Pius Heinz wins WSOP Main Event
Wednesday, 9 November 2011
There has been no shortage of German world champions on the football pitch and now we have one on the poker felt after Pius Heinz took the World Series of Poker Main Event bracelet at the Rio overnight.
The 22-year-old took the title, and a first prize of $8.7m, after a lengthy heads up battle with Martin Staszko from the Czech Republic following the early elimination of WSOP Player of the Year Ben Lamb. The American started the final day second in the chip counts but had hit the rail after only four hands.
Lamb clashed with Staszko on the very first hand of the day, four-bet shoving with KJo. Staszko's pocket 7s held up to leave Lamb crippled. It was all over for him three hands later when his Q6 push couldn't overturn Staszko's pocket Jacks.
Anyone hoping for an quick finish after that early departure was to be left disappointed after Heinz and Staszko embarked on an epic heads up clash which saw the chip lead change hands no fewer than eight times. Staszko had the edge for most of it but momentum changed decisively over 100 hands into heads up play.
Heinz, with his tournament life at risk, shoved with AhQh on a Ks10c7c board with Staszko, holding Qc9c, making the call. The turn and river were blanks giving the German a double up to over 161m and pushing Staszko down to just 44m. It was all over just a few hands later when the Czech player's 10c7c shove ran into Heinz's AsKc. The board helped neither player making Pius Heinz the 2011 WSOP Main Event champion.
“This is the happiest day of my life, obviously. I really am speechless right now. I could not imagine this would ever happen to me.” said the new World Champ.
“I think this does a lot for poker back in Germany. It is very big already there, especially with people my age. But I really can’t imagine what’s happening right now. I am just so happy to come here and win. It’s really a dream for me.”
The full final table positions and payouts were as follows:
1. Pius Heinz, Germany $8,711,956
2. Martin Staszko, Czech Republic $5,430,928
3. Ben Lamb, U.S. $4,019,635
4. Matt Giannetti, U.S. $3,011,661
5. Phil Collins, and U.S. $2,268,909
6. Eoghan O'Dea, Ireland $1,720,396
7. Bob Bounohra, Belize $1,313,851
8. Anton Makievsky, Ukraine $1,009,910
9. Sam Holden, United Kingdom $782,115
Keep up to date with all the news from the poker world by following us on Twitter and Facebook.