Friday, Jan. 26, 2007

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Amateur beats Negreanu to win World Poker Open

By Erik Sylven

Brian Sumner is the winner of the World Poker Open - his very first World Poker Tour event. The unknown amateur beat Daniel Negreanu heads-up to claim the title and close to $1 million in prize money.

When the final table at the Gold Strike Casino in Tunica, Miss., started, Sumner was in fourth place trailing both chip leader Young Cho and Negreanu. He hung in there, however, and watched his opponents get knocked out one by one.

Finally Sumner, who had qualified for the event through a $1,000 satellite, stood head to head with Negreanu, one of the best poker players in the world.

Thanks to his solid play throughout the final day, Sumner had a significant chip lead when the heads-up match against the Canadian superstar began. In the final hand of the tournament he flopped a set of eights to beat Negreanu's pair of threes.

The win gave Sumner $913,986 in prize money, a WPT bracelet, and a seat in the WPT Championship in April.

Final results from the World Poker Open:

1.Brian Sumner $913,986
2.Daniel Negreanu $502,691
3.Young Cho $257,058
4.Gary Kainer $199,934
5.Kido Pham $171,372
6.J.C. Tran $142,810

You can read all about final table action at the World Poker Open, exclusive interviews and blogs in the Live Tournaments Section.

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