Well, things have changed.

      Berda, a software developer from Israel, outlasted more than 1,900 other players to win Event 56, a $2,500 no-limit hold’em tournament, of the 2010 World Series of Poker at the Rio in Las Vegas. After finishing fifth in Event 5, Berda hadn’t made money in 12 straight tournaments.

      “I didn’t get into poker to make money, money was not the ambition,” Berda, 34, said. “I just fell in love with the game. I just wanted to play. Even today, my ambition is not to make a living at it. I just play because I enjoy it.”

      For someone dabbling in the game, Berda has done pretty well, totaling four cashes and more than $975,000 in winnings at the WSOP.

      Vladimir Kochelaevskiy (second) cashed for the fourth time at the World Series, while Mike Wattel, who was fifth, recorded the 25^th cash of his career. The Arizona pro won a gold bracelet in 1999.

Event 56

No-Limit Hold’em

Buy-in: $2,500 Entries: 1,942

Payouts

1. Tomer Berda, Israel … $825,976
2. Vladimir Kochelaevskiy, Moscow, Russia … $510,939
3. Bryan Porter, Wilmington, NC … $353,260
4. Salvatore Bonavena, Italy … $254,777
5. Mike Wattel, Scottsdale, AZ … $186,250
6. Hungcheng Hung, Taipei, Taiwan … $137,946
7. Ali Alawadhi, Longwood, FL … $103,527
8. Joseph Curcio, Yonkers, NY … $78,705
9. Alfonso Amendola, Sicily, Italy … $60,580