Robert Salaburu, a poker player from San Antonio Texas, recorded his first World Series of Poker cash in the 2012 Main Event after failing to cash in seven previous tournaments, including the 2011 Main Event. Although unknown to most of the poker world prior to his success in the 2012 WSOP Main Event, he had several noticeable scores in 2011, including winning an event during the North American Poker Tour’s stop at Mohegan Sun for over $17,000. He enter the 2012 WSOP October Nine in seventh place with 15.1 million in chips and finished in eighth place for $971,000.

A key hand early on in Day 5 was when he was involved with in a three-way hand with Madedonian Gjorgji Chuchuk and fellow American Tom Tran and held A-10 of clubs. Chuchuk was all-in with 9-9 for his remaining 100,000 in chips and Tran was an early favorite with K-K for his remaining 325,000 in chips.

The 8-8-4 flop made things interesting, with two clubs giving Salaburn 11 outs for a flush draw to go with the three remaining aces. The turn, the jack of diamonds, did not improve Salaburu’s fortunes. Tran called for a jack on the river and unfortunately for him, he was correct, with the jack of clubs appearing, filling up Salaburu’s flush and sending both Tran and Chuchuk to the rail. The hand gave Salaburu an early chip lead of 3.3 million on Day 5.

Throughout Day 5, Salaburu increased his chip stack and, near the end of the day, he sent Jonathan Seelbach to the rail with 8-8 against Seelbach’s K-Q offsuit for a one million chip pot and the temporary lead.

A short while later, 2011 WSOP November Ninemember and 888 Pokerpro Sam SamDMND Holden doubled up through Salaburu by 3betting with A-J of clubs for 344,000, which Salaburu called with A-10 offsuit. The board did not improve Salaburu’s hand and took a small dent out of his chip lead. The setback left him in second place going into Day 6 with a stack of 6,195,000 in chips.