The California player picked up his first WSOP Circuit ring and a six-figure payday
Luis Yepez emerged victorious at the WSOP Circuit Southern Indiana Main Event, besting a field of 338 entries in the $1,700 buy-in No-Limit Hold ’em tournament. With his win, Yepez took home $111,979 and earned his first WSOP Circuit gold ring, adding a significant milestone to his poker career.
Originally from Venezuela and now a California resident, Yepez’s victory not only boosted his bankroll but also pushed his total tournament earnings past the $1 million mark. This is Yepez’s second-largest win to date, his top finish being in 2015 at the Caribbean Poker Tour main event in Punta Cana, where he earned $185,615. His Southern Indiana triumph also secured him 480 Card Player Player of the Year points, bringing his annual total to 1,570 and placing him in the top 500 for the 2024 Player of the Year rankings.
The event saw a mix of experienced pros and rising players competing for a share of the prize pool. Yepez was one of the 52 players to cash, joined by well-known names like bracelet holders Alan Percal, who finished 41st, Jeremy Eyer in 31st, and Ronnie Day in 27th. Other deep finishers included Jacob Bazeley, a past winner at the Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open, who ended in 22nd place, and Robert Hankins, a ten-time ring winner, who just missed the final table with an 11th-place exit.
Yepez faced a tough final table and battled heads-up against Niles Lawless for several hours before ultimately securing the victory. Lawless, though finishing second, also achieved a personal best in tournament winnings, taking home $74,244.
