2008 WPT Doyle Brunson Classic Championship Final Table Recap
by Chad Holloway of Predictem.com
On December 19, 2008 the 2008 WPT Doyle Brunson Classic Championship final table got under way with the remaining players of the 497 player field. The final six players and their chip counts were:
Seat 1: Chino Rheem — 4,240,000
Seat 2: Amnon Filippi — 2,750,000
Seat 3: Hoyt Corkins — 2,295,000
Seat 4: Steve Sung — 5,885,000
Seat 5: Justin Young — 2,410,000
Seat 6: Evan McNiff — 4,805,000
Action got under way at Level 23 with the blinds at 30,000-60,000 and a 5,000 ante. Action started to take off when McNiff raised to 210,000 with pocket nines and Rheem moved all-in for 1.7 million with the Qh Jh. McNiff called and the flop was Ah Kd 10h giving Rheem a Broadway straight. The 5h on the turn gave Rheem a flush and he doubled up to 4 million.
The first elimination came when Corkins was all-in with the Ah Qh and was called by Young’s Ac Ks. The board read Kd Qs 6d Kh 10h and Corkins was eliminated in sixth place for a $216,795 payday. More elimination followed when Filippi went all-in for 975,000 and was called by Sung. Young then moved all-in over the top. Sung made the call and revealed the Kh Kc, which was ahead of Filippi’s 9c 9h but far behind Young’s Ac Ad. The board came the 7d 4s 4d 3c Js which eliminated Filippi in fifth place ($288,235) and Sung in fourth place ($396,205). Young’s chip stack grew to over 14 million after the hand.
Action didn’t stop as Young raised to 260,000, McNiff reraised to 825,000, and Rheem moved all-in for 2.87 million. Young mucked while McNiff made the call with the Ad Jh. Rheem showed the Ah 9h and doubled up when the board came As 7c 7h 9d 3c. A few hands later McNiff moved his short stack all-in preflop and was called and eliminated by Rheem.
McNiff finished in third place and took home $540,440. Heads-up play began with the following chip counts:
Justin Young: 14,100,000
Chino Rheem: 8,185,000
Heads-up was a drawn out battle where both players played patiently. The chip lead exchanged hands several times including when Young limped, Rheem raised to 740,000, and Young called. The flop came Jd 10h 7s and Rheem moved all-in with his As Ks. Young called with Qh 10d and doubled when the 3c 5s fell on the turn and river.
Rheem doubled back when he raised to 620,000 and Young called. The flop of Ac 6h 3c caused Young to check, Rheem to bet 1.2 million, and Young to reraise. Rheem then moved all-in with the 10c 4c and was called by Young with Ah 3d. Rheem’s flush draw got there when the 6c fell on the turn and he doubled back into the chip lead.
A little while later Rheem raised to 720,000 and Young called. The flop came Qd 8h 3c, Young checked, and Rheem bet 1.2 million. Young moved all-in with the Qc 5c and Rheem insta-called with pocket kings. The turn was the 9h and the river was the 2d, eliminating Young in second place for which he earned $936,760.
Rheem, fresh off his impressive 2008 World Series of Poker Main Event final table, won the 2008 WPT Doyle Brunson Classic Championship and the $1,538,730 first place prize.