Ronnie Bardah Blasts Through WSOP Event #40 to Win First Gold Bracelet

There is an old saying in poker that all you need to win is a “chip and a chair.” It has also been noted that there have been many come-from-behind-stories over the years at the World Series of Poker - and last week there was another one.

While the winner of Event #40 wasn’t quite down to the felt, he was dead last in chips in the $2,500 Limit Hold'em Six-Handed going into the final day.

But Ronnie Bardah, a 29 year old poker pro originally from Boston now living in Thailand, has a history of overcoming adversity. A short chip stack was just another bump in the road to cross, and as he had proven before, he was good at that.

At the 2010 WSOP, Ronnie was deep in the Main Event when, without warning on Day 7, he started having seizures and muscle spasms. While other players rested and prepared for the tournament, Ronnie sat in the hospital where doctors were at a loss as to what was causing his condition. In spite of uncontrollable body movements and extreme pain, Ronnie went back to the tournament arena and finished 24th in the Main Event.

With his condition undiagnosed, Ronnie changed his lifestyle, got healthy, and moved to Thailand to pursue his passion for kick boxing. Making his yearly trek to the Rio, he felt good and on top of his game, which he proved in Event #40. Although dead last in chips on the last day, Ronnie made a huge comeback and made it to the final table, then to heads-up play against Marco Johnson.

After trading chips for awhile Ronnie made a few hands, and kept chipping away at Johnson’s chip stack. Then the final hand saw the hit the flop, and when the hit the turn, Johnson was all-in. After the popped up on the river, Johnson’s lost to Ronnie’s .

The rail exploded with well wishers as Ronnie Bardah won Event #40 to collect his first WSOP gold bracelet and $182,088. Watch his interview courtesy of PokerNews.

Final Table Results:

Read more about Ronnie and event # 40 at PokerNews Live Reporting, and at WSOP.com.

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