1st-time WSOP bracelet winner donates all earnings to charity

Gershon Distenfeld won his archetypal World Series of Poker bracelet Wednesday — and nary money.

That’s due to the fact that helium pledged to donate his full $204,063 purse from the $1,500 No-limit Hold’em Shootout to charity.

“I’d emotion to connection a situation to each bracelet victor to springiness distant 1 percent of their wealth to the foundation of their choice,” Distenfeld told PokerNews. “There’s nary deficiency of needs retired there. If I could person a lasting interaction successful the poker community, it would beryllium that.”

The WSOP awards trophy bracelets for tourney victories.

Distenfeld, a New Jersey nonmigratory who works successful finance, got the attraction of the poker satellite past year erstwhile helium made the last array of the U.S. information of the hybrid online/live WSOP Main Event. He finished eighth for $125,885 and donated each of that wealth to charity.

Distenfeld defeated a tract of 800 entries successful the shootout, successful which players indispensable decision their full array earlier moving connected to the adjacent one. The 800 entries began astatine 80 10-handed tables. Those 80 winners past played astatine 10 eight-handed tables to find the last array of 10.

Distenfeld won heads-up against Johan Schumacher, who won $126,133.

“I’ve ever dreamt of winning (a bracelet), and it’s 1 of those things you deliberation is ne'er going to happen,” Distenfeld said. “I conscionable don’t cognize what to say. I adjacent teared up a small bit, which is not precise similar me.”

Rast, Bonyadi adhd to bracelet totals

In different last tables Wednesday, Brian Rast won his 5th WSOP bracelet, and Farzad Bonyadi claimed his fourth.

Rast won the $3,000 No-limit Hold’em six-handed event, defeating a tract of 997 entries to triumph $474,102.

Bonyadi won the $10,000 No-limit 2-7 Lowball Draw Championship, defeating a tract of 122 entries to triumph $297,051.

Contact Jim Barnes astatine jbarnes@reviewjournal.com oregon 702-383-0277. Follow @JimBarnesLV connected Twitter.