Restaurant Manager Benny Chen Wins $1.2 Million in Inaugural WSOP Millionaire Maker Tournament
On the morning of June 4, Benny Chen of Prince Edward Island, Canada was a restaurant manager; at the day’s end, he was a millionaire.
The 32 year-old amateur poker player bested a massive field of 6,344 entries to win his first gold bracelet and the first ever “Millionaire Maker” No Limit Hold’em Event at the 44th Annual World Series of Poker at Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino.
Chen emerged victorious from a lengthy final table, defeating doctor and commercial pilot Michael Bennington heads-up for the $1,199,104 payday. Chen joins the ranks of WSOP-made millionaires. He is now the 257th millionaire the WSOP has created and the 26th player to earn a million dollar payday in a WSOP tournament outside of the Main Event.
In true Las Vegas style Chen as escorted on stage by two stunning Bally’s Jubilee! showgirls and presented with a giant $1 million poker chip in addition to his coveted gold bracelet at his award ceremony, which took place the afternoon of June 5.
This victory is what poker dreams are made of. Chen turned his $3,000 investment (he was one of many players who took advantage of the event’s single re-entry option) it into almost 400 times that amount–a life-changing sum of money whether you are a poker pro, an entrepreneur, a blue collar worker, or, in the case of Benny Chen, a restaurant manager. When the World Series of Poker announced plans for the Millionaire Maker tournament, people knew it was going to be special. Thanks to two starting flights and a single re-entry option, the 6,343 entries made for the largest single starting day field in poker history. The tournament has become the largest non-WSOP Main Event field in poker history, the eighth largest poker tournament of all time and all nine players at the final table earned six figures.
If you’re looking to get lucky, try your luck at a Caesars Entertainment resort. The company has created 717 millionaires since 1987; with those player winnings fast approaching the $2 billion mark, the company has announced Millionaire Maker powered by Total Rewards, a celebration of these guests’ winnings and a promotion aimed at making even more millionaires. There are a growing number of ways to become a millionaire, even a multi-millionaire, at Caesars Entertainment resorts nation-wide. With special events and promotions in a number of key markets Caesars Entertainment is consistently pioneering games to offer players innovative and entertaining ways become the next instant millionaire.
For official news and the latest updates from the 2013 World Series of Poker, visit: WSOP.com
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