WSOP 2010 Event 15 - Frank Kasella Wins Stud

Event #15 of the 2010 WSOP was the $10,000 Seven Card Stud 8 or Better World Championship.  170 players turned out to take their shot at the 2nd Stud World Championship bracelet of the series and $447,446 in prize money.

WSOP 2010 Event 15 winner Frank Kasella

A small but elite field started on Day One and it wasn't until day three that the money bubble was reached.  Toto Leoida, Blair Rodman, and George Lind were among the players that made the money, but fell short of the final table.  Vladimir Schmelev not only made his third final table of this WSOP, but also his third World Championship final table.  Kirill Rabtsov led the field heading into the final table with Jennifer Harman right on his tail.  Here are the final eight players and starting chip counts at the final table:

Kirill Rabtsov	882,000
Jennifer Harman Traniello	861,000
Frank Kassela	800,000
John Juanda	787,000
Steve Zolotow	684,000
Allen Kessler	467,000
Dario Minieri	316,000
Vladimir Schmelev	304,000

Schmelev would ultimately fall short of the bracelet, finishing in 7th place.  Frank Kassela went on a heater late in this final table to take a commanding chip lead into heads-up play with Allen "Chainsaw" Kessler.  He led 4 Million to 1 Million in chips for Kessler.

Kessler was near the felt a couple of times and managed double-ups, but he never got over the initial 1 Million in chips.  His final hand saw him go all-in on third street with 10-8-9 against the buried sevens of Kassela.  Kessler improved to eights on fourth, but Kassela made queens-up on fifth.  Kessler caught tens-up on sixth and had seven outs on the river to win the hand.  He failed to hit and Frank Kasella is the Stud 8 or Better World Champion.

Frank Kasella took home $447,446 in prize money, but more importantly he took home the coveted WSOP bracelet.

Below are the final table payouts:

1	Frank Kassela	447,446
2	Allen Kessler	276,486
3	Jennifer Harman Traniello	173,159
4	Steve Zolotow	125,379
5	John Juanda	97,989
6	Kirill Rabtsov	78,142
7	Vladimir Schmelev	63,457
8	Dario Minieri	52,366