Mario Fata of Juneau first nudged his way into World Series of Poker money in 2022, when he cashed in twice in Las Vegas at the world’s most lucrative and prestigious house of cards.
This time around, he’s making a bigger statement.
Fata has cashed five times already in the 2023 WSOP, which is nearly halfway through a schedule that includes 115 events – 95 live and 20 online – and runs through July 18 at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas in Sin City.
Fata’s five cashes tie him with pro Adam Hendrix of Anchorage for the most cashes by an Alaskan in the 54th annual tournament.
Fata’s five cashes have reaped him $15,852, the second-most earned by an Alaskan in this WSOP, trailing only Hendrix, whose five cashes have reaped him $84,136.
Thus far, 21 different Alaskans from 10 different cities/towns have cashed at this WSOP.
Besides his five recent cashes in the WSOP, Fata this month also has cashed twice in WSOP Circuit events for a combined $2,405.
Third among Alaskans in cashes and money earned in this WSOP is Jacob Thibodeau of Juneau, whose three cashes have earned him $13,882.
In earnings, Andrew Rogers of Anchorage sits fourth among Alaskans with the $13,697 he bagged for finishing 18th among 3,773 entries in the $800 No-Limit Hold ‘Em Deepstack event. In fifth is Debra McCravey of Anchorage, who pocketed $13,194 by finishing 39th in a field of 1,241 in the $3,000 6-Handed No-Limit Hold ‘Em event.
A familiar Alaska poker name resurfaced recently when Wayne McGregor of Wasilla cashed in the $1,500 Big O event. McGregor finished 187th in a field of 1,458 to earn $2,407. McGregor owns 15 career WSOP cashes and another three cashes in WSOP circuit events. He cashed in four WSOP events in 2017 and three events in 2016.
Besides Fata, Hendrix and Thibodeau, two other Alaskans have cashed multiple times in this WSOP. Matthew Pagels of Anchorage has cashed twice for a combined $7,205 and Ryankoma Fenton of Fairbanks has cashed twice for a combined $3,123.
54th annual World Series of Poker – Las Vegas, Nev.
Alaskans who have cashed
Event 3 — $1,000 Mystery Millions No-Limit Hold ‘Em (18,188 entries)
Place, Name, Hometown, Winnings
112) Jacob Thibodeau, Juneau, $7,380.
328) Adam Hendrix, Anchorage, $4,680.
609) Mario Fata, Juneau, $2,470.
625) Michael Ferguson, Anchorage, $2,470.
969) Paul Williams, Eagle River, $2,000.
Online Event 1 — $333 No-Limit Hold ‘Em Triple Treys Summer Tip-Off (1,330 entries)
118) Adam Hendrix, Anchorage, $1,206.
Event 13 — $600 Pot-Limit Omaha Deepstack (3,200 entries)
443) Herman Meiners, Anchorage, $962.
Event 15 – 6-Handed No-Limit Hold ‘Em (2,454 entries)
77) Jacob Thibodeau, Juneau, $5,088.
Event 16 — $25,000 High Roller No-Limit Hold ‘Em 8-Handed (264 entries)
30) Adam Hendrix, Anchorage, $50,000.
Event 17 — $1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better (1,143 entries)
139) Perry Green, Anchorage, $2,630.
Event 18 — $300 Gladiators of Poker No-Limit Hold ‘Em (23,088 entries)
476) Jared Nott, Willow, $2,711.
1,025) Ryankoma Fenton, Fairbanks, $1,119.
1,429) Carol Harmon, Seward, $832.
1,793) Matthew Pagels, Anchorage, $694.
2,141) Eric Smith, Homer, $601.
2,475) Jeremy Hamey, Juneau, $525.
Event 21 — $1,000 Pot-Limit Omaha 8-Handed (2,017 entries)
154) Mario Fata, Juneau, $2,209.
190) Ryankoma Fenton, Fairbanks, $2,003.
Event 24 — $1,500 Razz (556 entries)
69) Andy Jeh, Homer, $2,634.
Online Event 5 — $400 No-Limit Hold ‘Em 8-Max (1,488 entries)
98) Mario Fata, Juneau, $1,676.
Event 31 — $600 Mixed No-Limit Hold ‘Em, Pot-Limit Omaha Deepstack (2,759 entries)
43) Mario Fata, Juneau, $4,201.
Event 32 — $3,000 6-Handed No-Limit Hold ‘Em (1,241 entries)
39) Debra McCravey, Anchorage, $13,194.
Event 35 — $10,000 Secret Bounty No-Limit Hold ‘Em (568 entries)
37) Adam Hendrix, Anchorage, $17,635.
Event 37 — $2,000 No-Limit Hold ‘Em (1,962 entries)
249) Rylan Whilden, Anchorage, $3,202.
Event 39 — $1,500 MONSTER STACK No-Limit Hold ‘Em (8,317 entries)
131) Adam Hendrix, Anchorage, $9,020.
284) Matthew Pagels, Anchorage, $6,808.
368) Mario Fata, Juneau, $5,296.
Event 41 — $1,500 Big O (1,458 entries)
187) Wayne McGregor, Wasilla, $2,407.
201) Andrejs Prost, Anchorage, $2,407.
Event 42 — $800 8-Handed No-Limit Hold ‘Em Deepstack (3,773 entries)
18) Andrew Rodgers, Anchorage, $13,697.
314) Edward House, Soldotna, $1,772.
393) Johnathan Thomas, North Pole, $1,401.