Breakout performances at the 2010 World Series of Poker

 

The World Series of Poker can definitely make a poker player famous, and every year the WSOP produces some unlikely heroes, such as Jeffrey Lisandro from last year’s WSOP. In this article I will look at the poker players who had breakout performances at the 2010 WSOP, going from second or third tier poker pros to highly sought after commodities, and likely will be rewarded with sponsorship deals if they so choose.

1. Allen Kessler: The ‘Chainsaw’ as Kessler is known had an impressive 8 cashes at the 2010 WSOP, including a 2^nd place finish in the $10,000 Stud 8 Championship. The long-time poker pro is quietly approaching $2 million in career tournament earnings.
2. Dan Heimiller: Heimiller is another longtime poker pro who for the most part has stayed under the radar. However, all that might change after his 2010 WSOP performance which includes 7 cashes, and 3 Top 10 finishes. Heimiller just missed winning his second WSOP bracelet with a runner-up finish in the $1,500 Omaha 8 tournament.
3. Vladimir Schmelev: The Russian banker came out of nowhere in 2010. Schmelev only had 4 cashes in the 2010 WSOP, but they were all final tables, including three in Championship Events. Schmelev earned over $1.25 million in prize-money at the WSOP.
4. Frank Kassela : Kasella has all but wrapped up the Player of the Year award thanks to his two bracelets and 5 cashes in 2010. Kasella almost pulled off the trifecta when he finished 3^rd in the $25k NLHE tournament. He is still alive in the Main Event as well, so Kasella’s WSOP is not quite over yet.
5. Dan Kelly: Better known as ‘djk123’ Kelly won himself a spot on the Brunson 10 when he won the $25k NLHE tournament. Kelly is one of the most successful Internet poker players of all-time despite being only 21 years-old.
6. David Sands : Sands was also in competition for the Brunson 10 spot, which he earned by accumulating the most Brunson 10 points –Kelly took the easy way out by winning a bracelet, which granted you an automatic spot on the Brunson 10. Sands accumulated 5 cashes throughout the 2010 WSOP including 1 final table. But more impressive was Sands penchant to constantly make deep runs in tournaments.