Ryan Riess Wins World Series of Poker and $8.4M
06 Nov, 2013
A 23-year-old poker professional from Las Vegas by way of Michigan won the World Series of Poker main event late Tuesday, lasting roughly 3 1/2 hours in a dramatic card session to push past his last opponent for the $8.4 million title.
Ryan Riess emerged with the title after a session that proved a showcase for his skills amid the unpredictability of no-limit Texas Hold `em.
Riess put his final opponent Jay Farber all-in with an Ace-King. Farber, a Las Vegas club promoter, had been fighting for his tournament life for several hours. With just 14.2 million in chips to Reiss’ 176.5 million, Farber made his stand with Queen and 5 of spades, only to run into Reiss’s Ace and King of hearts.
It wasn’t looking promising, but he had a chance – that is until the flop came four-Jack-10. That meant a Queen now would make a straight for Reiss, so only one of the three remaining fives in the deck could help Farber. Neither the fourth nor the fifth community cards brought any help, and Reiss was champion.
Reiss backed into the stands to watched the cards turn, and won the championship with the arms of a girlfriend around his shoulders.
His fans immediately tackled him to the ground. Moments later, he accepted the diamond-encrusted championship bracelet.
Farber said he plans to keep his day job, despite the $5.1 million second-place haul, and added that all the publicity would be good for business.
AP
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