Been tracking Alaskans at the annual World Series of Poker for most of the last decade, but until recently Nicholas Ronalds of Anchorage never crossed my radar.
When he did, he lit up the laptop screen in a big way.
Ronalds recently recorded the top Alaska placing at the world’s most lucrative and prestigious tournament when he finished 10th in the $500 Freezeout No-Limit Hold ‘Em event that drew 5,342 entrants.
Ronalds, the last player eliminated before the final table of nine folks with chips and a chance, earned $19,344. That’s the second-most money an Alaskan has won in a single event at the 2023 WSOP in Sin City, behind only Anchorage poker pro Adam Hendrix, whose nine cashes includes takes of $50,000 and $48,800.
And to think that prior to Ronalds’ run in Las Vegas the only poker info found online about him was his sixth-place finish in the 2022 Fur Rondy Alaska Hold ‘Em Tournament of Champions.
Ronalds was tantalizingly close to the final table when he went all-in with a pair of queens against eventual fifth-place finisher Muaaz Gani’s ace-king. Gani gained a king on the flop and an ace on the river to eliminate Ronalds.
Meanwhile, Robert Sun of Anchorage delivered an impressive showing in the $1,000 SENIORS No-Limit Hold ‘Em Championship with his 54th-place finish. The WSOP website has not yet listed the number of entrants, but this event for players 50 and older traditionally lures a field of thousands – 7,188 players entered it in the 2022 WSOP.
Sun earned $13,589. And it wasn’t his first taste of success in the SENIORS tournament. He finished 22nd out of 5,404 entrants in 2021 to collect $20,016.
Hendrix continues to prosper in the WSOP. His ninth cash of this year’s event came when he finished 17th among 731 entrants in the $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Championship and pocketed $48,800.
Hendrix’s ninth cashes have generated $143,146 in earnings. Last year, he led Alaskans with 14 WSOP cashes that earned him $317,926.
Hendrix this year has earned more than $554,000.
With the WSOP about halfway through its schedule, 29 different Alaskans have finished in the money for a total of 45 cashes. Alaskans who have cashed come from 11 different cities or towns.
54th annual World Series of Poker – Las Vegas, Nev.
Alaskans who have cashed
Place, Name, Hometown, Winnings
Event 3 — $1,000 Mystery Millions No-Limit Hold ‘Em (18,188 entries)
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.
Online Event 7 — $500 Pot-Limit Omaha 8-Max (608 entries)
58) Jacob Thibodeau, Juneau, $1,414.
Event 45 — $1,500 Mixed Omaha Hi Low (1,091 entries)
142) Adam Hendrix, Anchorage, $2,409.
Event 46 — $500 Freezeout No-Limit Hold ‘Em (5,342 entries)
10) Nicolas Ronalds, Anchorage, $19,344.
318) Christopher Fournier, Anchorage, $1,296.
715) Adam Hendrix, Anchorage, $800.
755) Joseph Insinna, Anchorage, $800.
Online Event 8 — $3,200 No-Limit Hold ‘Em High Roller (Not available)
54) Adam Hendrix, Anchorage, $7,001.
Event 48 ($1,000 SENIORS No-Limit Hold ‘Em Championship (Not available)
54) Robert Sun, Anchorage, $13,589.
556) Byron Lamb, Wasilla, $2,553.
860) James Hickerson, Unalakleet, $1,751.
1,130) Todd Julich, Wasilla, $1,601.
Event 50 — $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Championship (731 entries)
17) Adam Hendrix, Anchorage, $48,800.