In the WSOP Event #17: $1,500 Millionaire Maker No-Limit Hold’em, over 5,300 players were attracted, which comes as no surprise after boasting a prize-pool of $3,428,280.

This win secured Lazrus his second WSOP bracelet – winning his first online at the WSOP $3,200 No Limit Hold’em High Roller Championship. After landing the $1,000,000 final table prize over 8 others, Lazrus compared his online and live event victories, stating:

"This one feels much more special… It feels more legitimized than online did, just because it was a different atmosphere. This makes me happy with the decision I’m making of putting a lot of time into poker. The first was an achievement, this feels like THE achievement. I didn’t realize it yet, but this is a much greater feeling, I can’t even begin to describe it.”

The PokerGo live-streamed final table hosted some strong opponents for Lazrus, who was up against four-time bracelet winner Michael Gathy, as well as many talented others.

Gathy, perhaps the most notorious at the table, didn’t miss out by much - coming in 4th place with a prize of $288,715. And with a long history of walking away from Vegas with fuller pockets, Darryl Ronconi cashed in yet again, with $500,125 in 2nd place – only $10,000 short of his biggest win ever. Even 9th place Sertac Turker left the event with a handsome $83,545.

2021 WSOP Millionaire Maker Final Table Results:

Although he was up against a four-time champion, Lazrus seemed unphased in the face of tough competition. In a post-win interview, he said:

“Him (Gathy) and Ignacio are both really good players.. I kind of just play my game and just take it with what it is. I tried to stay out of their way but I also know they are going to make the folds that they need to with the ICM considerations, and when it’s right, I can take some of the spots.”

Lazrus began the final table with a knockout blow to Ignacio Moron, who was first to fall when he was hit with Lazrus' pocket kings. Daniel continued strongly as he sent Jeffrey Gencarelli home with another pair win over ace high. He went into the table with a 3-1 chip lead and used his position well in the final hand, where he was met with a bluff-shove from Ronconi with just ten-high and stayed cool holding ace-jack. The flop, turn and river all came in Lazrus' favour - winning the tournament with just ace-high.

Lazrus says he hasn't been playing poker competitively for much longer than 2 years, but after winning his second bracelet in event #17, he's considering a more serious approach to the sport, stating:

"I only started playing about four and half years ago, at first just recreationally... I started winning, met the right guy, who put me in touch with the other right guys, just learned. Starting like two years ago I started raising stakes and studying very very aggressively almost as a priority."

After entering a tournament with 5,330 players and coming out the other side a millionaire, there's really no surprise that Lazrus is intending to go forth in his poker career with much more conviction. Now a two-time WSOP champion, triumphant both online and in Las Vegas itself, Lazrus looks like an exciting player to watch heading forward in the poker world.

Catch all of the Millionaire Maker final table action here: