Steven Loube Wins WSOP $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha Eight-or-Better

“Easy game.”

That might be what ran through Steven Loube’s mind as he won the first World Series of Poker event he ever entered.

The 34-year-old attorney from Atlanta, Georgia topped a 978-player field to win his first bracelet in Event No. 47, the $1,500 pot-limit Omaha eight-or-better event. In addition to the hardware, Loube also was awarded the $267,345 first-place prize and 912 Card Player Player of the Year points.

A number of players have had their breakout at the WSOP, but only a few can outdo Loube’s story of jumping from low-stakes to six-figure scores: Prior to winning the gold bracelet and more than a quarter-million dollars in prize money, the largest cash in Loube’s career was for $50 gift card at a home game.

Loube had to outlast a number of tough players deep in the event, with notables who made the money including Chip Jett, Barry Greenstein, Dan Heimiller, Lee Watkinson and Dario Alioto.

Loube entered the final table second in chips, but accumulated enough chips to enter heads-up play with a 3-to-1 advantage over Timothy Finne. The heads-up battle did not last long.

On the final hand of the night, Finne called from the button, Loube reraised to 180,000 from the big blind and Finne called. The flop came K103, Loube bet 360,000, Finne moved all in and Loube called.

Loube held the A743, while Finne turned over the KQJ6. Finne had the best hand on the flop with a pair of kings, but according to Card Player’s pot-limit Omaha odds calculator, the hands are exactly even money to win the pot.

The turn and river were the Q and the 9, giving Loube a flush on the river to earn him the pot and send Timothy Finne to the rail in second place. Finne earned $165,486 and 760 POY points for the runner-up finish, moving him into 88th place in the overall POY standings. Finne had previously finished third in a WSOP $5,000 seven-card stud event.

Here is a look at the payouts and POY points awarded at this final table: