Kopp to It: WSOPC Winner from Ohio Hopes for WSOP Bracelet in $10K PLO
As play advanced into the afternoon in the $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Championship, William Kopp was among the chip leaders hoping for a final table. PokerNews caught up with him during the break after Level 22.
Despite a few setbacks during the level, Kopp was still among the remaining 20 players and hoping for his first bracelet.
“It was going super good until the last half-hour, but I can't complain,” he says. “I'm still in it.”
Circuit to Series
A native of Brecksville, Ohio, Kopp has amassed $562,000 in live tournament winnings. With a WSOP Circuit ring in his trophy case, Kopp now has eyes on a World Series of Poker bracelet and came close recently. In the $1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better, he finished fourth for $74,058. He then notched another cash in the $1,500 H.O.R.S.E. for $3,170.
As he weaves his way through the WSOP, Kopp says the fields are tougher than those he’s encountered in Circuit events.
“Winning a bracelet would be a dream come true."
“I’d say the players are much better.”
Kopp’s WSOPC win came in 2014 at Foxwoods in a $580 No Limit Hold’em event for $40,836. In 2016 in the WPTDeepstacks Lucky Hearts Poker Open, Kopp won again in the $1,650 Pot Limit Omaha for $19,000.
In 2015, he finished runner-up in the WSOPC $365 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better at Florida’s Palm Beach Kennel Club for $6,341, and has chalked up a few other nice five-figure scores in recent years.
“Winning a bracelet would be a dream come true,” he says.
Kopp's Poker Journey
A poker professional, Kopp began playing small buy-in tournaments with friends during high school. With a knack for the game, he began playing online during college and then left school behind after a year to begin traveling the country playing cards.
When not playing poker, Kopp has two hobbies: “I’d say my favorite is golf – and drinking … often.” He admits he’s not a great golfer, but enjoys combining both of these interests when not at the card table.
“It's one game where you don't have to fold very often.”
In the last few years, Omaha formats have been good for the 28-year-old Kopp and he’s found several cashes in the game. He’s looking for even more as this event rolls on. What does he like about the Omaha?
“It's one game where you don't have to fold very often,” he says.
So far, so good – his strategy has him deep in the tournament, in the money, and looking for more.
You can follow Kopp's progress at the WSOP as PokerNews brings live updates from the tournament floor through the conclusion of the series.
Sean Chaffin is a freelance writer in Crandall, Texas. His work appears in numerous websites and publications. Follow him on Twitter @PokerTraditions. He is also the host of the True Gambling Stories podcast, available on iTunes, Google Play, TuneIn Radio, Spotify, Stitcher, PokerNews.com, HoldemRadio.com, and TrueGamblingStories.com.
