First 2014 WSOP bracelet won in casino employees event

It took an extra day, but Roland Reparejo won the first bracelet event of the 45th annual World Series of Poker on Thursday, prevailing in the $500 buy-in Casino Employees No-Limit Hold ’em tournament.

Reparejo, 55, who worked for three decades as a chef before becoming a poker dealer, needed only five minutes to defeat Corey Emery in their heads-up duel and took home an $82,835 payday.

The tournament extended into an unscheduled third day thanks to a wild final table that saw numerous double-ups. Emery, who finished 33rd in the 2010 WSOP Main Event, collected $51,037.

This tournament drew 876 entries and generated a prize pool of $394,200. The top 90 finishers made the money.

The $25,000 buy-in Mixed Max No-Limit Hold ’em event will resume Friday at 2 p.m. PDT as Jason Mo and Vanessa Selbst battle for the $871,148 first prize.

Selbst, a two-time bracelet winner, eliminated Al Decarolis in third place just before 11 p.m. J.C. Tran, who reached the final table of last year’s Main Event, finished fourth.

Chip count:

Mo: 5.86 million

Selbst: 3.96 million