2013 WSOP Event 48

Sunday June 30,2013 : JOHNSON WINS A WORLD SERIES OF POKER BRACELET AT LAST
 
Fourth time lucky for US nosebleed high mixed game specialist
 
Marco Johnson (27) desperately wanted to break a run of three World Series of Poker runner-up disappointments, and this year he finally managed to do it, winning event 48: the $2,500 buy-in Limit Hold'em (Six Handed) competition.
 
Adding to his delight, it was a fifth cash in this year's WSOP for the high stakes, mixed game specialist.
 
After successfully playing his way through an entry field of 342, Johnson faced a final table that included Jeff Thompson, Juha Helppi, Danny Warchol, Mike Schiffman and Maria Ho – the latter in a strong position initially that went rapidly downhill and saw her busted out at sixth.
 
The main struggle developed when the play reached three-handed action involving Finnish ace Juha Helppi, Jeff Thompson and Johnson…it took a hard-fought three hours before Helppi was despatched for $82,956, clearing the way for the heads up between Johnson and Thompson.
 
Johnson's 2 to 1 chip lead held strong, and Thompson was eliminated in second place for $127,801, leaving a relieved Johnson to claim his first WSOP bracelet and a bank account boosting $206,796 main prize.
 
“It feels really good,” Johnson said. “If I would have taken second place again, I would have been very upset. So, I’m really happy to be sitting here and not driving home upset. It’s a much better experience to be feeling this right now, rather than taking second.”