Stoneham Native Wins $54K in World Series of Poker Main Event

Stoneham native Matthew Wantman was one of 6,865 entrants in the Main Event at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas this month with aspirations of winning the top prize of $8.7 million, but Wantman fell short of his dream, coming in 120^th place.

However, Wantman still walked away from the poker table with $54, 851 for his efforts. 

“Playing in the Main Event was an experience I will long remember. The buzz in the room was electric and you could just feel the excitement among all of those who were playing,” Wantman said.

Wantman admitted he had mixed emotions about entering his first Main Event.

“Being my first time, I was super excited to be a part of the tournament. I was a bit nervous at first, but once I got a feel for my opponents, I became much more comfortable,” Wantman said.

The Main Event is unlike any other tournament in the world. It brings out every type of poker player one can imagine.

“There were professionals, amateurs, novices, all the way to famous actors such as Ray Ramano and professional athletes such as Paul Pierce, Shawn Marion and Jordan Farmar,” Wantman said. “You truly feel lucky to be a part of something so great.”

Wantman went into the tournament with the same strategies he uses in any other tournament he enters.

“My strategy was the same except that I exhibited a bit more patience in the early rounds. I implemented this tactic because the levels are two hours long, allowing for much more play,” Wantman said. “My plan was to wait for good spots where I could force the action and put loads of pressure on my opponents.

"By doing so, I was able to win the majority of the pots that I was in because unless my opponents had strong holdings, they would be forced to relinquish their hand.” By being selective about the pots he entered, Wantman figured his opponents would give him credit for having a good hand.

Wantman said there were some changes he would have made now that he has participated in such a large poker tournament.

“If there was anything that I could have done differently, it would be the way I prepared. Going into day six, I rolled out of bed only an hour before the tournament started,” Wantman said. “Had I gotten a good workout in and ate a solid breakfast, I would have been much more focused and ready to make good decisions. 

"Instead, I lost my patience, got carried away and lost the tournament in the first level of day six in front of the TV cameras.”  

Wantman evaluated his first Main Event experience as a ‘B.’ He played his ‘A’ game for the first five days of the tournament, but he repeated that his day six performance dropped him a whole letter grade.

“Overall, it was the experience of a lifetime. I was able to play in the one tournament I grew up watching as a kid, and not only play it, but do well in it,” Wantman said. “I look forward to going back, plugging my mistakes and hopefully fulfilling my dream of becoming a world champion."