Nov 9 2011
Pius Heinz is the 2011 WSOP Main Event Champion
written by: Will under News Comments: Comments Off
When the 2011 World Series of Poker Main Event November Nine played down to just three runners on Sunday, American poker fans were hoping that Ben Lamb, a Las Vegas native, would emerge victorious and take the title for himself and the United States. Instead, Pius Heinz, a native of Germany and just 22 years of age, has been crowned the WSOP Main Event champion for 2011. Along with the title and bracelet, Heinz received over $8.7 million in cold hard cash.
Going into the final day of action, Heinz held a dominant 2:1 chip lead over both Ben Lamb and Martin Staszko. That basic chip structure didn’t even last past the first hand, as Lamb pushed all-in with K-J offsuit against the 7-7 of Staszko. The board was garbage for both players, silencing the crowd at the Rio Casino and leaving Lamb with only 20% of the chips he held just moments before.
Lamb pushed all-in again just three hands later, pitting Q-6 offsuit against the pocket jacks of Staszko. The board ran out 5-5-2-2-7, ending Lamb’s championship hopes and sending him to the rail with a not-too-shabby $4 million.
Despite the initially blazing pace of play, heads-up action turned into a slug fest. Over the course of nearly 120 grueling hands, Heinz and Staszko traded the chip lead multiple times, with Staszko eventually regaining a 3:1 lead late in the action.
Heinz caught up once more though, eventually pushing all-in with A-Q suited against Staszko’s Q-9 suited. The board offered to help to Staszko, boosting Heinz to a 4:1 lead.
Just eight hands later, Staszko pushed the remainder of his stack into the middle with 10-7 suited. Heinz held A-K offsuit. The crowd remained silent as the flop came down 5-2-9. Staszko’s rail hoped for a straight draw upon seeing a jack on the turn, but a 4 came on the river and the tournament was over. Staszko received an incredible $5.4 million for taking second place.
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