Throughout the annals of the Main Event, there have been instances of impressive performances. World Series of Poker Yet, few can rival the extraordinary achievement Joe McKeehen showcased on his road to claiming the 2015 championship.
On a Tuesday evening at the Rio in Las Vegas, McKeehen etched his name alongside the greats of poker by completing a dominant run that left no room for doubt at the final table. He topped it all off by raising the prestigious WSOP bracelet high, along with a staggering prize of $7,683,346, amidst a lively audience at the Penn & Teller Theater.
"This represents the pinnacle of success in this sport,\" McKeehen expressed to the audience gathered after his triumph. \"I always had faith in my ability to earn money from poker professionally, but this victory truly validates that belief.\"
McKeehen maintained his lead throughout the entirety of the final table, consistently keeping a significant chip advantage. Throughout the three-day play, he consistently had at least double the chips of his nearest competitor. To illustrate his level of control, McKeehen began the first day of the final table with over 60 million chips and never dipped below that threshold, while none of the other eight final table participants managed to reach the 50 million chip milestone during that time.
Joe McKeehen's Heads Up Magic
When the heads-up action began against Josh Beckley, McKeehen held a commanding lead of more than 4-to-1. During their showdown, McKeehen was dealt several strong hands, including ace-king three times, as he relentlessly pursued the title, finishing the match efficiently after just 12 hands.
On Hand 184, the chips went in with Beckley holding a pair of fours against McKeehen's ace-ten. McKeehen hit the perfect flop of queen-ten-five, and after a five on the turn, only two cards stood between him and victory. The jack on the river prompted McKeehen to raise his fists in celebration as he marked his win.
This victory was the culmination of an impressive run for McKeehen, who either received the best cards, made excellent plays, or displayed sheer aggression to amass every chip on the table in record time. Given the high stakes and the prestigious setting, it could not have unfolded any better for the newest World Champion.
"The whole experience was quite seamless,\" McKeehen remarked. \"The way the cards fell meant I didn’t face many tough choices. It was certainly more straightforward than having to overcome obstacles or make a comeback from behind.\"
Team888 Makes a Great Showing
Throughout the three-day duration of the final table, McKeehen proudly displayed an 888 patch, highlighting a noteworthy performance from Team 888 overall.
Tom Cannuli found himself all-in with pocket aces against Max Steinberg's tens just two hands into the second day at the final table. He had a shot to improve his standings, but unfortunately, his hand didn't hold up. cracked , and he had to settle for sixth place.
Neil Blumenfield impressed throughout the three-day competition, showcasing a daring style that captivated both commentators and viewers worldwide, and ultimately secured him a third-place finish.
Blumenfield truly enjoyed his thrilling journey in the Main Event as much as anyone else who reached the final table.
"Of course, I’m a bit disappointed now, but if you had asked me before the tournament started if I would take a third-place finish, I definitely would have agreed, \" Blumenfield acknowledged. \"This experience has been incredible for a player like me, and reaching this stage is a huge achievement.\" poker While the first day of the event experienced some criticism regarding the pace of play, the final table of the 2015 WSOP Main Event concluded at one of the fastest rates in history, regarding the number of hands played. The last time a final table moved this swiftly, with a total of 184 hands played over the course of three days, was in 2007 when Jerry Yang secured the title in 205 hands.
A Well-Deserved and Skillfully Executed Victory
McKeehen did much of the heavy lifting himself. After eliminating Daniel Negreanu in 11th place and Alex Turyansky in 10th to secure a spot in the November Nine, he also took down the initial three players at the final table - Patrick Chan, Federico Butteroni, and Pierre Neuville - marking five consecutive eliminations.
Following Max Steinberg's elimination of Cannuli with pocket aces, Blumenfield took out Zvi Stern in fifth place. McKeehen then recorded the last three eliminations of the tournament, earning recognition for six of the eight knockouts at the final table and eight out of the last ten overall.
The final evening of the 2015 WSOP Main Event felt almost ceremonial for McKeehen at times. Despite the significant lead that established him as a favorite throughout the final table, he found himself searching for words when reflecting on his monumental achievement.
"It hasn’t fully sunk in just yet, but I suppose it will eventually,\" McKeehen shared. \"The best part is sharing this moment with my family and friends.\"
Total Hands Played at WSOP Main Event Final Table Since 2007
888poker-EGR-logo-Mobile-Header-2021-white
2015 - 184 hands
2014 - 328 hands
2013 - 261 hands
2012 - 399 hands
2011 - 301 hands
2010 - 262 hands
2009 - 364 hands
2008 - 275 hands
2007 - 205 hands