Winners at the World Series of Poker

Michael Binger, who has a Ph.D. in particle physics from Stanford University, and has lived in Atherton since 2000, finished third in the No-Limit Texas Hold'em Main Event at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas Aug. 11, taking home about $4.1 million.

Binger outlasted all but two of the 8,773 players who paid the $10,000 entry fee to play in the event, but was knocked out of the event by the eventual winner, Jamie Gold of Malibu, who won the $12 million grand prize after knocking out Paul Wasicka heads up on the 236th hand.

Gold wins a record $12 million and a gold bracelet, while Wasicka earns $6,102,499. Allen Cunningham was fourth and Rhett Butler was fifth.

Richard Lee finished sixth, Doug Kim seventh, Erik Friberg was eighth and Daniel Nassif rounded out the final table by finishing ninth.