Proving that anything is possible in heads-up play, Full Tilt Poker Pro David Chiu overcame a more than 5-1 chip deficit to
defeat Team Full Tilt’s Gus Hansen and capture the
World Poker Tour Championship. The performance earned Chiu, a four-time World
Series of Poker bracelet winner, his first WPT title and nearly $3.4 million in
prize money.
Hansen, who narrowly missed claiming his fourth WPT title, earned more than
$1.7 million for second place.
Hansen was a one-man wrecking crew in the early stages of final-table play,
eliminating four of his five competitors in just 22 hands of poker. His
impressive performance gave him 22.9 million chips going into heads-up play
versus Chiu’s modest 4.3 million chip stack.
After doubling up through Hansen on hand 33, the two men traded pots for 45
more hands until Chiu finally claimed the chip lead on hand 78 of the match. The
tournament ended just two hands later when Chiu hit an Ace on the river to make
trip Aces besting Hansen’s two pair.
Chiu’s dramatic victory earned him his first title in nearly three years and
the single largest payday of his career. Adding to the momentum established
earlier this year by fellow Full Tilt Pros, Howard
Lederer, Erik Seidel, Chris Ferguson, Phil Ivey, Jennifer Harman, Huck Seed and
David Pham, this win continues the 2008 winning streak and series of significant
cashes for the poker pros representing Full Tilt Poker.
"David Chiu has been one of the most respected tournament players on the
circuit," said Team Full Tilt member Howard Lederer. "With this win, the
television viewing public will finally get to see what poker players have known
for a long time; he is one of best in the game."
"Team Full Tilt," is a select group of the world’s finest professional poker
players, including Chris Ferguson, Phil Ivey, Howard Lederer, Jennifer Harman,
Erick Lindgren, Erik Seidel, Andy Bloch, Phil Gordon, Clonie Gowen, John Juanda,
Mike Matusow, Gus Hansen, and Allen Cunningham who have collectively won 32 WSOP
bracelets. Full Tilt Poker offers players the unique opportunity to Learn, Chat
and Play poker with the best poker pros in the game.
About Full Tilt Poker
Full Tilt Poker™ is a virtual poker cardroom service that is not engaged in
the business of betting and wagering. It is duly regulated and licensed by the
Kahnawake Gaming Commission, and in the United Kingdom by the Alderney Gambling
Control Commission. "Team Full Tilt", is a select group of the world’s finest
professional poker players, including Chris Ferguson, Phil Ivey, Howard Lederer,
Jennifer Harman, Erick Lindgren, Erik Seidel, Andy Bloch, Phil Gordon, Clonie
Gowen, John Juanda, Mike Matusow, Gus Hansen, and Allen Cunningham. With
innovative graphics, superior customer service and a safe, secure interface, the
software is geared to enhance and personalize the online poker experience. Adult
users of all skill levels can download the software at www.fulltiltpoker.com and
can play for fun or for real money where online games of skill are permitted by
law.