Full Tilt Pro John Juanda Wins 2008 WSOPE Main Event
Full Tilt Poker Pro and 3-time WSOP Bracelet winner John Juanda has added a fourth WSOP Bracelet to his trophy case by routing the competition at the 2008 World Series of Poker Europe Main Event.
The six day World Series of Poker Europe Main Event finally came to an end on Thursday, October 2nd as seasoned pro John Juanda outlasted the 22-hour final table to claim the 1st place prize of £868,800, and the prestigious bracelet.
In what would become the final hand of the WSOPE Main Event – Hand #484, to be exact – Juanda never faltered. From the button, Alekhin moved all-in with Ac-9s. Quick to call, Juanda revealed Ks-6c. When the Flop came down 6d-6s-2d, it would become one of the most one-sided poker hands in WSOP Main Event history. Alekhin’s hopes were already sitting on the rails when a Qc fell on the Turn, and another 6h on the River drove the blade deeper.
John Juanda, who endorses Full Tilt would be crowned victor with Quad 6s dominating Stanislav’s mere Ace High.
Juanda’s highly skilled heads-up opponent and eventual runner up at the WSOPE Main Event, Stanislav Alekhin, who is considering joining the PokerStar.net team, was virtually unknown before the amazing finish that earned him a 2nd place prize of £533,950. In a post-game interview, the Full Tilt Poker Pro praised his Russian opponent for his incredible skill, stating that Alekhin was virtually impossible to read.
John has previously collected 3 WSOP bracelet’s over his illustrious poker career, but this was his first Main Event win. The Indonesian-born poker pro, now residing in California, earned his first WSOP Bracelet in 2002 playing Triple Ball Lowball Ace-Five, and another two in the 2003 WSOP playing Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo Split and Pot Limit Omaha.
Juanda was filled with elation after the victory and quick to joke about his prior victories. “It’s so long ago when I won my last bracelet, I can’t remember. It’s embarrassing. Some people have to keep up with the Joneses. I have to keep up with the Ivey’s and Cunningham’s and Negreanu’s (of PokerStars.com). I wondered if I will ever win again.”
On a more serious note, the Full Tilt Pro continued, “Today there are so many young, excellent tournament players from all over the world, like the two young Russians and the Scandis; much more than it used to be. PokerStars Daniel Negreanu said that we have to step up our game.”