WSOPC Palm Beach 2011 Won By John Riordan

John Riordan has just won the 2011 WSOPC Palm Beach Kennel Club after overcoming a huge field of 712 players over four days to take down the title, as well as collect the $210,180 first place prize.
John Riordan has now got a lot to be pleased about after his stunning victory yesterday, as not only did he win his biggest score to date, but he did so in his own home state of Florida.
In addition, the 19 year-old pro who usually plays $200/$400 Pot-Limit Omaha online also became the youngest competitor ever to win a World Series of Poker Circuit event.
As the $1,600 buy-in tournament got underway on Sunday afternoon, a whole host of top pros turned out for the event including Greg Raymer, Robert Mizrachi, T.J. Cloutier, Jerry Yang, Tom Schneider and Tommy Vedes. Unfortunately for them, they were not amongst the 72 players to cash at the Main Event for a guaranteed $2,871.
By the time the final table began on Tuesday, five of the players were aged 25 or less while the remaining four competitors ranged from 40 to 70 years old. Ironically, the oldest player was also the shortest-stack at the table while youngest player John Riordan was the big-stack and held a 2 to 1 advantage over his next closest rival.
First to exit the final table was Gerald Timmons in 9th ($19,655) holding pocket queens to his opponent’s A-J, followed by Jesse Okonczak in 8th ($24,771) who pushed his short-stack with Q-3 before running into K-Q.
Dave MacDonald then picked up $31,599 in 7th spot after pushing A-7 against A-10, with Jon Brody then finishing in 6th ($40,837) when his A-Q shove unluckily lost to John Riordan’s Q-10 and a 10-5-4 flop.
Despite Austin Buchanan then eliminating Ryan Lenaghan in 5th ($53,468), Buchanan himself was next sent to the rail in 4th ($70,939) holding A-2 to Riordan’s A-9. Riordan holding pocket fives then knocked Thomas Aprea with pocket fours out in 3rd ($95,392) to get the heads-up phase of the tournament underway.
Eventually, his opponent Mike Morton was dealt 6-4 to Riordan’s pocket tens and lost a massive pot after going all-in on a 6-5-3-3 board. A couple hands later it was all over and Mike Morton collected $130,057 for his runner-up finish while John Riordan was crowned the 2011 WSOPC Palm Beach Champion.
Ironically, being just 19 years-old Riordan will not be able to take part in the Las Vegas $1 million WSOPC National Championship freeroll this May as he would have to be at least 21 years old, according to Las Vegas casino rules.