To win, all poker players must pay a price. More often than not, the price of victory is not measured by the size of the entry fee or the expenses of entering a poker tournament. For many poker players, the much greater sacrifice is the accompanying disappointment that comes with playing tournament poker full time. In between extraordinary moments of fulfillment manifested in tournament triumphs are torturous moments of defeat, disappointment, and despair.

Roland Isra, a 52 year old professional poker player from New York City, knows the perils of poker all too well. He has come to the threshold of a major tournament victory numerous times. But each and every prior occasion when it seemed that Isra might finally win big tournament, he suffered a bad bet or was the victim of some cruel misfortune. Nevertheless, Isra endured over the years and to his credit, finally earned a major breakthrough victory at the most recent World Series of Poker Circuit championship.

Isra overcame a number of significant chip disadvantages, outlasted many of the East Coat’s best poker players, and collected the top cash prize at Caesars Atlantic City, which totaled $264,715. He was also presented with his first gold ring, the ultimate token of achievement given out to all tournament champions who win WSOP Circuit events held around the country.

Isra, who was born in the former Soviet Union (actually the Republic of Georgia) worked as a jeweler for 25 years before he began playing poker seriously in 2002. Isra managed to cash in the 2005 WSOP Main Event, finishing 37^th. He also achieved seven other WSOP cashes, and did well in many other tournaments played elsewhere. Yet, this victory marks his biggest tournament win ever.

This marked the fifth straight year Caesars Atlantic City has hosted a WSOP Circuit stop. The Main Event was the last of 12 tournaments played at Caesars, all of which are classified as “gold ring” events. This year’s championship attracted 174 entrants, from 20 states and seven different nations. The buy in was $4,900 (+250), creating a prize pool totaling $817,015.