Dominik Nitsche Wins Third WSOP Bracelet

Germany’s Dominik Nitsche caught his third bracelet this year, second for the 2014 season, in Event #21 $1K NLH, receiving more than $335K for his efforts. And the efforts were many, as he was faced against Dave D’Alesandro, who ended up the runner up. Also in Nitche’s way to his third bracelet was Bob Bounahra, who was the first player from Central America to make the November Nine in 2011. He finished 7^th in the 2011 Main Event, but the Belize native made it to 3^rd in Event #21.

This is yet another win for Germany this year, as George Danzer won Event #18 $10K 7 Card Razz. For Nitsche, this win catapulted him over the $2 million WSOP career earnings mark, which now spans 19 career cashes.

Nitche said, “It feels really good to win this one. Of course, the first one feels really great, and so does the second one, and so does the third. They all feel good in different ways because this is the top prize in poker. This is what we play for.”

Nitsche’s first bracelet this year was earned last month in Atlantic City at the 2014 National Championship. He now joins fellow countryman David Kitai, as the only European player to have at least three WSOP wins. But what’s even more impressive is that Nitsche is now the youngest player to ever win three gold bracelets. At 23 years old, he now takes the title from Phil Ivey, previous record holder, who won his third bracelet by the age of 24.

“I have been playing poker for seven years,” said Nitsche.  “At this rate, I really think I can catch Hellmuth (who has 13 wins, to date).  Of course, he and Phil Ivey are great players so to be talked in the same breath as them is really something for me.  I will just say I am really proud to come to Las Vegas where I have enjoyed a lot of success over the years.”

If Bounahra had won, he would have joined the November Niners bracelet club, along with Ylon Schwartz, Phil Ivey, Matt Jarvis, Scott Montgomery, Michael Mizrachi, and Eric Buchman, but this was not his time.

Other notable mentions include sixth-place finisher Jeff Gross. This was his third final table finish in WSOP events. And Thayer Rasmussen, who finished fifth, was at his second WSOP final table.

This event attracted 2,043 players and amassed a prize pool worth more than $1.84 million, paying out the top 216 places, which included Mickey Peterson, 14^th; Jason Senti, 21^st; JC Tran, 38^th; David Williams, 65^th; Jason Koon, 82^nd; Erik Seidel, 83^rd; Jonathan Dimmig, 105^th; and Matt Brady, 190^th.

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