He faced William Kohler heads-up after lasting a final table including world-renowned tournament director Matt Savage, who finished fifth. Kohler played some remarkable poker but also did some remarkable drinking, downing seven or eight scotches throughout the course of the match.


The heads-up battle lasted four hours and featured some interesting drinking, banter between the two (after one hand Halpern lost, he took to his phone, to which Kohler asked “is that your wife telling you to play better?”) and some rail interaction – two blondes seemed enamoured with Kohler. What was more interesting – the poker or the general atmosphere – remains to be decided.