The LA Poker Traditional has a protracted and storied historical past within the poker world, and few gamers would know that historical past higher than Michael Nia. The Southern California native has been enjoying this occasion for greater than 15 years, and earned a particular piece of {hardware} at The Commerce On line casino & Resort.
After 4 days of dramatic motion, the 71-year-old Nia reached a heads-up cope with Elvyn Bello, incomes the victory within the $10,000 LAPC Most important Occasion.
“I’m severely honored to have been in a position to take this one down as a result of it’s LAPC,” Nia advised PokerNews whereas making ready to take his winner images. “It was a dream since 2010 for me to truly take this down and take the trophy residence.”
The distinguished event attracted 145 entries over two beginning flights and an hour of late registration on Day 2. That created a complete prize pool of $1,348,500, cut up up among the many high 19 finishers.
Nia takes residence the biggest share, incomes $308,270 for the biggest event rating of his profession.
2025 LAPC Most important Occasion Closing Desk Outcomes
* Denotes heads-up deal
Star-Studded LAPC Subject
The LAPC Most important Occasion area was filled with notable names, together with start-of-day chip chief Faraz Jaka. Nia was fast to erase that deficit and declare the chip benefit on the opening degree of the day, staying on the high of the counts all through the remainder of the ultimate desk.
Nia defined that he was ready for the excessive degree of competitors that this LAPC occasion supplied. “The gamers that I’ve been enjoying with the previous days, each time I performed with that particular person, I modified my technique as a result of people would additionally change the way in which they play.”
“After I lose a hand,” Nia continued, “I don’t lose it, I don’t lose my power, and after I win, I don’t present any celebration or something, as a result of that’s simply the method and it’s a protracted course of.”
That course of served him nicely, watching his rivals head to the payout desk one after the other all through the day. That included WSOP bracelet winners Jonathan Pastore and Frank Brannan, plus high-stakes veteran Anthony Hu.
Others to earn a spot on the remaining desk have been Cecile Ticherfatine, Gevork Kasabyan and Adam Weinraub.
Heads-Up Deal
Jaka survived to three-handed play, however his exit in third place noticed Nia and Bello name for the ground to debate a deal. As soon as they’d an settlement in place, Bello celebrated together with his rail because the consequence and $300,000 runner-up prize represented the largest rating of his younger profession.
“I been getting ready for this type of second,” Bello advised PokerNews shortly after play had concluded. “It means loads as a result of lots of people don’t imagine that I’m able to being right here competing with actually good gamers, however that is just the start.”
“I’ve solely been enjoying tournaments for a yr and a half, and with this $300,000 it will likely be nearly 1,000,000, so that you’re going to see sooner or later extra of me, so that they gonna know me quickly.”
As for the champion, Nia was in a position to replicate on his accomplishment and success right here at The Commerce.
“It means loads, since you come to the on line casino and grind all day lengthy, spend a lot time and a lot cash, a lot effort for one aim, and that it to attain first place in a event.”
Nia defined that he liked the extent of competitors and that’s what deliver him again to this particular venue. “I’m a retired particular person, I do that for enjoyable and a problem, Commerce has been one of many higher card rooms within the business general.”
“It’s an enormous pleasure attaining this degree of success in a event.”
Josh Noy
International Dwell Occasions Assistant Supervisor
