Joe McKeehen Cruises to WSOP Main Event Title

Entering the Main Event Final table the big question on everyone's mind was whether Joe McKeehen, a 25-year old poker pro from Pennsylvania, could parlay his dominant chip lead into the prestigious bracelet and nearly $7.7 million first place payout. He did, and it was never close. In one of the most dominant performances in poker history it took McKeehen just 184 hands to claim the title.

McKeehen scored his first final table knockout on hand #2, shoving his button with Ad-4h and receiving a call from the critically shortstacked Patrick Chan, who held Ks-Qc. The board brought no help to Chan who became the 9th place finisher. 

On hand #35 it was McKeehen once again that delivered the final blow to the Main Event hopes of Italian Federico Butteroni. Down to his last 2.4 million, Butteroni moved in after a 1 million chip open from McKeehen - only to find his Ah-Jc was no match for McKeehen’s As-Ks. After a dry runout Butteroni was the 8th place finisher.

Hand #72 would spell the end for 72-year old Pierre Neuville. Having been crippled a few hands prior he moved all-in with Ac-Jc for his remaining 3 million chips over a McKeehen raise. Priced-in to call, McKeehen came along with Jh-6h. Despite the dominant position, the board ran out Qd-Td-3h-Qh-Th, completing the chipleader's flush and bringing Day 8 of the marathon tournament to a close.

At the start of Day 9 Tom Cannuli became the first player to exit the final table at the hands of a player other than Joe McKeehen. Cannuli raised to 1.4 million under the gun, and was put all-in by Max Steinberg from the big blind. Cannuli quickly re-checked his cards and committed the rest of chips, turning over As-Ac. Steinberg’s 10’s were in real trouble, but the flop brought a reversal of fortune as the dealer fanned out the Jc-Ts-6c. No Ace would come, and Cannuli left gracefully in 6th place. Neil Blumenfield scored the next knockout, sending Ofer Zvi Stern home in 5th as A-K once again held against A-J. 

And with that, McKeehen’s temporary hiatus from dishing out eliminations was over. After leaning heavily on his opponents during short handed play he was soon sitting on over 100 million chips and Max Steinberg became his next victim on hand #143. McKeehen raised under the gun to 2 million with Ad-Qc, and Steinberg moved in 16.5 million with Ah-Jd. Yet again the dealer failed to produce a Jack, ending Day 9. 

Entering the final day of the tournament with a dominant 128 million chips, McKeehen needed just 40 hands to vanquish his final 2 opponents. Having dwindled to a short stack, Neil Blumenfield committed his remaining 12 million chips with 2d-2h over the top of a 5.4 million McKeehen 3-bet. McKeehen called, revealing his Queens, and sending the popular amateur to collect his $3.4 million third place payout. 

Facing a nearly 5-1 chip deficit Josh Beckley was going to need to get lucky a few times to make it a contest. He shoved his last 19.4 million in the middle with 4c-4d on the 11th hand of heads-up play and received a call from McKeehen, who turned over Ah-Td. If there was ever a doubt, the dealer revealed a flop that included the Tc, pairing the chipleader and bringing the tournament to a close. 

McKeehen was unstoppable as the Main Event reached it’s most critical stage. He eliminated Justin Schwartz (14th), Daniel Negreanu (11th), Alex Turyansky (10th), Patrick Chan (9th), Federico Butteroni (8th), Pierre Neuville (7th), Max Steinberg (4th), Neil Blumenfield (3rd), and finally Josh Beckley in heads-up play in route to his first bracelet. 

Congratulations to Joe, and the rest of the 2015 November 9.

1st - Joe McKeehen - $7,683,346

2nd - Josh Beckley - $4,470,896

3rd - Neil Blumenfield - $3,398,298

4th - Max Steinberg - $2,615,361

5th - Ofer Zvi Stern - $1,911,423

6th - Tom Cannuli - $1,426,283

7th - Pierre Neuville - $1,203,293

8th - Federico Butteroni - $1,097,056

9th - Patrick Chan - $1,001,020