Recognized by his peers as maybe the best Razz player on the planet, Calvin Anderson made World Series of Poker history on Wednesday, becoming the first player ever to win two $10,000 Razz Championship bracelets. The win was also Anderson’s sixth WSOP triumph, with four live wins to go with a pair of online titles.
It’s a win littered with historic numbers and stats, including the fact that Anderson earned a record $357,026, the largest first prize ever in a WSOP $10,000 Razz Championship, as he defeated a field of 155 runners, the largest $10,000 Razz Championship field in history.
There are even more impressive numbers that we’ll get to shortly, but these facts had Anderson even more appreciative of what he’s accomplished in this tournament.
“People say this is my Main Event, but I’ve played this game so much, and I’ve already won it once, so it’s really cool to win the same event twice. It’s a really, really cool accomplishment.”
A delayed coronation
Anderson ended Days 1 and 2 atop the chip counts, entering the final day with a one big bet lead over the man he would defeat heads-up, Eric Rodawig. Anderson held firmly to that lead for most of the day, but in the final hour before Anderson, Rodawig, and third-place finisher Todd Dakake took an extended 30-minute break, the stacks had flattened. Anderson had ceded his lead for the first time in the day to the once short-stacked Dakake.
It was at that point that Anderson received a pep talk that kept things in perspective for him.
“There was a time where I had a lot of the chips, and then I took some beats, and I was a little bit low-energy. I was talking to Martin (Zamani), and he was just saying, ‘enjoy the moment and be happy you’re here.’ Even if I’d have taken second or third, I would have been really happy. I’m not the type of guy that’s going to be upset in that situation.
Upon the players’ return, the champion regained command, taking sizeable pots from both opponents late in Level 25 to rebuild his stack to just under two-thirds of the chips in play.
It was a lead he wouldn’t relinquish again, as after Rodawig eliminated Dakake in third place, he still trailed Anderson by a 2-1 margin beginning heads-up play. It was a deficit Anderson would not let him overcome, dominating their match to seal the bracelet.
A 2028 Hall of Famer?
Besides becoming the first-ever two-time winner of this event, Anderson also became the all-time WSOP money leader in Razz with $759,280, supplanting Phil Hellmuth atop that list.
He also became just the 27th player in WSOP history to win six bracelets, joining, among others, Kristen Foxen, who earned her sixth this summer as well.
Calvin Anderson’s WSOP bracelets:
- 2014 $1,500 Stud 8 or Better - $190,538
- 2018 $10,000 Razz Championship - $309,220
- 2023 $1,000 6-Max PLO online - $49,782
- 2023 $5,300 6-Max Super High Roller online - $141,400
- 2024 $10,000 8-Game Championship - $413,446
- 2026 $10,000 Razz Championship - $357,026
Just as Foxen will be a popular choice for a Poker Hall of Fame nomination next year when she becomes eligible, in two years, when Anderson turns 40, he could be strongly considered as well, given his success at the WSOP and other live venues, as well as a legendary online resume.
Anderson humbly accepted the suggestion, but thinks that others should get in before he does.
“I don’t know, I probably don’t deserve it compared to so many people that have done so much for the community. I don’t know what the Hall of Fame is entirely in that sense, but it would be a great honor, obviously.”
WSOP $10,000 Razz Championship final table results:
- Calvin Anderson (USA) - $357,026
- Eric Rodawig (USA) - $237,851
- Todd Dakake (USA) - $162,551
- Tobias Leknes (Norway) - $114,032
- Yuval Bronshtein (USA) - $82,171
- Max Kruse (Germany) - $60,868
- Philip Sternheimer (Germany) - $46,385
- Shane Littlefield (USA) - $36,395
