At least one dozen Alaskans have cashed in at the 46th annual World Series of Poker in Las Vegas after a UAF professor earlier this week earned the biggest haul by an Alaskan at this year's tournament.
Christopher Hartman, a professor of computer science in Fairbanks, pocketed $9,501 for his 17th-place finish in a Limit Hold 'em 6-Handed event that drew 319 players and required a $3,000 buy-in, or entry fee. Hartman's bounty was more than twice as much as any other Alaskan has earned in the WSOP, which features 68 different events and runs through mid-July at the Rio.
Hartman has cashed at least four times in his WSOP career. In 2012, he cashed twice at poker's biggest, most lucrative event, and won $12,044.
Two other Alaskans recently earned money in a Turbo No-Limit Hold 'em event that drew 1,791 players and required a $1,000 buy-in. Dru Gerkman of Anchorage finished 122nd to earn $2,192 and Michael Akers of Anchorage finished 126th to also earn $2,192.