It was more of a rollercoaster than anything else, what with its highs, lows, and loops, but now the Main Event has finally been concluded, with James Bord ending up as the winner of the shiny new bracelet as well as the £156,000 grand prize. He managed to beat a field of 346 to get there, outlasting such lofty names as Phil Ivey and Viktor Blom, both of which came dangerously close to getting to the final table.

The Final Table

All eyes were on the WSOPE Main Event as Phil Ivey and Viktor Blom inched closer and closer to the final table. But in a thoroughly anticlimactic twist of fate, the two of them were ousted just a few players short of making it. With or without them, though, the tournament proceeded as seamlessly as ever, and before soon, nine people had made it into the final table. Marc Inizan was the first to go, followed by Brian Powell and Dan Fleyshman. Then, it was Daniel Steinberg’s turn, sent to the rail by chip leader Ronald Lee. Following him closely was Nicholas Levi, falling just after seven hands. Like Steinberg, he fell against Lee. Next to go was Roland de Wolfe, one of the more famous poker pros in that final table. He was ousted in fourth place, falling against Fabrizio Baldassari.

Surprisingly, it was Ronald Lee who fell next, despite having started with the chip lead for the most part of the fourth day and into the final table as well. He lost all his chips in a series of hands with Bord, and what resulted was probably one of the most rowdy parts of the whole tournament, with Bord jumping up and down with his friends and fellow pros, Andrew Feldman and Sam Trickett. With Lee gone, Bord was assured a seat at the heads up portion of the tournament, against Baldassari.

Heads up between Bord and Baldassari

Their heads up match did not last too long and was over quickly after it started. Bord had A-K and Baldassari had Q-8. Bord doubled up against Baldassari, and when the flop came, it was not much help to either player. The winner ended up being the one who held the better cards right before the flop and that just happened to be Bord. He was ecstatic after his win, telling the media as much when he was interviewed, even saying that it was ‘extra special’ that he won the bracelet in his hometown.