Wednesday, December 30th, 2020 | Written by Renee
The domestic portion of the 2020 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event is now in the books and Joseph Hebert from Metairie, Louisiana outclassed his co-finalists to take home the top prize of $1,553,256. The 38-year-old now advances to the special heads-up finale where he will take on Damian Salas, the winner of the event’s international leg.
Hebert led the chips when the final table action began at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas on December 28. He managed to maintain his dominance through to the end, defeating Ron Jenkins heads-up to bring home the trophy. Jenkins walked away with $1,002,340 for his runner-up finish.
Tuesday, December 29th, 2020 | Written by Renee
The finalists for the US leg of the 2020 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event met again on December 28 at the Rio All Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas to play down to a winner, but only eight of them were able to compete at the live final table as one player had been disqualified for testing positive for COVID-19.
Upeshka De Silva was not allowed to participate in the domestic final table after his latest COVID-19 test yielded a positive result. The three-time WSOP bracelet winner was reportedly disqualified just hours prior to the start of the final action.
COVID-19 test. After qualifying in eighth online at
WSOP.com, he now receives
$98,813.
The news threw another wrinkle into the revamped 2020 Main Event that already offered a unique online/live hybrid. The international half of the event played out on
GGPoker with a final table at King’s Casino in the Czech Republic.
Left out of the WSOP Main Event
Coming into the final table, De Silva was one of the most experienced players in the field. He has three WSOP bracelets and
$3.1 million in live tournament winnings.
Podcaster and streamer
Final Table starts tomorrow at NOON so had to get this story out tonight.
De Silva Reveals All
De Silva explained more about the situation in a series of follow-up tweets, with the three-time bracelet-winner explaining that he had been quarantining since Dec. 10 but ultimately tested positive on Dec. 20.
The following day, he immediately reached out to
WSOP Vice President Jack Effel (pictured). The two discussed the situation, and Effel asked De Silva whether he had tested himself that day. De Silva had not, leading Effel to say that he d see De Silva on Sunday, Dec. 27 for the compulsory final table tests.
De Silva said that he felt very scared and was worried about going public with the situation. Although testing negative on Saturday, Dec. 26, a positive result at the official test the following day led to his apparent disqualification.