In the first 50 years of the World Series of Poker just two players from South Africa managed to win bracelets. Early Wednesday morning, Michael ‘YesPlease’ Clacher became the third to do it.

Clacher beat out 1,341 other entries in WSOP Online Event #36 ($1,500 Fifty Stack NLHE) to take home $297,496.30 and the jewellery. He joins Norman Keyser (1989) and Hugh Todd (1990) as bracelet winners from his home country.

Clacher started the final table trailing only Olivier ‘BigPapyBoss’ Rebello in chips. Rebello got things started not long after the final table began.

Jose ‘Machenzzio’ Davilla moved all in from middle position with and Rebello called from the big blind with . The flop gave Rebello control and Davilla found no help on the turn nor river and was eliminated in ninth.

Three minutes later, Joao Vieira raised to 1,000,000 from middle position and Viktor ‘Ryuzaki1’ Zsemlye moved all in from the small blind for 5,090,054 and Joao Vieira called. Zsemlye showed and Vieira tabled . Zsemlye could do nothing but watch as the run out eliminated him in eighth place.

Two of the players at the final table sold action in the GGPoker client and both managed to give their investors a solid return. Rebello raised to 1,050,000 from UTG+1 with and Rich ‘DadPoker’ Dixon, who sold 35% of himself, moved all in from the hijack for 4,735,158 with before Martin ‘FuTimReilly’ Zamani reshoved from the button for 4,983,978 with forcing Rebello to fold. Dixon failed to connect with the flop and was eliminated in seventh when the turn and river completed the board.

The other player who sold action was the next to go. Neel ‘Neel’ Joshi sold 20% of himself at no mark-up and gave his investors a 40-1 return. Action folded to Rebello in the small blind and he moved all in for 15,159,790 with and Joshi called all in with . The runout couldn’t save Joshi from a sixth place finish.

Five minutes later Zamani picked up another elimination. Zamani opened to 1,500,000 from the cutoff and Vieira moved all in for 10,215,368 from the small blind before Rodrigo ‘PAPAI_PIG’ Dos Santos Caprioli moved all in over the top. Zamani folded and Vieira showed while Caprioli held . The flop move Vieira ahead. The turn was a safe card for Vieira but the river gave Caprioli the pot to send Vieira out in fifth.

Zamani was the next player out. First to act, Zamani raised to 4,000,000 with and Caprioli made it 7,200,000 from the small blind with . Zamani responded by moving all in for 12,150,301 and Caprioli called. Neither player was able to make a pair on the runout and Zamani was eliminated in fourth when Caprioli’s jack kicker played.

Clacher picked up his first elimination of the night after 12 minutes of three-handed play. Clacher moved all in from the button for 19,115,720 with and Rebello called for 13,944,804 from the big blind with . The flop gave Rebello extra outs but the turn gave Clacher a set. The river paired Rebello but it wasn’t good enough to save him from a third place result.

Heads up play began with the players nearly tied in chips and t,he pair battled for 12 minutes before Clacher ended things. Caprioli raised to 2,000,000 from the button and Clacher called. The flop was and both players checked. The turn was the and Clached check-called Caprioli’s bet of 2,883,200. The river was the and Clacher fired 1,250,000. Caprioli moved all in for 12,087,996 and Clacher called. Caprioli showed for a missed straight draw while Clacher tabled for top and bottom pair to eliminate Caprioli in second place and win his first career bracelet.

Final Table Payouts

1. Michael Clacher – $297,496.30
2. Rodrigo Dos Santos Caprioli – $215,892.45
3. Olivier Rebello – $156,673.09
4. Martin Zamani – $113,697.09
5. Joao Vieira – $82,510.25
6. Neel Joshi – $59,877.78
7. Rich Dixon – $43,453.18
8. Viktor Zsemlye – $31,534.07
9. Jose Luis Davila – $22,884.32