A 22-year-old college dropout from Missouri has dropped in to Las Vegas and won Event #8 of the 2008 World Series of Poker (WSOP).

The event, a $10,000 buy-in, mixed games tournament that drew 192 players and had a total prize pool of about $1.8 million, was won by Anthony Rivera.

It is his first WSOP championship gold bracelet.

Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, USA, he dropped out of the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri last year and moved to Henderson, Nevada, USA, to play poker professionally, and for his efforts, he wins a whopping $483,688.

Runnerup in the event was another Missourian, James Mackey of Columbia, Missouri, USA, who earned $297,792.

Coming in third was Matthew Glantz of Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania, USA, who pockets $184,992.

Fourth was Michael DeMichele of Poughkeepsie, New York, USA, who picks up $138,872.

Ending fifth was Eli Elezra of Las Vegas, who scoops up $108,288.

Coming in sixth was Sam Farha of Houston, Texas, USA, who earned $85,728.

(He’s best known for being bluffed out of his wits by Chris Moneymaker in the Main Event of the 2003 WSOP, which Moneymaker went on to famously win.)

Taking seventh was Tom Dwan of Edison, New Jersey, USA, who snags $67,680.

In eighth spot was Jeff Madsen of Los Angeles, California, USA, who takes home $54,144.

Ninth was David Oppenheim of Los Angeles, who earns $45,120.

Rounding out the Top 10 finishers was Gus “The Great Dane” Hansen, of Copenhagen, Denmark, who collected $45,120.

Top pros Johnny “The Orient Express” Chan came in 13th and Doyle “Texas Dolly” Brunson came in 21st.

So-called “mixed games” is a new event at this year’s WSOP, and it includes rotating among eight different types of poker: limit and no-limit Texas hold ‘em, pot-limit Omaha, triple-draw lowball, Omaha hi-lo 8 or better, razz, 7-card stud and 7-card stud 8 or better.

After his big win, Rivera told reporters:

“This was a very tough field. But it did not intimidate me. I am used to playing with many of these players. I know many of them pretty well. I know I can play all the games well enough to win.” =A0 (E-mail Tom Somach at tomsomach@yahoo.com.)