For six of the 10 years prior to the 2007 World Series of Poker, Ciaran O'Leary failed to cash at the prestigious tournament. Undaunted, he kept returning only to have his persistence pay off.

And what a payoff. O'Leary, an Irishman who now makes his home in Seattle, Wash., outplayed the third largest field in WSOP history, trailing just the 2005 and 2006 championships, to win his first gold bracelet and $727,000.

Nearly 3,000 players bought in to the $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em event, but it was the man they call Big C who pulled out a win.

The televised event and game pressure clearly got to the 33-year-old, who went all-in five times, each time excusing himself from the table to pace the crowded tournament floor.

Despite what his nerves suggest, competing in live poker is nothing new to O'Leary, whose father and friends taught him how to play the game when he was just eight years old. As an adult he eased into the tournament scene in Ireland before making his way to the U.S.

Once he arrived in North America, Las Vegas became O'Leary's playground; he visited the city constantly, playing cash games regularly, and competed in some tournaments there as well as in California.

And while Big C might have a lot of notches on his poker table, the 2007 World Series is by far his biggest cash to date.

After the tournament, the modest player thanked plenty of lucky breaks for his victory.

"I'm very humbled as well," he told PokerListings.com. "I know the game still has a lot to teach me, so I look forward to it."