The WSOP quietly added a banger of a final table to today's schedule with very little fanfare – and it ended up being a second bracelet and $228,825 payday for Ethan ‘Rampage’ Yau.
That was less than the value of the 'super grail' Pokémon card he wore around his neck at the table, a 2005 Rayquaza Gold Star that's among the most sought-after cards in the world.
Rampage beat Adrian Mateos heads-up and denied the Spanish pro his seventh bracelet. This was the first time Mateos has lost heads-up at the WSOP.
Talking to PokerOrg afterward, Rampage said, “Competing against some of the best players in the world is not easy, and to find a way to come out on top as a video content creator is pretty cool. I haven't won a tournament in almost three years now so this one’s pretty special.
“I think this is my ninth final table this year, and I haven't been able to win, and I just keep coming close and losing, coming close and losing, and there's a lot of pain.”
We had to ask about the Pokémon card. Was that a good luck charm?
“This was the super grail card that I've always wanted to have,” he said. “It’s shot up in price so much I decided I had to sell it. Then I won pretty much its worth in two days. For me, that was the card speaking to me, saying, 'Don't sell me!'”
Nick Schulman was looking for his ninth WSOP bracelet.Blockbuster finish for online event
The $5K WSOP Online NLH High Roller 6-Max Championship began online before the final six returned to Paris Las Vegas to play for the bracelet alongside the day's live events.
It was one of the most stacked line-ups of the summer, with Nick Schulman looking for his ninth WSOP bracelet (first online), Mateos looking for his seventh, and Rampage after his second.
Final table chip stacks
- Nick Schulman: 1,246,645
- Ethan ‘Rampage’ Yau: 1,167,526
- Shannon Shorr: 944,900
- Adrian Mateos: 840,900
- Dejan Kaladurdevic: 793,089
- Pedro Nevez: 656,940
It wasn’t to be nine for Schulman. He came in with the most chips and ended up being eliminated first, by Mateos, losing his last chips with 
against 
on a 
runout.
Rampage took charge of proceedings five-handed, establishing a decent chip lead over Mateos.
And those two would go on to contest the bracelet heads-up.
It was a back-and-forth battle, but it was Rampage’s night – a significant point on his poker journey that he celebrated live in Paris Las Vegas.
Mateos had to settle for second place and $175,150. Shorr was third, Kaladurdevic fourth, Nevez fifth, and Schulman sixth.
It was a fitting showcase for one of the strongest final tables of the summer.
