Event 15 of the PokerStars WCOOP 2008 was the first of two no-limit hold’em heads up shootouts on the schedule. It’s a pretty simple process, you play your opponent 1 on 1, then win, play another opponent and win, and keep moving up until you are the champion. Of course, it sounds a lot easier than it actually is!
PokerStars set the guarantee at $500,000, which would account for about 1,666 entries with the $320 buy-in. But just like every single other event so far this series, the guarantee was destroyed when 2,048 people registered increasing the prize pool to $614,400. This meant 256 places would be paid, and the eventual winner would take home over $104,000.
Quite obviously, in order to beat out 2,043 other players you have to be good at heads up poker. However, you have to be more than just good, you have to have luck on your side. With that many entrants, it takes winning 10 matches in a row before the final battle. Any good poker player would tell you it would take skill and luck to accomplish this feat.
There were many bad beats, nice laydowns, suckouts, and rivers hit for the final 2 players, who sat alone, each with 4,096,000 chips. This final epic battle was between HuxFluxen and pandaCHAN12. Immediately after the first hand was dealt, both players were calling for a manager. It seems the $55k for the runner up and $104k for the champion was too steep to play for. To reduce some variance and make their experience that much better, they cut a deal. The runner up would win $70k and the winner would take home just under $90k. Even though the deal was made, this was still a $20,000 heads up match, neither player took it lightly.
After the deal was done, the players were ready. The blinds were started at 10,240/20,480, so the match was 200 bbs deep. Every 15 mins the blinds would escalate, but this was a good structure for a heads up tournament. Many action players prefer heads up poker because that’s exactly what it is, action action action. It’s 1 on 1, not 1 on 8. You have to play more hands and get into more spots, great for any action junkie!
After about 30 minutes of play, HuxFluxen and pandaCHAN12 each took their turns holding the chip lead. However, HuxFluxen started to gain more momentum, and eventually had a 3:1 chip lead. In the final hand, HuxFluxen raised preflop and was called by pandaCHAN12. On the flop of 6s Td 5s, pandaCHAN12 checked and HuxFluxen bet 122,880, which was check-raised up to 368,000 by pandaCHAN12. After some though HuxFluxen moved all-in with Qs3s for a flush draw and was quickly called by panda with KdTc and top pair. Things would turn around if panda could fade a spade or queen. However, the turn was the Ts which gave Hux the flush, but panda two pair. The river blanked the Ah and the 8,192,000 chips were all moved to HuxFluxen. pandaCHAN12 collected $70k for his runner up finish and HuxFluxen won the WCOOP bracelet and $89,744!
Congratulations to HuxFluxen, and everyone else who finish in the money in Event 15 of the WCOOP 2008:
Place Player Country Payout
1 HuxfluxenWCOOP Sweden $89,744.00
2 pandaCHAN12 Ireland $70,000.00
3 Benba United States $33,792.00
4 IFiNishfish Finland $33,792.00
5 Lucarelli Israel $16,896.00
6 pokerjamers United States $16,896.00
7 sqmpork Sweden $16,896.00
8 evilly United Kingdom $16,896.00
9 donflun United States $5,529.60
10 SpaceyFCB Belgium $5,529.60
11 phiIter Norway $5,529.60
12 cpfactor United States $5,529.60
13 DATZWUSSUP United States $5,529.60
14 sw23 United States $5,529.60
15 lennart Sweden $5,529.60
16 troppa Norway $5,529.60
17 Break-Necks Canada $3,686.40
18 AreTheseUtz United States $3,686.40
19 Misfit2005 United States $3,686.40
20 JustJackDK Denmark $3,686.40
21 ILuvAntonius United States $3,686.40
22 Ceballos231 France $3,686.40
23 ilir3 Canada $3,686.40
24 MPK_ReaVer Norway $3,686.40
25 jellycz Czech Republic $3,686.40
26 Asul Romania $3,686.40
27 D1Nozzo Germany $3,686.40
28 $NaUd$ Canada $3,686.40
29 Craps4Dinner United States $3,686.40
30 redeye3030 United States $3,686.40
31 AceOfSpade11 France $3,686.40
32 Pokerkong1 Norway $3,686.40
33 FF_81 France $1,843.20
34 bdubs3737 United States $1,843.20
35 EyeScreamMan United States $1,843.20
36 xSCWx United States $1,843.20
37 potstabber10 United States $1,843.20
38 McShove United States $1,843.20
39 Salty_Nutz85 Canada $1,843.20
40 bambache Romania $1,843.20
41 Magnus888 Norway $1,843.20
42 CCF20 Netherlands $1,843.20
43 zmeyer United States $1,843.20
44 teekki Finland $1,843.20
45 DWare94 United States $1,843.20
46 Str8$$$Homey Canada $1,843.20
47 ucftennis12 United States $1,843.20
48 Ken Eric Norway $1,843.20
49 austinlewis United States $1,843.20
50 Kenny Rap United States $1,843.20
51 Lacertin Germany $1,843.20
52 joinin United States $1,843.20
53 Sankronizer Sweden $1,843.20
54 zangbezan24 Canada $1,843.20
55 dw2006 United States $1,843.20
56 mekkas Portugal $1,843.20
57 Wakeboarrder United States $1,843.20
58 Arnesen Norway $1,843.20
59 SkillVille United States $1,843.20
60 iecavniex Latvia $1,843.20
61 alchiani Italy $1,843.20
62 Tomif gsd Hungary $1,843.20
63 djalminha Spain $1,843.20
64 Wodgoat Australia $1,843.20
65 mulinator United States $1,228.80
66 zinzidane10 Canada $1,228.80
67 smeggi Norway $1,228.80
68 buck21 Canada $1,228.80
69 cjwren45 United States $1,228.80
70 stackpatrol Canada $1,228.80
71 Empire2000 United States $1,228.80
72 im12yearsOLD United States $1,228.80
73 slavoy Poland $1,228.80
74 Crispy86 United States $1,228.80
75 copi Austria $1,228.80
76 EasyPots Denmark $1,228.80
77 ocropTi Germany $1,228.80
78 drood Canada $1,228.80
79 Carbon11 United States $1,228.80
80 wuutti Finland $1,228.80
81 bukkwildh Estonia $1,228.80
82 Patrolman35 United States $1,228.80
83 kose16 Germany $1,228.80
84 johndif France $1,228.80
85 HighHeat33 United States $1,228.80
86 Pimoss87 Netherlands $1,228.80
87 Dantès13 United States $1,228.80
88 Tmay420 United States $1,228.80
89 marroca5 Colombia $1,228.80
90 WheresMyRoll United States $1,228.80
91 LiNNi81 Norway $1,228.80
92 btvedt Norway $1,228.80
93 jeff710 Canada $1,228.80
94 McMang Sweden $1,228.80
95 highroll123 United States $1,228.80
96 lasalchicha United Kingdom $1,228.80
97 Hyves Sweden $1,228.80
98 supermario70 Austria $1,228.80
99 Hot Blonde Australia $1,228.80
100 johnnyvero United States $1,228.80
101 JP OSU United States $1,228.80
102 SM4RTASS Netherlands $1,228.80
103 nCall,urGOOD United States $1,228.80
104 Teobaldo Brazil $1,228.80
105 KidPoker United States $1,228.80
106 Redimps3000 Denmark $1,228.80
107 Fidoo Denmark $1,228.80
108 jacksup United States $1,228.80
109 $kill Game United States $1,228.80
110 RyPac13 United States $1,228.80
111 johnny1430 United States $1,228.80
112 beanie35 United States $1,228.80
113 Choicest Canada $1,228.80
114 Draethen Canada $1,228.80
115 whollyflush United Kingdom $1,228.80
116 Little Kraut United States $1,228.80
117 nyquilholic United States $1,228.80
118 rolonrolon United States $1,228.80
119 TIJO Costa Rica $1,228.80
120 Hoo34sier United States $1,228.80
121 MOSANKINGI Finland $1,228.80
122 RiskStar Norway $1,228.80
123 EL-Irish United States $1,228.80
124 bnxr Italy $1,228.80
125 Displeased Sweden $1,228.80
126 SikaTrx Canada $1,228.80
127 hestekjeften Norway $1,228.80
128 Rompelukt Norway $1,228.80
129 lassemand Denmark $614.40
130 chopra Norway $614.40
131 Lindk25 Denmark $614.40
132 Zalk Sweden $614.40
133 rocha911 Canada $614.40
134 Tonimonntana Germany $614.40
135 R0GEREL Belgium $614.40
136 adamoos United States $614.40
137 IWNTCHUMLUVN United States $614.40
138 bigegypt United States $614.40
139 torkolort1 Norway $614.40
140 l337O United Kingdom $614.40
141 cocosbeen Netherlands $614.40
142 plasticard Sweden $614.40
143 xlogic Poland $614.40
144 bigpman8 United States $614.40
145 vegan213 United States $614.40
146 KevinV Netherlands $614.40
147 Punty Australia $614.40
148 MrGuggenheim Sweden $614.40
149 Cippino1 Italy $614.40
150 DBL_J_22 United States $614.40
151 cmg1028 United States $614.40
152 gabriel171 Brazil $614.40
153 fizzmon United States $614.40
154 Dimoni Spain $614.40
155 ramco United Kingdom $614.40
156 mass.mike United States $614.40
157 HEMIpowerSWT United States $614.40
158 YRWTHMELTHR Canada $614.40
159 timmy720 United States $614.40
160 7thChakra United States $614.40
161 wobbly_au Australia $614.40
162 snake8484 Canada $614.40
163 Sage Phantom United States $614.40
164 WATnlos Germany $614.40
165 31PokerGod31 Romania $614.40
166 BigBossman1 United States $614.40
167 theNorfman Canada $614.40
168 Luxembourg Luxembourg $614.40
169 Balla-B13 United States $614.40
170 The Camel United Kingdom $614.40
171 ICuRaRook United States $614.40
172 PoPeRs Canada $614.40
173 jrss1322psu United States $614.40
174 HundoFight United States $614.40
175 10Gunman Norway $614.40
176 sexygee United Kingdom $614.40
177 lucky_aces08 United States $614.40
178 Kaito1989 Germany $614.40
179 Sizo Norway $614.40
180 supameng United States $614.40
181 taqtiX Iceland $614.40
182 Shorthead United Kingdom $614.40
183 LeeNelsonP* New Zealand $614.40
184 grasdal Norway $614.40
185 r0bi25 United States $614.40
186 Halozination Germany $614.40
187 themerkman United States $614.40
188 Halfrek Denmark $614.40
189 andersmeli Norway $614.40
190 Dr Dave15 Canada $614.40
191 StorPike Sweden $614.40
192 Mr.Buster Iceland $614.40
193 drgeniusus Germany $614.40
194 PerPer Denmark $614.40
195 micide Germany $614.40
196 obywatel_g Poland $614.40
197 chapz805 United States $614.40
198 Highpothead United States $614.40
199 $ulle$ Norway $614.40
200 AAKKQ Canada $614.40
201 graybone United States $614.40
202 maxteam United States $614.40
203 PrtyPsux United States $614.40
204 Miss Pretty United States $614.40
205 Tehp United States $614.40
206 beastmode315 United States $614.40
207 JCastle United States $614.40
208 La_Alvarado Argentina $614.40
209 brainwash United States $614.40
210 ide1 Finland $614.40
211 bandit80 United States $614.40
212 oldschool043 United States $614.40
213 Drewmac1 United Kingdom $614.40
214 mcdubb Canada $614.40
215 Bruut99 Netherlands $614.40
216 1LUCKYBOX United States $614.40
217 Goonasabi United States $614.40
218 mstrminding United Kingdom $614.40
219 MickBt23 United States $614.40
220 yogo03 Hungary $614.40
221 Lenny United States $614.40
222 cthiry Luxembourg $614.40
223 imashokU United States $614.40
224 Adonis112 United States $614.40
225 aww96 United States $614.40
226 josephozzz Australia $614.40
227 ozenc Netherlands $614.40
228 lud69 France $614.40
229 TiltHappens United States $614.40
230 AngeL_fH Brazil $614.40
231 ryanmack91 Canada $614.40
232 simple math United States $614.40
233 ~US&Co~ Ukraine $614.40
234 brehmer United States $614.40
235 lp_SakiSaki Sweden $614.40
236 kalamitsis Greece $614.40
237 Shacky23 Canada $614.40
238 Jarfish Canada $614.40
239 aftershock15 United States $614.40
240 iamhiv United States $614.40
241 majskolv Sweden $614.40
242 bloodytiger Thailand $614.40
243 LolotheBunny United States $614.40
244 dl184 United Kingdom $614.40
245 dejf78 Poland $614.40
246 Shahin86 Sweden $614.40
247 tallälailla Finland $614.40
248 GrKose Ukraine $614.40
249 dpdragon United States $614.40
250 intervntion India $614.40
251 t2h2h Netherlands $614.40
252 I_RAISE_$21 United States $614.40
253 WiscoMurray United States $614.40
254 allinstevie United Kingdom $614.40
255 MOOKIO Netherlands $614.40
256 Gabfield Canada $614.40