Ryan "The Beast" Riess made good on his claim that he would win the 2013 WSOP Main Event on Tuesday.
An incredibly confident Riess overcame chip leader Jay Farber in a three-hour heads-up match to claim world champion status as well as $8.3 million and his first WSOP gold bracelet.
Perhaps the most startling moment of the final table came after the final card had been dealt, however. Riess made a bold statement to ESPN:
“I just think I’m the best poker player in the world,” Riess said.
The East Lansing, Michigan, native is only 23 years old and has been playing poker professionally for a little over two years. He also said he would win the 2013 WSOP Main Event before the final table even began.
"It's amazing," explained Riess to PokerListings. "It honestly hasn't hit me yet. Probably since I was 14 years old my goal was to be a professional poker player."
Local VIP Host Farber Finishes Second for $5.1 Million
Farber, who works in Vegas as a VIP host, made a surprising run at the 2013 Main Event and entered the final day of play with a slight chip lead over Riess.
Unfortunately for Farber, Riess ran hot and made the most of his spots. Riess overtook Farber in the first hour of play.
Farber made a valiant effort to fight back from the short stack but in the end couldn’t overcome his chip disadvantage.
In the final hand Farber made an ill-timed shove with Q♠ 5♠ and got snapped off by Riess with A♥ K♥. The Big Slick held and Riess' supporters went berserk.
Won't Quit His Day Job
On the bright side Farber did pick up a life-changing $5.1 million. Despite the cash Farber said he wouldn’t quit his day job as a VIP host. He also had some kind words for his opponent.
"Ryan [Riess] loves poker," said Farber after the final table ended. "I think he will be a great ambassador for the game."
Yesterday the final nine players played down to just two with noted pros JC Tran and David Benefield among the players to fall. Mark Newhouse, Michiel Brummelhuis, Marc-Etienne McLaughlin and Sylvain Loosli also busted on Monday.
Amir Lehavot busted in third place, just missing out on the final heads-up match of the 2013 WSOP.
Riess becomes one of the youngest WSOP champions and the first to be born in the 90s.
Here are the complete final table payouts:
- 1. Ryan Riess - $8,361,570
- 2. Jay Farber - $5,174,357
- 3. Amir Lehavot - $3,727,023
- 4. Sylvain Loosli - $2,791,982
- 5. JC Tran - $2,106,893
- 6. Marc-Etienne McLaughlin - $1,601,024
- 7. Michiel Brummelhuis - $1,225,356
- 8. David Benefield - $944,640
- 9. Mark Newhouse - $733,224
(Video) PokerListings Talks to Ryan Riess and Parents After Win
Farber, Riess to Go Head-to-Head for WSOP Main Event Title
After an unpredictable day prior Riess and Farber were the only players still standing in the 2013 World Series of Poker Main Event.
Less experienced than some of the players at the final table Farber and Riess elevated their games on Monday and spent much of the final table with a huge portion of the chips in play.
Surprisingly the chip leader at the start of the day and one of poker’s all-time winningest players, JC Tran, failed to take control of the final table and busted in fifth place.
Newhouse, Benefield First to Fall
Short stacks Mark Newhouse and David Benefield were the first players to bust on Monday.Although both players doubled up early it was short lived as Newhouse busted ninth and Benefield eighth.
Michiel Brummelhuis was the next player to fall in seventh, although on the bright side his seventh-place finish was the highest ever by a Dutch player.
Brummelhuis’ exit prompted a long period of inaction where play became very tentative. The short stacks traded chips back and forth and it took hours to find the next elimination.
Farber Shatters McLaughlin with Aces Over Kings
The next bustout turned into arguably the hand of the day as Marc-Etienne McLaughlin and Jay Farber played a monster with pocket aces versus pocket kings.
McLaughlin, who was one of the more active players at the final table, was on the wrong side of the cooler and ended up falling in sixth place.
From there action heated up immensely with JC Tran, Sylvain Loosli and Amir Lehavot falling in rapid succession.
Tran’s tournament came to a rather inglorious end as his A-7 didn’t hold against a surging Farber’s K-Q. He never really regained control of the table after losing his chip lead in the early stages of the final table.
Riess busted Amir Lehavot in the final hand of the day to help get closer to Farber.
Interestingly three-handed play took over 200 hands in the 2012 WSOP final table while this year it took just one. Heads-up will commence tomorrow at 5:45 p.m. Las Vegas time and we’ll play to a winner.
Here are the chip counts and payouts:
- 1. Jay Farber – 105,000,000
- 2. Ryan Riess – 85,775,000
Payouts:
- 3. Amir Lehavot - $3,727,823
- 4. Sylvain Loosli - $2,792,533
- 5. JC Tran - $2,106,893
- 6. Marc-Etienne McLaughlin - $1,601,024
- 7. Michiel Brummelhuis - $1,225,356
- 8. David Benefield - $944,650
- 9. Mark Newhouse - $733,224
Jay Farber and Ryan Riess Share Thoughts on Epic Heads-Up Match
Tomorrow our final two players will do battle for more than $8.3 million and the biggest title in poker but for now all they can do is offer their predictions. Check out the videos below to find out how Jay Farber and Ryan Riess feel about the final table so far and their chances tomorrow evening.
