In the end the task proved too much for JC Tran as he attempted to fly the flag for Asia, but there were celebrations aplenty for 23-year-old American Ryan Riess as he was crowned 2013 World Series of Poker Main Event champion last night.
Riess outlasted a huge field of 6,352 players to claim the world’s most prestigious title and the US$8.4 million first prize following a final table that lasted 261 hands. But while the Michigan native was quick to tell everyone he was the greatest poker player on the planet, it wasn’t such a happy ending for Tran who not only entered the final table as chip leader but was also a popular favorite amongst the casual poker fan.
One of the nice guys of poker, Vietnamese-born Tran boasts an envious CV which includes two WSOP bracelets and a World Poker Tour title but he simply couldn’t get anything going at this final table.
Card dead for the entire evening, he fought hard for survival but was eventually eliminated in fifth place when his A-7 was out-flopped by Jay Farber’s K-Q. Still, Tran took home US$2.1 million for his efforts.
The WSOP Main Event began back on 6 July and went on a four-month hiatus nine days later with only the final table of nine players remaining.
The “November Nine” returned on Tuesday to play down to the last two – Riess and fellow American Jay Farber – with the pair coming back yesterday to decide the winner.
