Brett Faustman Wins The World Poker Open

The final table for the World Poker Tour Open featured some intimidating opponents. The table included former champions, and strong all round players, including Brett Faustman, Freddy Deeb, 'The Master' Nguyen, Gabe Costner, Hoyt Corkins, and John Spadavecchia.

Faustman started the day just behind Freddy Deeb in chips, and dominated for much of the day, taking the title, and an $892,413 prize, as well as earning a seat at the WPT Championship, which will be held in April.

The first to be eliminated was Spadaveccia, who went all in against Corkins on the fifth hand, and lost when the board gave Corkins a pair of Queens, against Spadavecchias Sixes. Spadaveccia went home with a prize of $96,477.

Costner was next out, suffering a serious chip blow to Deeb, before finally giving Corkins his second elimination of the day, and leaving with $123,008 as his fifth place prize.

The remaining four at the table took turns to be chip leader. Deeb was next out the door, after suffering heavy losses at the hands of Nguyen, then being eliminated after going all in against Faustman.

Next out was Nguyen, who lost with a King and 10 of Diamonds to the two black Jacks of Corkins, and a Queen of Clubs which dropped on the river.

Faustman and Corkins faced off, with Faustman having the chip lead. The players traded chips for 43 hands, with Corkins losing half his chips in one hand without even getting to show his cards. The final hand saw Corkins bet 80,000. Faustman raised to 250,000, and Corkins spent almost two minutes thinking before deciding to call. When Faustman bet 280,000, Corkins went all in. Faustman stood up, and quietly said he called. His pocket queens bested the pocked deuces of Corkins, and the turn and river did not improve Corkins' hand.

Corkins left with $458,267 for his performance in his fourth WPT final table, but described finishing second as being like 'a kick in the gut'. Faustman took the $892,413 prize, and a gold and diamond bracelet, as well as a chance to compete in the WPT Championship tournament in April.