PokerWorks

The first Epic Poker Pro/Am event at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas wrapped up with a televised final table on August 8th. When the smoke cleared, it was Steve O’Dwyer from Las Vegas who was left standing.

Fresh off his $259,452 win in the Bellagio Cup VII NLH $5,180 buy-in event where he took first last month, O’Dwyer added the first place $23,810 Epic Poker prize to his swiftly growing live tournament bankroll - which is estimated to be over $1million. The 29-year old professional poker player originally from Doylestown, Pennsylvania, was the chip leader entering the final table and managed to hang on to his lead until the final hand was played out.  Although the O’Dwyer name may be unknown to many, he instantly made a name for himself in the poker world when he triumphed at the televised six player final table, which will be aired this fall on national television as part of the Heartland Poker Tour (HPT) series.

The final table was filled with famous faces and unknowns alike, all vying for the right to be crowned the first ever Epic Poker League tournament champ. Sitting across from Andy Bloch who is an Epic Poker member with $4.5 million in career earnings, was Clifford Waite, a retired truck driver from Grand Junction, CO.  Waite won his way into the Pro/Am event in a $180 satellite at the Palms and said, “I’m representing Heartland today.” Then he added, “I’m excited about the merger of Epic Poker and HPT.” Being a loyal HPT player, Waite has cashed in four HPT tournament events and made one final table appearance before finishing fourth in the Pro/Am to pocket $5,160.

Proving that anyone could have joined the pros in this Epic Pro/Am event, 40 Palms satellite entrants were in the mix including George Long (finishing eighth) who outlasted 68 well known Epic Poker League members. Out of the many Epic Poker League members making a run for the money, only Andy Bloch made it to the final table, collecting $7,540 for finishing third.

The last nine players won the following cash and/or a $20,000 Main Event seat:

1. Stephen O'Dwyer $23,810
2. Brandon Meyers $11,900
3. Andy Bloch $7,540
4. Cliff Waite $5,160
5. Jeremiah Degreef $3,570
6. Micah Raskin $2,780
7. Dan Fleyshman $1,980
8. George Long $1,190
9. Sean Getzwiller – Main Event seat

The players who just missed winning their $20,000 Main Event seat included some of poker’s most famous faces:

10. Brian Rast $3,170 
11. Michael Chow $3,170
12. Vanessa Selbst $3,170
13. Evan Karcie $2,380 
14. Aniko Lendvaine $2,380 
15. Jordan Jayne $2,380 
16. Chris Klodnicki $1,590 
17. Mike Matusow $1,590 
18. Eli Elezra $1,590

Those lucky players who won their $20,000 seats took to the felt on Tuesday, August 9th, for Epic Poker’s prestigious Main Event. Once again the Pro/Am players found themselves under the lights and cameras of the HPT crew as Pro/Am Qualifier George Long was the first player eliminated from the Epic Poker Main Event. For all the latest Main Event news visit the Epic Poker League website.

Poker fans can catch all of the Las Vegas HPT action this September when the HPT airs two one-hour television episodes which were filmed at the Palms.

PokerWorks is 'likable' on Facebook, we'd love it if you follow us on Twitter!

*Photo courtesy of Epic Poker*