MARTIN FINGER WINS FIRST GOLD BRACELET
@import url(http://www.wsop.com:999/CuteSoft_Client/CuteEditor/Load.ashx?type=style&file=SyntaxHighlighter.css); Martin Finger win the $3,000 buy-in Six-Handed No-Limit Hold'em title tonight at the Rio in Las Vegas.  

The 22-year-old poker pro from Vienna, Austria collected a whopping $506,764 for first place plus the coveted WSOP gold bracelet.  This marked his first win.

Finger previously won the European Poker Tour title at Prague, in 2011.  This was his second year to attend the WSOP in Las Vegas, following a succession of disappointing finishes.  This was his third time to cash.  Finger's previous best showing had been 167th place in an event held last year.

Among those Finger beat was a tough but long-suffering Las Vegas poker pro who has been close to victory before.  Matt Stout, making his 27th WSOP cash put up a strong fight and was within a card of victory a few times.  However Finger managed to survive and came back to win, earning his victory on the final hand holding pocket queens.

Stout's consolation prize amounted to $313,370.

MEET GOLD BRACELET WINNER – MARTIN FINGER

Name:  Martin Finger
 
Current Residence:  Vienna, Austria
 
Birthplace:  Chemnitz, Austria
 
Age:  22
 
Marital Status:  Single
 
Children:  None
 
Profession:  Professional Poker Player
 
Former Occupation:  College Student (studied economics)
 
WSOP Cashes (including this event):  3
 
First WSOP Cash (year):  2012
 
WSOP Final Table Appearances:  1
 
WSOP Wins (with this victory):  1
 
INTERVIEW WITH THE CHAMPION

WSOP:  How does it feel to win your first WSOP gold bracelet?
 
Finger:  It was like a dream for me.  It was a long way to get from there to here and first place.  It's feels good.

WSOP:  How was it playing against Matt Stout heads-up?
 
Finger:  We got heads-up three hours ago.  It was really tough.  I feel really tired after all this.

WSOP:  How did you get into poker?
 
Finger:  I started playing four years ago.  I played with friends.  Then, I started playing online.

WSOP:  How many major tournaments do you play?
 
Finger:  I played every EPT last season.  I also played in Australia last January.  I started to play the WSOP, as well – the last two years.

WSOP:  How have you fared at the WSOP until this tournament.
 
Finger:  Not good.  I ran terrible.  I ran terrible before this tournament, but now can say different.

WSOP:  Which is better for you, playing on the EPT or at the WSOP?
 
Finger:  They are both great.  First, I was more eager to win an EPT event.  But after that, I was more eager to win at the WSOP.

WSOP:  What's the first thing you are going to buy with the half a million in prize money?
 
Finger:  I guess I will play the One Drop!

ODDS AND ENDS

Erik Seidel cashed.  This marked his 76th career in-the-money finish at the WSOP, which currently ranks third on the all-time list (behind Phil Hellmuth and Men “the Master” Nguyen).

Antonio Esfandiari cashed.  He added to his record as the player with the most prize money won in WSOP history – currently at $19,667,329.

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