Loren Klein’s win in the WSOP $2,500 Mixed Big Bet is one for the poker history books. For this first time since Doyle Brunson in 1976-79, a player has won a WSOP bracelet in four consecutive years.
Klein came back from being the short stack when 7-handed final table began, working his way to the top of the chipstacks, then holding off Ryan Hughes for the win, collecting the $127,808 first prize.
We were talking together in Reno last August, shortly after Klein won a bracelet for the third year in a row, on how many tournament he’d play to go for tying Doyle’s record. At the time we talked, neither of us realized it was Doyle who last accomplished this feat.
He had taken down the $10k PLO for a career-best $1,.018 million payday, and here he was en route to winning the $160 8-Game Mix in the Ante Up Poker Tour event in Reno. Yes, that says $160 buy-in, just 2 months after a million-dollar-win (#WhoLovesItMore).
Previous to the $10k PLO bracelet win, Klein won the 2017 $1500 PLO and the 2016 $1500 NLH/PLO Mix – he was also runner-up in the 2016 $10k PLO.
His poker-heater is not restricted to the WSOP, for Klein also has back-to-back RunItUP Reno Main Event wins and a HPT Reno Main Event win during this same timeframe.
Dan is the founder of PokerLiveUpdates, a veteran poker tournament reporter who can be found wandering somewhat aimlessly through tournament arenas worldwide. As a founding member of FunTour2.0, he searches for the best in craft beer at all locations in the poker world.
