Geffrey Klein Wins WSOP $1.5k Six-Handed NL Event
June 9, 2011 10:19 amUs gynaecologist Geffrey Klein has just won the WSOP $1,500 Six-Handed No-Limit Hold’em Event, after overcoming a field of 1,920 players to collect his first WSOP winners bracelet, as well as the $554,388 top prize.
Despite the Texan poker amateur being surrounded by a field packed with professional players, Klein said he was never really intimidated by his competitors and giving an insight into his thinking, explained:
“I can tell you clearly that all of these guys are more skilled than I am at calculating math and reading players and things that come with doing it every day. … This isn’t chess. I couldn’t beat the World Champion chess player ever, but because of the swings and the luck factor involved I can actually play with these guys. I feel like I can.”
By the time the final table had been reached, Geffrey Klein found himself at a particularly solid table which included the 2011 WSOP $5k NL 4th place finisher Eddie Blumenthal, and the 2010 WSOP $5k six-handed winner and $2.5k six-handed runner-up Jeffrey Papola.
Also at the final table was the 2010 EPT London and UKIPT Champion of Champions David Vamplew, as well as fellow pros Anthony Spinella and Bryan Colin.
Eventually, just Jeff Papola, Eddie Blumenthal and a short-stacked Klein remained. However, after Blumenthal eliminated Jeff Papola in 3rd place ($214,410), Blumenthal then took a massive 10 to 1 chip advantage against Klein into heads-up play.
Frustratingly for Eddie Blumenthal, though, Klein proceeded to double up on three occasions to take the chip lead, before the defining hand was played with Blumenthal holding pocket sevens to his opponent’s Ad-Kc.
The board then fell 8-5-5-K-Q to relegate Blumenthal to a runner-up position worth $334,756. However, the huge pay-day was little consolation for the US pro who now has $1,448,665 in life time earnings.
Blumenthal was then heard to exclaim; “How can he beat me in that many all-ins, Jesus Christ,” before disappearing in a hurry.
In the meantime, Geffrey Klein was ecstatic over his WSOP triumph, and later commented:
“I never expected anything like this. I wanted to do well and play well and get lucky.”