WSOP Paradise: Guess What Longtime Poker Pro Just Flopped a Royal Flush for First Time

Chad Holloway PR & Media Manager

Brett Slezak Live Reporter

Dec 10, 2024 2 min read

Getting a Royal Flush in poker doesn’t happen all that often, and to flop one is even rarer. However, one well-known poker pro did just that for the first time in his storied career while at the 2024 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Paradise in Event #5: $25,000 Dealers Choice Championship.

The player in question has more than $21.5 million in lifetime earnings dating back to 2005 according to the Hendon Mob, which included a career-best $3,445,807 for finishing runner-up in the 2023 Triton Poker Super High Roller Series Event #7: $200,000 NLH 8-Handed. Do you know who it is?

Here are two more hints – he’s a long-time sponsored pro and sits atop his country’s all-time money list. Oh, and his fellow countryman, Alejandro Lococo just won Event #2: $1,000,000 Triton Million for $12,070,000 and his first bracelet.

We’re talking, of course, about Jose Ignacio “Nacho” Barbero, who is a bracelet winner himself having taken down the 2022 WSOP Event #67: $10,000 Super Turbo Bounty NLH Freezeout for $587,520.

The hand took place with 12 players remaining – only seven would make the money – in Level 14. The game was no-limit hold’em when reporter Brett Slezak watched action fold to Aaron Kupin in the small blind who jammed for 88,000, and Barbero snapped it off in the big blind.

Aaron Kupin: K♦6♥
Nacho Barbero: A♣K♣

Barbero was in great shape to score the knockout as the dealer emphatically peeled the Q♣J♣10♣ flop to give Barbero a Royal Flush. The 4♦10♦ runout was just a formality as Kupin hit the rail in ridiculous fashion.

After complaining about his luck for much of the past hour, Barbero's tablemates were quick to emphasize how lucky he just got. It was Barbero's first career flopped Royal Flush according to the man of the hour, and accordingly he took out his phone to snap some pictures.

Nacho Barbero takes a picture of the hand. (Images: Connor Richards)

Right after, Mike Watson jammed for 150,000 from the small blind with the 8♣7♣ and Barbero called from the big with the A♥9♠. The board ran out 9♥K♠6♠J♠6♦ and Barbero scored another elimination and chipped up to the middle of the pack with the money bubble approaching.