WSOP: Joe Curcio Finishes 8th in $2,500 No-Limit Hold’em

Joe Curcio took the road less traveled en route to an 8th-place finish in WSOP Event #56. (Photo: PokerNews)

While the rest of the poker world had its eyes on the WSOP Main Event, Cake Poker high stakes cash game regular Joe Curcio had a wild ride at his first WSOP final table. 

The first big hand he played looked to be a good situation for him, as his A-Q had Ali Alawadhi’s K-Q in terrible shape before the flop. But a king came as one of the first three cards and no ace appeared by the river, dropping Joe to 750,000 chips with blinds at 25,000/50,000 and antes at 5,000.

The next hand saw Joe move all-in over the top of a raise from former bracelet winner Mike Wattel holding 9-9, only to have Wattel call with A-A, which held up to leave Joe with just 115,000. That meant it was time to shove with any two decent cards, and shove he did. First he got in behind with K-T against Salvatore Bonavena’s A-K, surviving when two tens came on the flop and a king fell on the river. Then he moved in with A-T from the small blind and ran into Tomer Berda’s A-K, but a ten on the flop was enough to keep him in the game.

Thirty minutes later Joe got in as a big favorite with K-K against Bonavena’s 6-6, but the A-Q-6 flop appeared to be his ticket to the payout cage. With one of his kings a club and the flop’s ace and queen also clubs, Joe had a backdoor flush draw – and that draw got there when the turn and river both came the right suit. Suddenly Joe found himself right back where he began the day, with 1.275 million in chips.

But less than an hour later the wild ride would end. Vladimir Kochelaevskiy opened the hand, Joe moved in with J-J, and Kochelaevskiy snap-called with pocket aces. There were no miracles this time around, and Joe busted in eighth place. 

His take for the tournament was $78,705 – not bad for a $2,500 investment and his second WSOP cash. Congratulations, Joe!