Lisandro became only the fifth player in the 40-year history of the World Series of Poker to win three gold bracelets in a year when he won the $2,500 buy-in seven card razz event Wednesday afternoon.

And he isn't finished yet.

With several events still to play in, he could become the first play ever to win four gold bracelets in one year.

"I've been motivated by not having the sponsor," said Lisandro, who also leads the series' player of the year standings, said. "I was turned down just before the tournament by some companies. I was, 'OK, I'll go destroy.' And then I might not do business with them."

Lisandro has cashed in at six events to earn $807,521 in series winnings this month at the Rio. He started this year's event with a lifetime record of one bracelet and 25 cashes.

His latest win came four days after he won the $10,000 buy-in seven-card stud high-low 8 world championship. He also won the $1,500 buy-in seven card stud event June 9. He has finished ninth, 17th and 33rd in other events this year.

Despite that record, he still has not been approached by sponsors.

"Even after winning three bracelets, the sponsors have not approached me," said Lisandro, who added that an improved diet and better exercise program have also improved his performance this year. "Maybe there is a little bit of jealousy. Maybe it is because I have knocked out so many high-profile players."

Phil Ivey was the last player to win three bracelets in 2002. Both Phil Hellmuth and Ted Forrest won three in 1993 and the late Puggy Pearson won three in 1973.

This year there are 61.

Seth Palansky, series director of communications, however, said even though there are more opportunities to win a bracelet in the tournament now, the number of participants in each event are much larger than they used to be.

"It really does prove that this is a game of skill," Palansky said about Lisandro's run of wins. Palansky said last year there were 58,720 entries during the multi-week series with 55 bracelets awarded.

In his events, Lisandro defeated fields of 315, 164 and 359 to win his three bracelets. Pearson defeated a field of 13 to win the 1973 main event.

But the increased number of entries also magnifies Lisandro's accomplishment this year, Palansky said.

There are more events on the tournament schedule now, but two or three of the events usually overlap, cutting down the opportunities for players to enter them all.

"Because Lisandro is playing so deep into so many events, it cuts down his opportunities," Palansky said. "You'd have to be really bad to enter them all because there are noon and 5 p.m. starting times each day."

Lisandro, who was born in Australia but lives in Italy, admits that winning a fourth bracelet "will be difficult."

But he is willing to try.

After winning his third bracelet at 7:45 p.m. Wednesday, he was back at the tables at 2:45 p.m. Thursday after his bracelet presentation. He was eliminated later that day.

Lisandro entered the $50,000 buy-in H.O.R.S.E. event Friday.

Lisandro, who is known for his colorful Versace shirts and black fedora, cashed his first World Series of Poker event in 1997, and also made his first final table appearance that year.

He did not re-emerge on the World Series of Poker scene in Las Vegas until 2004 when he cashed five times, finishing as high as third.

Lisandro's first gold bracelet came in 2007 when he won the $2,000 buy-in seven card stud event.

Heading into the weekend, Lisandro has 31 career cashes for $2,578,137 in World Series of Poker earnings.

While Lisandro is alone with three wins this year, two other players, Phil Ivey and John Brock Parker, have two.

Contact reporter Arnold M. Knightly at aknightly@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3893.