2010 WSOP: Frank Kassela Wins 2nd WSOP Gold Bracelet This Year

365 poker players joined Event 40 of the 2010 World Series of Poker, a $2,500 buy-in Razz event. Razz is similar to playing seven card stud, but this time the objective is to get the worst possible hand. In this particular WSOP event, the prize pool went to a total of $839,500 with the top 40 to take a part of that prize pool.

The biggest piece of the prize pot eventually went to Frank Kassela, who wins his second WSOP gold bracelet in this year's WSOP.

42 year old Frank Kassela was almost knocked out of the tournament, ranking dead last after day one,105th out 105 players. Frank Kassela managed to get a lucky run to take him out of his rut, but it was still a long hard climb, but he managed to reach the money with an average-sized stack.

He had a decent stack approaching the final table, but in the first seven hours of the gruelling final table, Frank Kassela was the lowest in chips when the play was four-handed. Eventually, something went wrong in the Las Vegas electrical grid, and play was temporarily stopped. This allowed for Frank Kassela to gather his thoughts. The players and their chips were then moved to the ESPN Main Stage which had ample lighting to continue the tournament. Two hours later, the lights were back on in full, and Frank Kassela was the champion to become the first multiple gold bracelet winner of 2010, and earning the nick name Frank "Lights Out" Kassela.

According to official records, Frank Kassela now has two wins, three final table appearances, and six cashes at the WSOP. His career WSOP earnings now total $764,144.

Frank Kassela now becomes a real threat to tie the record for most wins at a WSOP (one year), which is three. Frank Kassela shares his thoughts on winning his second WSOP gold bracelet this year, and says “It’s awesome. It’s really exciting. I’ve been playing in a ton of events since I won that last one, just because I knew I had a decent chance at ‘Player of the Year.’ Now, with this – I think I am tied. Vladimir Schemelev is up there, so it is going to be close.”

The runner up was 37 year old poker pro Maxwell Troy from Los Angeles, California, who marked his second time to cash this year, after finishing as the runner up in Event #27 (Seven-Card Stud High-Low Split). Maxwell Troy won $132,229, and now has over a quarter-million in earnings at this year’s WSOP.

The third-place finisher was 49 year old George Lewis from North York, Ontario, Canada, who won $85,284.

The fourth-place finisher was Vladimir Shchemelev from St. Petersburg, Russia, which marked his sixth time to cash at the WSOP, and collected $61,795. Vladimir Shchemelev also became the first player at this year’s WSOP to make four final table appearances. He now has a 2nd, 4th, 7th, and 7th place showing in four tries. He took the lead in the 2010 WSOP Player of the Year race – at least for a few hours until Frank Kassela won his second gold bracelet. The race is on.

The fifth-place finisher was Mikko Pispala from Helsinki, Finland, who marked his second time to cash at the WSOP, and was paid $45,433.

The sixth-place finisher was two-time gold bracelet winner Jennifer Harman from Las Vegas, Nevada, who won $33,890. This was Jennifer Harman's second final table this year. Previousy, she took third in the Seven-Card Stud High-Low Split championship. Jennifer Harman now has 26 WSOP cashes, which ranks second on the all-time list among women.

The seventh-place finisher was Stuart Rutter from Birmingham, England, who cashed for the third time this year for $25,646.

The eighth-place finisher was longtime tournament veteran and two-time WSOP gold bracelet winner Chris Bjorin from London, England, who won $19,686.

Former WSOP gold bracelet finishers who cashed in this event apart from those that made the final table included – Artie Cobb (10th), Linda Johnson (16th), Dario Minieri (19th), David Chiu (20th), Joe Hachem (22nd), Hasan Habib (23rd), Daniel Negreanu (29th), and Greg Raymer (37th).

With his eighth-place finish in this event, Chris Bjorin cashed for the fifth time this year and 55th time in his career. Chris Bjorin now ranks seventh on the all-time WSOP cashes list, in a tie with Humberto Brenes. Chris Bjorin also has 22 WSOP final table appearances, which ranks 15th all-time.

With his 20th-place finish, David Chiu cashed for the 46th time. He currently ranks 14th on the all-time list.

With his 29th-place finish, Daniel Negreanu now has 47 career cashes. This currently ranks in a 12th-place tie with “Miami” John Cernuto on the all-time cashes list.

2005 WSOP Champion Joe Hachem finished 22nd. This was his first time to cash this year.

2004 WSOP Champion Greg “Fossilman” Raymer finished 37th.