LAS VEGAS (AP) - A 23-year-old poker pro from Michigan won the World Series of Poker main event late Tuesday, claiming the $8.4 million title after pushing past his last opponent in a brief, dramatic match.
Ryan Riess started out behind on Tuesday, but used cleverly varied play to seize and maintain a lead amid the unpredictability of no-limit Texas Hold `em.
On the last hand, 29-year-old Las Vegas club promoter Jay Farber went all-in with a Queen-Five. Riess, dealt an Ace-King, rightly suspected his opponent wasn't holding much and called instantly.
Riess backed into the stands to watch the cards turn, and won the championship with the arms of his girlfriend around his shoulders.
Moments later, he kissed the diamond-encrusted championship bracelet he's been chasing since he was 14 years old. After tearfully thanking his friends and family, he told reporters, "I just think I'm the best player in the world.'
Riess came out sparring as the night began at the 1,600-seat theater at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino off the Las Vegas Strip. Rubber-banded stacks of hundred dollar bills representing the grand prize sat on the table like a third player.
Farber started 19 million chips ahead with 105 million, but Riess soon brought the score virtually even. The tide turned definitively about two hours in, when Riess took a $58.5 million pot with pocket Jacks.
Riess then brought out a more aggressive style he hadn't yet shown at the final table, forcing Farber to fight_ too often with the weaker hand.
"I just decided to turn the pace up and drive him down,' Riess said.
His fans, a collection of clean-cut men in white "Riess the beast' T-shirts, chanted and stomped each time the boyish player with a mop of strawberry blonde hair used his chip advantage to go after Farber.
Riess spent most of the night hunched over his chips, tracing small circles on the green felt and giving Farber occasional wan smiles.
[[In-content Ad]]
