The European leg of the World Series of Poker is currently underway in Rozvadov in the Czech Republic, and many players have made their way to what could be dubbed a European poker capital in search of ever-elusive bracelets. And while the number of bracelets up for grabs is very limited, 888poker ambassador Vivian Saliba managed to defy the odds to claim her first WSOP gold.
Vivian managed to outlast a 229-player field in a €2,000 Pot Limit Omaha event to pick up her very first career bracelet and over €90,000 in prize money.
This was an important moment for Saliba, who’s been a member of the 888poker team for seven years now. She played a lot of PLO during her early poker years, so it is only fitting that her first bracelet would come in an event featuring a variation that made her fall in love with the game.
Proverbial Monkey Off the Back
Winning that first bracelet is one of the most important moments in a poker player’s career, and this was especially true for Saliba who fell just short several times before.
In fact, this was her fifth WSOP final table appearance, and she had a couple of more deep runs in bracelet events. The closest she got was a fourth place finish in the Crazy Eights event back in 2019. She also finished fifth in another Pot Limit Omaha WSOP event in 2022.
As she explained in the winner’s interview, she felt really zoned in this time around, and when the tournament was finally over, it was a mix of happiness and relief.
In total, it took seventeen hours of play from start to finish, and, interestingly enough, Vivian was the only female player in the 229-strong field. However, her PLO experience really came through for her as this was the game that she played a lot during her early poker years back in her native Brazil.
When the event finally reached the heads-up stage, it took Saliba two levels to overcome her final obstacle, Germany’s Markus Anheier, who picked up just shy of €60k for his runner-up finish.
Proudly Carrying the 888poker Banner Since 2017
Vivian Saliba has become one of the most recognizable faces on the 888poker team, having been the brand ambassador since 2017.
Her poker career has been a steady one, with her Hendon Mob results dating back to 2014. Over the span of a decade, she managed to bring her tournament winnings to over $900,000 playing mostly in smaller buy-in events, showing true love and dedication for the game.
Her partnership with 888poker allowed her to spread that love to countless people across the globe while travelling the world for some of the biggest and most exciting tournaments around.
There is no telling what’s next for Saliba as she’s not showing any signs of slowing down, and it seems her love for poker is as strong as it’s ever been. If anything, this latest WSOP Europe victory will probably give even more wind to her sails and encourage her to continue his pursuit of poker greatness!