The sixth World Poker Tour World Championship has taken place at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. 

With an entry field of 545 players and a total prize fund of well over £6.6 million, the WPT World Championship has established itself as the second biggest poker tournament in the world behind the World Series of Poker also held in Las Vegas.

It has been won by Chinese player David Chiu coming from behind to defeat Gus Hansen in a thrilling heads-up encounter. Chiu earns more than £1.7 million for his victory, two bracelets, the trophy as well as guaranteed entry into next year’s tournament as defending champion.

Chiu emerged as champion from a final table that also included John Roveto, Tommy Le, Cory Carrol and Jeff King as well as Gus Hansen.

At the start of final table play, Gus Hansen had the chip lead with 8,570,000 chips compared to Chiu who was in second place with 6,050,000 chips.

It was Jeff King who was the first player to fall by the wayside at the final table.  Hansen’s 10 of hearts was good enough to bust King out into sixth place.  King leaves the tournament £132,571 richer.

Tommy Le was in fifth place going into the final table and he couldn’t improve on that position as he was eliminated by Hansen.  Le received £198,848 as reward for finishing fifth.

Cory Carroll made a spectacular call in a hand against Hansen which eventually proved his undoing as he was eliminated by Hansen’s diamond flush on the river.  Carroll’s prize money of £298,302 for coming fourth represents a milestone, as he becomes the 89th poker player to earn over $1 million from WPT tournaments.

Gus Hansen had eliminated all three players so far at the final table.  He continued his rich vein of form by knocking out John Roveto into third place, thus securing his place in the heads-up.  Roveto gets £463,812.

Going into the heads-up Hansen had a massive chip lead over Chiu going into the heads-up.  In fact, he held 84 percent of the chips.  Hansen had taken an average of 5.5 hands to eliminate each player of the final table up to the heads-up.  It looked certain he was going to come away with the WPT World Championship crown. 

Chiu launched a remarkable comeback slowly eating away at Hansen’s lead.  After the 78th hand Chiu gained the lead.  It only took another two hands for Chui to defeat Hansen and take the crown.  Hansen had had a brilliant tournament and was just pipped to the post at the final hurdle.  His consolation was £860,067 as runner-up.

David Chiu said after his victory, “This is best win so far.  I have 4 WSOP bracelets and a Tournament of Champions title but this one is the best I’ve had so far.”
 

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