During the 2024 World Series of Poker Europe at King's Resort, Rozvadov, 888poker ambassador Vivian Saliba captured her first WSOP bracelet. It was a case of fifth time lucky for the popular Brazilian who had previously navigated her way to four WSOP final tables but fell short of the bracelet each time.
The final table of the €2,000 Pot-Limit Omaha went differently for Saliba. She eventually found herself heads-up against Germany's Markus Anheier with a commanding 3:1 lead. However, Anheier doubled, and history was in danger of repeating itself.
Saliba stuck to her guns, got lucky herself, and then had Anheier back on the ropes. All of Anheier's chips went into the middle after he flopped two pair versus Saliba's middle pair and flush draw. The flush came in on the turn, the river bricked, and Saliba finally became a WSOP champion. How did that feel?
"Oh, it was a relief! I've gotten close many times. This was my fifth final table, but I've had a 10th, 11th, 16th, 19th, and 22nd, so winning took a huge weight off my shoulders because after failing so many times and being close, you start doubting yourself and asking will this ever happen?"
"So, I'm very happy to have one shiny accessory right now, and I'm looking to accumulate more in the future."
Saliba reached two WSOP final tables in 2022; on in Las Vegas and another in Rozvadov. Since then, she has put together some impressive results in the live poker world, including at the WSOP and WSOPE. Anyone who follows the 888poker YouTube and Twitch knows Saliba puts much work into improving her game, but did she do anything different for the 2024 WSOPE?
"Well, I've been taking poker very seriously year after year, and I'm in a spot right now that I am just very, very motivated and very ambitious. I also have a lot of experience. So, I think the biggest changes that I made from the past is that I really live a healthy lifestyle, and I try to have no distractions at all during the series."
"This involves also spending time with your friends and having drinks and compromising on your sleeping schedule, and things like that. So, I'm very lame and boring when I'm grinding during the series, and I just focus on me."
Saliba's partner, Pascal Pflock, was on the rail throughout Saliba's bracelet win. Pflock is also a poker player, and he came close to winning some WSOPE hardware in 2024, finishing seventh in the €550 Colossus. Saliba told PokerNewsthat having a like-minded, supportive partner in her corner is beneficial to her own game.
"Oh yes, it definitely helps. Also, when you're going through a hard time, a partner who is also a player, they understand what you're going through, and we just try to help each other to become a better version of ourselves."
"He was very happy for me, of course, but now he wants a bracelet. So right now, I'm leading, but yes, we joked a little bit."
Saliba's memorable WSOPE may be done and dusted, but she doesn't have much time to celebrate her bracelet win because she finds herself on ambassador duty at the upcoming 888poker LIVE Coventry double-header.
"On October 16, I'm flying to England. We have 888poker LIVE Coventry, and I'll be playing the high roller and the main event and creating a lot of content during the 888 events. Besides playing poker, I have to create a lot of content. I have to work but I'm always looking forward to those trips. I also meet my friends and everybody from the 888poker family."
The 888poker LIVE stops are different from grinding at the WSOP or WSOP. They have a more fun and relaxed vibe, but what else makes them special?
"Yeah, so definitely the community; a lot of our players are always attending our events, so you get to make friends. You also get to meet 888poker ambassadors, and the schedules are very nice. The buy-in range is very affordable. Normally, the Main Events are around €1,000, the High Rollers are €2,000, and the prize pools are great."
You can see how Saliba gets on in the 888poker LIVE Coventry Main Event because PokerNewsis providing live and exclusive coverage of the £888 buy-in Main Event from October 16-20.