Bounty Hunter claims second gold
The 2009 WSOP $1,500 buy-in Pot-Limit Omaha High-Low Split champion is Brandon ‘Bounty Hunter’ Cantu, from Washington. Cantu collected $228,867 for first place and was awarded his second WSOP gold bracelet. He was the runner up in the $1,500 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em event, which completed last week (Event #39). Cantu has cashed in three events this year.
Cantu’s first WSOP gold bracelet win took place in what was his first time ever to cash at the WSOP. He won a $1,500 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em event which drew 2,776 players (at the time, this was the largest non-Main Event tournament in WSOP history).
Cantu finished 20th in the 2008 WSOP Main Event. He was one of the chip leaders late in the tournament, but suffered a brutal final few hours and busted out in what for him was disappointing fashion, despite collecting a $257,000 paycheck.
Cantu is a 28-year-old professional poker player. He was born and raised in Vancouver, WA – which is located just north of Portland, OR. Following his first WSOP win in 2006, Cantu relocated to Las Vegas. But he spends much of his time traveling and playing on the tournament circuit.
Cantu is one of poker’s most popular young players. His final table appearances always draw big enthusiastic crowds of supporters. This finale was no different as a standing-room only crowd packed the ESPN secondary stage.
According to official records, Cantu now has 2 wins, 4 final table appearances, and 10 in-the-money finishes at the WSOP. His career WSOP earnings now total $1,464,642.
On finally winning his second WSOP gold bracelet, after coming up just short in last week’s tournament: “This is really special, especially because I should have won a week ago. That loss was really hard for me to take. This one really was special.”
On the competition at the final table: “I wasn’t the best player at the table. I wasn’t event close to the best player. I have played very limited amounts of Pot-Limit Omaha Eight-or-Better. It worked out, but I don’t think I was the best player at the table.”
On the possibility of finishing second twice within a week at the WSOP: “That’s exactly what went through my mind. But I never gave up. I event said when I was very low on chips, all I need to do is double and double again and I will be right there. I knew I would have a better chance.”
The final table included two former WSOP gold bracelet winners – Lee Watkinson (1 win) and Brandon Cantu (1 win). These two players ended up finishing 1 and 2 in the results.
The runner up was Lee Watkinson, from Cheney, WA. Watkinson won his gold bracelet in 2006 in the $10,000 buy-in Pot-Limit Omaha championship. Watkinson also made it to the final table of the 2007 WSOP Main Event.
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