Four of a Kind: NJ’s Sergio Ramirez Scores Four WSOP Circuit Rings in Single Month
After experiencing a false active shooter alarm in Las Vegas during the World Series of Poker this summer, something changed in Sergio Thorne Ramirez.
The poker player from South Plainfield, New Jersey, just felt everything coming together. It was as if his poker game just ramped up in a big way.
“I felt like I was playing some great poker in Vegas pre- and post-fake shooter incident,” he says. “But after arriving in Choctaw I was kind of not myself and I was a different version of me.”
The new outlook paid off. He went on a tear, winning four WSOP Circuit rings in a single month in the live and online poker arenas. It was a massive feat that many players might be happy to achieve in their entire career.
Leaving Las Vegas with WSOP.com online ring
Before leaving the WSOP in Las Vegas, Ramirez claimed the second online ring of his career. He took down the $500 Pot Limit Omaha Online Circuit event on July 15 for $18,502.
After the online ring, Ramirez headed to the Choctaw WSOPC stop in Oklahoma. The series has been popular through the years for live tournament grinders.
“It could have just been the itch of wanting to play tournaments post-WSOP summer, since I don’t normally fire tournaments too often and prefer to play cash,” he says. “I was in a tournament mood upon arriving in Choctaw which is something I’m never in.”
His nice run of cards carried over to Oklahoma and won three live events in seven days.
“Honestly it’s funny, I’ve said it felt unreal,” he says, “but at the same time when I made those three final tables I truly expected to win.”
A huge month of winning
What makes the story even more improbable is that Ramirez almost won another event that week.
“I also had a final four in another event, which I personally thought was a tough table and is probably why I didn’t get a fourth ring,” he says. “So as unreal as it seems, it also seemed expected to me if that makes any sense.”
Ramirez crushed more events in July than some players do in a lifetime. Here’s an overview of those wins.
- $500 PLO WSOPC Online (July 15) – first for $18,502
- $600 PLO WSOPC live (July 19) – first for $26,118
- $400 NLHE WSOPC live (July 25) – first for $12,867
- $400 NLHE WSOPC live (July 26) – first for $19,860
- $250 NLHE WSOPC live (July 29) – 4th for $2,635
In total, the 34-year-old scooped $79,982. He became the first player to win four rings in such a short period of time.
Ramirez adds: “Being the only player to do this makes me ecstatic.”
Started with coins now collects rings
Ramirez’s earliest poker memories include playing for loose change with his cousins. Flash forward 20 years and he’s still playing, now full time to support his family.
Successful in both live and online events, Ramirez mostly considers himself a live player. But during the pandemic he sharpened his skills online.
“I’d play some cash $5-$10 to $25/$50 PLO where I made a good chunk of change,” he says. “Even though I’m not a huge online player anymore, it was nice to have slightly gotten back in the saddle. But I’m glad live poker is up and kicking again.”
On the road again
Ramirez isn’t finished scooping rings just yet. He plans on playing the WSOPC the rest of the year, traveling more to chase the dreams that started in those games with cousins.
“I am planning a wider variety of poker trips, and of course sharing some with my family,” he says.
Next summer in Las Vegas, one big tournament also stands out at the WSOP. Ramirez is looking for a better run in the $1 million Tournament of Champions.
“I was so happy I snuck into it this year,” he says. “Unfortunately I didn’t make it to the first break, which made me sad and was actually my last event in Vegas before the sick run at Choctaw.”
Considering himself more of a “feel” player, Ramirez says he’s never read a poker book, watched training videos, or studied poker charts. Family support has been critical to his success however.
While on the road, his mother Rose and mother of his son, Alicia, take care of his son Jace. He’s also thankful for friends who have served as a great support system.
Ramirez has made mistakes along the way, but is passionate about the game. He describes his journey and love of poker as a necessity – not a choice. He adds: “I eat, sleep and breathe poker.”
* Lead image courtesy WSOP