Bob Lauria Finally Gets His Gold Ring
Bob Lauria Finally Gets His Gold Ring
After Several Close Calls and Final Table Appearances in Recent Years, Connecticut-Based Touring Pro Earns a Breakthrough Tournament Victory
Las Vegas, NV (April 16, 2009) - Many unusual things can happen at 3 am on the Las Vegas Strip. Just about everything any one could possibly want is available to satisfy our most primordial desires. But at least one thing is not for sale. It's a personal achievement that must be earned the hard way -- by overcoming the odds, playing better than your opponents, and sometimes even getting a little lucky. It's why a World Series of Poker title is truly priceless.
Indeed, gold rings and gold bracelets, the benchmarks of accomplishment in tournament poker, are usually earned by those rare individuals who day in and day out earn their right to become poker champions via many hours, days, weeks, months, and even years spent playing and perfecting their game.
Bob Lauria, a 30-year-old touring poker pro from West Haven, CT is a case study in perseverance. The former college student-turned tournament professional has been knocking at victory's door for years. He made final tables at last year's WSOP in Las Vegas and came close to victory at a recent Circuit event held at Caesars in Atlantic City, with two more final tables. In fact, this was Lauria's fifth final table appearance in a major tournament this year, which places him in the top 50 in most player standings. In this case, the fifth time proved to be a charm.
Lauria topped a highly-competitive field of 74 players who entered the $500 buy-in Pot-Limit Omaha tournament held at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. In addition to picking up $11,485 in prize money, Lauria was also presented with his first WSOP Circuit gold ring, which is the ultimate achievement for winning a Circuit tournament.
Lauria has come close to victory many times. He made final tables at last year's WSOP in Las Vegas and came close to victory at the most recent Circuit event held at Caesars in Atlantic City.
'I'm playing poker full time now,' Lauria said afterward. 'My goal at the start of this year was to be able to survive playing for a full season. But now, I am to the point where my goal is to play my best and win whenever I can.'
-- by Nolan Dalla
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