2016 #WSOP Event 59

2016 #WSOP Event 59

Yue Du, a 48-year-old venture investor from China and an ardent cash game recreational player, won his first bracelet and a whopping $800,586 in first prize money for taking down the $5,000 buy-in No-Limit Holdem event in a spectacular performance that included busting out all eight of his final table rivals.
 
The event attracted a stellar field of 863 entrants, generating a prize pool of $4,056,100 and enabling 130 finishers to cash.
 
It was also notable for the unusual sight of five-bracelet professional ace Jason Mercier kneeling at the table to propose marriage to Natasha Barbour, who had just claimed her $348,374 third-placing check in the event. Not that Mercier needs the cash – hes been doing very well in WSOP this year, adding to career earnings of several millions. She accepted btw.
 
Back to Dus big win….the Chinese amateur swept all before him in the final days of the event to start the last day with more than half the chips in play.
 
He promptly put his massive advantage to work when the final table formed as he methodically eliminated every opponent – including three-bracelet German ace Dominik Nitsche – to end in the heads up against Canadian Michael Gentili with a major chip lead.
 
 That ensured a swift departure for the Canadian with his biggest career reward yet – a second placing check for $494,797.
 
Other final table pay days included:
 
Dominik Nitsche  $248,640 
Ismael Bojang  $179,923 
Marius Gierse  $132,030 
Matt O’Donnell  $98,269  
Sertac Turker  $74,201  
Arne Coulier  $56,851