Scotty Nguyen takes home the 2008 H.O.R.S.E. World Championship
Source: Kensei
Jun 30, 2008 - 8:56:28 AM
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This years, $50k buy in 2008 H.O.R.S.E. World Champion is none other than Henderson NV's own Scotty Nguyen!
What makes this championship even more special is that it is the very first H.O.R.S.E. championship to also award the Chip Reese Memorial Trophy in honor of arguably one of the greatest poker players of all time - AND - the winner of the first $50,000 buy in H.O.R.S.E. champion Chip Reese.
Prior to the start of the final table, Chip Reese's daughter, Taylor Reese was introduced to the large crowd of spectators. She was joined by Doyle Brunson and Jeffrey Pollack on the Corum Swiss Timepieces stage for the much-anticipated unveiling the Chip Reese Memorial Trophy. The trophy and special gold bracelet, made exclusively for the winner of this tournament, were both on display throughout play at the final table on a special platform overlooking the main stage.
The trophy is unique in many ways. It weighs 60 pounds. The marble base is inscribed with the names of past winners. The plaque reads David "Chip" Reese Memorial Trophy – Standing the Test of Time. The phrase was famously uttered by Reese following his victory during the first year. The trophy is crowned with the gold-embossed winning hand from the inaugural event. Perhaps most unusual is the fact that the trophy was slightly damaged while in transit between the manufacturer and the Rio. Fittingly, the trophy has a small "chip" in the base, which Jeffrey Pollack described as "Reese's ghost leaving his mark."
Scotty Nguyen - "The Prince" - considers himself the people's champion as well he should be. Growing up in Vietnam during the war, escaping the United States with basically the cloths on his back - he finally made to Las Vegas about 20 years ago - and it's been a roller coaster ride ever since.
First playing in small poker games, and then tournaments in 1994 - his first cash come in 1995 - and his first gold bracelet in 1997 and taking the main even in 1998.
The final table - was a classic - with five of the nine being former champions themselves for a total of 35 career wins - stated at 3:30 PM Sunday - and Scotty took the final hand at 5:01 AM on Monday Morning - 13 1/2 hours later! The stands were full the entire time - and ESPN filmed the entire final table for later broadcast - how they will condense it down to the two one hour parts they will show is beyond this reporter - but THAT is not my job ;-)
At one point during final table play, Nguyen became testy – quite uncharacteristic for the popular poker champion. He was dissatisfied with many things, anger perhaps misdirected from a flurry of bad cards and poor luck. He later defended his emotional outbursts by saying, "You can't be friends at the poker table. You have to want to win. If you want to make friends, then go bowling."
Scotty will take home $1,989,120 for first place - his coveted 5th Gold Bracelet and the Chip Reese Trophy
The top 16 cashed in this event - and they are:
|
Name |
Prize |
City |
State/Country |
| 1 |
Scotty Nguyen |
$1,989,120 |
Las Vegas |
Nevada |
| 2 |
Michael DeMichele |
$1,243,200 |
Las Vegas |
Nevada |
| 3 |
Erick Lindgren |
$781,440 |
Las Vegas |
Nevada |
| 4 |
Matt Glantz |
$568,320 |
Lafayette Hill |
Pennsylvania |
| 5 |
Lyle Berman |
$444,000 |
Las Vegas |
Nevada |
| 6 |
Barry Greenstein |
$355,200 |
Rancho Palos Verdes |
California |
| 7 |
Huck Seed |
$284,160 |
Las Vegas |
Nevada |
| 8 |
Patrick Bueno |
$230,880 |
Paris |
France |
| 9 |
Rafael Perry |
$177,600 |
Las Vegas |
Nevada |
| 10 |
Raymond Davis |
$177,600 |
Bell |
California |
| 11 |
David Bach |
$159,840 |
Athens |
Georgia |
| 12 |
Phil Ivey |
$159,840 |
Las Vegas |
Nevada |
| 13 |
Daniel Negreanu |
$142,080 |
Las Vegas |
Nevada |
| 14 |
Joseph Michael |
$142,080 |
Austin |
Texas |
| 15 |
Andrew Bloch |
$124,320 |
Las Vegas |
Nevada |
| 16 |
Doyle Brunson |
$124,320 |
Las Vegas |
Nevada |
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