Bay Area soccer coach Stefan Clemens earned over $151,000, his biggest cash to date
California’s Stefan Clemens, a Bay Area soccer coach and entrepreneur, captured his first World Series of Poker Circuit (WSOPC) gold ring after winning the Graton Casino Main Event in Rohnert Park. Clemens outlasted a 520-entry field in the $1,700 No-Limit Hold’em tournament, securing the top prize of $151,543 and boosting his career tournament earnings to more than $180,000.
The event generated a prize pool of $787,800, easily surpassing its $500,000 guarantee. A total of 79 players reached the money, with payouts starting at $3,444. By the time the final table was set, Clemens had already positioned himself near the top of the counts, just behind chip leader Abishek Paliwal. However, it was Paliwal who became the first elimination, setting the tone for an unpredictable finale.
From there, Clemens steadily built momentum. He knocked out Visnu Chada in fifth place and later dispatched local pro Noel Rodriguez in fourth. After a long stretch of cautious play, Clemens found another key elimination when Norman Yeung exited in third, setting the stage for a heads-up battle against Jonathan Warda.
The duel began with nearly even stacks, but Clemens inched ahead. The final hand came quickly when Warda moved all-in with pocket threes, only to be called by Clemens holding K♠7♦. The board ran A♠K♦4♦5♦10♠, pairing Clemens’ king and sealing the victory. Warda collected $103,315 for the runner-up finish, his first career six-figure cash.
Clemens, who previously served as an assistant coach at Cal-Berkeley and now runs two youth soccer businesses, credited his competitive sports background with sharpening his poker approach. He emphasized patience and composure throughout the three-day event, noting that while poker may not be physical, the mental battles and strategy mirror the challenges of athletics.
The victory also awarded Clemens 840 Card Player Player of the Year points, his first qualifying result of 2025, adding another milestone to what he described as a “surreal” experience.
