The annual World Series of Poker features a broad range of tournaments, running from smaller buy-in events in the $300-$500 range and up to $10,000 and more. Poker’s elite also have the option of playing even bigger – to the tune $250,000.
The annual Super High Roller attracted 69 players willing to wager a quarter-million bucks this year with Chris Brewer taking the title and a gargantuan payout of $5.3 million on Sunday. The poker pro from Vista, California, has come close to winning a gold bracelet in the past, but now has his first piece of WSOP hardware.
“This win meant a lot to me, I was surprised how much,” Brewer noted on Twitter after the win. “I am still processing it all. At the end of the day most of the result is variance and me getting good cards, but I would be lying to say that I was not proud of my execution yesterday.”
Getting to the Finish Line
When the final table of nine started, Brewer was fifth in chips but surged throughout the day. That also included avoiding some major conflicts when with a smaller stack.
However, Brewer did find a key double-up when at four handed play. He moved all in with AcKs against Martin Kabrhel’s Ad10h. Brewer found a King on the flop and continued to roll.
When play reached heads up, Brewer faced a 2-to-1 chip disadvantage to Artur Martirosian. But Brewer caught fire early and continued to build. A key hand saw Brewer win a big pot after catching a set with pocket Kings to Martirosian’s own pair of Kings. Within a half-hour, the stacks were almost even.
A short time later a massive hand developed with both players getting it all in. Brewer held 3s3h to his opponent’s Ah10s. Martirosian got no help and Brewer took a big lead. The very next hand saw the two get it in again, this time with Brewer looking to be in rough shape with Ah7d to Martirosian’s AdKs. A King came on the flop, but running cards on the turn and river amazingly gave Brewer the winning hand and the title.
Building a Massive Poker Resumé
With his first WSOP win, Brewer now has more than $15 million in live tournament winnings. Finding big wins in nosebleed stakes events is nothing new for this high roller. He’s been on quite a run this year.
Earlier in the series, that included taking third in the $25,000 Heads Up Championship for $192,513. In May on the Triton Poker Super High Roller Cyprus series, a win and a runner-up finish came his way for a total of more than $500,000.
Brewer also crushed the European Poker Tour Paris series in February, chalking up two victories. His win in a €50,000 high roller rewarded him with just over $1 million and another top finish in a €25,000 buy-in tournament bagged him another $380,748. Brewer has become one of the hottest players in poker and adding a WSOP win meant a lot.
“The sense of relief and happiness I felt in the interview was the result of that,” he noted about a post-tournament interview about some tough spots in life and at the table. “I finally got it right when it counted. Hopefully I can continue to do so. I very much appreciate every message and congratulations I have received. It means the world.”
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