Chicago poker pro Matt Grapentheim triumphed Thursday night in a 4-hour heads up against Todd Brunson to claim his first World Series of Poker bracelet and the main prize of $268,473 in event 61, a $10,000 buy-in Seven Card Stud championship competition.
The result was another bitter disappointment for 13-bracelet Phil Hellmuth, who’s hopes of breaking his own record with a fourteenth bracelet were dashed when he was eliminated from the final table at sixth place for $46,885 by Todd Brunson, son of poker legend Doyle Brunson.
102 players registered for the event, generating a prize pool of $958,800 and by Day 3 just nine were left standing, led by Todd Brunson.
With the elimination of Jesse Martin the final table was set, and that quickly played down to a heads up between Grapentheim and Brunson, who both held similar stacks. Brunson soon reversed that, taking several major pots to lead first by 2 to 1 and then 3 to 1.
Grapentheim kept fighting, evening up the chip counts as the lead changed repeatedly between two determined players, and eventually taking Brunson out to claim the win.
Other pay-outs on the final table were:
2. Todd Brunson – $165,891
3. James Obst – $103,895
4. Ben Yu – $75,227
5. Steve Landfish – $58,793
6. Phil Hellmuth – $46,885
7. Henrik Hecklen – $38,073
8. Henry Orenstein – $31,419