After three and a half months of waiting, the final table of the World Series of Poker kicked off Sunday with nine players looking to win the WSOP Championship bracelet and $8.5 Million in prize money. Darvin Moon was the chip leader, but all eyes were on Phil Ivey to see whether he could make a dramatic comeback.

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The first player eliminated from the final table was James Akenhead. Akenhead was sitting on 4.45 Million and moved all-in with pocket threes. Kevin Schaffel made the call with pocket nines and Akenhead needed to catch a miracle two-outer to stay alive. The board ran out to give Schaffel nines full, and James Akenhead headed to the rail. Akenhead received no additional prize money and had to settle for the $1.2 Million payout from July.

Kevin Schaffel was unable to capitalize on Akenhead’s elimination and wound up the 8th place finisher. Schaffel raised to 1.25 Million preflop and was met by a three-bet by Eric Buchman to 5.75 Million. Schaffel then moved all-in for 17.2 Million and Buchman made the call after requesting a count. Buchman was crushed when he saw that his pocket kings had run smack into pocket aces from Schaffel. His disdain turned to jubilation when a king hit the flop to give Buchman a set. Another king on the turn spelled the end of Schaffel’s tournament. Kevin Schaffel finished in 8th place and took home $1.3 Million
Phil Ivey did all he could to double up, but that double up never came. He finally was all-in and ahead with A-K against the A-Q of Darvin Moon. The crowd was going nuts awaiting the flop. A queen on the flop put Moon in the lead and that was all that was needed to eliminate Phil Ivey. Phil Ivey finished in 7th and took home $1.4 Million.
Steve Begleiter soon fell to the Darvin Moon express. After a pre-flop raise from Begleither, Moon shoved all-in. Begleiter made the call, holding pocket queens. Moon held A-Q. The flop and turn missed both players, but the river spelled disaster as it fell an ace, eliminating Begleiter in 6th place. Steve Begleiter received $1,587,160 for his strong finish.
Jeff Shulman never got anything going all day and ultimately was all-in with pocket sevens against the Ac-9s for Antoine Saout. A nine on the flop put Saout in the lead. The turn fell the Qc and river the 4s. Jeff Shulman finished in 4th place and took home $1.95 Million in prize money.
Antoine Saout was the chip leader three handed, but went on a epic downward spiral that resulted in his elimination in 3rd place. First, he doubled up Joe Cada when Cada’s pocket threes caught a set against the pocket queens of Saout. A few hands later, Cada raced A-K against the pocket eights of Saout. The flop and turn missed both players, but the river fell a king to complete Saout’s downward spiral. Antoine Saout finished in 3rd place and took home $3.47 Million.
Heads-up play started on Monday night between Darvin Moon and Joe Cada on Monday. Cada led with 135 Million to the 58 Million of Moon. Moon evened the match after the first hand when he took down a big pot with pocket queens against the pocket nines of Cada. From that point, the match was epic with both players holding the lead. At one point, Moon held a nearly 3 to 1 lead over Cada but made a big misstep after overplaying a draw to put the match back into Cada’s favor. The final hand of the event saw Darvin Moon race Qd-Jd against the pocket nines of Cada. The board failed to produce a queen or jack and Joe Cada is the 2009 WSOP Main Event Champion.

Joe Cada is the youngest WSOP Main Event champion in the history of the WSOP. At just 21 years of age, his record is one that has a great chance to last. In addition to the gold braclet, Cada won the $8.5 Million prize. Congratulations to Joe Cada, WSOP Main Event World Champion.