WCoOP Event #1 Shatters $1.25m Guarantee

WCoOP Event #1 Shatters $1.25m Guarantee

Friday, 4 September 2009

It was unsurprising that a gigantic field registered for the first event of the PokerStars World Championship of Online Poker, especially given that it was everyone’s game of choice; 6-max No-Limit Hold ‘em.

PokerStars guaranteed a $1.25m prize pool for the first event of the $40m guaranteed tournament series and did not disappoint. Over 8,500 players paid $215 or qualified via the numerous satellite opportunities to contribute towards the huge prize pool, which paid out 1,350 places and a near $250,000 first-place prize.


The PokerStars Pros were out in force as Chris Moneymaker, Joe Hachem, Barry Greenstein, and Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier all registered and fell short of the money. Some did live up to their names, however – Lee Nelson, Dennis Phillips and Victor Ramdin all made the money, with George Danzer making the deepest pro run to finish in 71st place.


The World tag was especially relevant in this six-handed event with the top nine places filled by players from eight different countries. In the end it was Finland who were celebrating as ChopSueyyy claimed the first prize of $234,421.82. The top UK finisher was Los Chief who finished in 5th place for a cash of $68,304.


When play eventually boiled down to heads-up between ChopSueyyy and MMalipo, the two agreed to a deal before heads-up play commenced and after 19 hours the tournament was done – A8 held against QT to ship ChopSueyyy the first WCoOP title of 2009.


The full final table results and payouts are as follows:


1st place: ChopSueyyy ($234,421.82)*
2nd place: MMalipo ($183.940.20)*
3rd place: Futuro ($119,532.01)
4th place: LosChief ($68,304.01)
5th place: JP OSU ($34,152.01)
6th place: shuriken555 ($23,940.56)


*Based on two-way chop numbers with $25,000 for the winner.


The other opening day tournament, the $200+$15 Razz was won by American Daniel Kelly. He outlasted another whopping field of 1,526 runners to claim the first prize of $53,410.


It’s not too late to join in the WCoOP action – register at PokerStars for your shot at glory.




Tags: Poker News, WCoOP, Event, #1, Shatters, $1.25m, Guarantee