Every poker player dreams of the moment when preparation, opportunity, and a little bit of luck collide. For Imari Love, that dream became reality in December 2025 — and it all started on ACR Poker.
After qualifying online through ACR satellites, Imari earned his way to WSOP Paradise in the Bahamas, fired multiple events, and capped the trip by winning the $2,500 Turbo Bounty Closer, securing a WSOP bracelet and etching his name into poker history.
We caught up with Imari to talk about his journey from grinding satellites to celebrating the most meaningful win of his career.
How did your journey to WSOP Paradise begin with qualifying for the package on ACR?
The Super Main was the dream package. I fired the 1k satellites on ACR a handful of times, and finally hit.
What went through your mind when you realized you’d won a $30K WSOP Paradise package online?
I am NOT someone who gets super animated and amped… but when I won this package, I literally ran around my house yelling and jumping on the beds.
What was it like traveling to the Bahamas knowing this entire experience started on ACR?
Awesome. My wife and two kids flew in with me, and even though they left halfway through my trip, we got to make some cool memories.
What was it like playing in the $25K WSOP Paradise Super Main Event, and how did that experience compare to other events you’ve played?
It’s a very unique experience, given the buy-in structure and rebuys. I’ve never played in a $26K before, but it’s the rare event where everyone can likely tell that you’re only firing one bullet — and that allows them to apply pressure.
That said, my table was as soft as I could ever ask for at these stakes. Unfortunately, I busted on Day 1 in a trippy hand where I ran QQ into KK on an 8-high flop.
Heading into the final event of the series, what made you decide to play the $2,500 Turbo Bounty Closer?
I was there to fire and give it my all. I planned on buying into all the events that were under $10K.
At what point in the tournament did you start thinking you had a real shot to win it?
It’s funny — earlier that morning I got to play basketball with Tony Parker and The Grinder. So when Day 2 started (I was 64 out of 86), I was already on an emotional high, texting all my buddies.
At first, I was just thinking about securing a cash. I never really had a big stack, and I honestly didn’t think I was going to pull it off until I reached the final table.
What did it mean to win the final event of WSOP Paradise and capture a WSOP bracelet?
I’ve put in so much time and grind into this game over the past couple of decades. I’ve always been a strong, profitable player — but in the back of my mind, I wondered if I was destined to always be the bridesmaid and never the bride.
Then heads-up, when I lost an all-in preflop with AK versus K2 after a 2 hit the river, I thought, this just isn’t meant to be.
But I was wrong.
How does winning a bracelet after qualifying through ACR make this moment even more special?
It’s rare that someone knows the exact date of the most fun day of their life — but I know mine: December 17, 2025.
Doing it through a satellite is even cooler, especially given how expensive it is at Atlantis.
What would you say to ACR players grinding satellites right now, hoping for a run like yours?
Dreams come true. I’m living proof.
A Run That Started With a Click
Imari Love’s story is exactly what online satellites are all about — turning a shot taken from home into a life-changing experience on poker’s biggest stage. From winning a $30K package on ACR, to sharing the journey with his family, to lifting a WSOP bracelet in the Bahamas, Imari’s run is proof that the grind can pay off in unforgettable ways.
If you’re firing satellites on ACR right now, chasing your own dream seat — keep going. You never know when your story might be next.
Congratulations again to Imari Love — WSOP bracelet winner and ACR qualifier. 🏆
