Adam Friedman goes back-to-back at WSOP

Adam Friedman did the improbable earlier this week after he won the $10,000 Dealer’s Choice tournament at the World Series of Poker for the second consecutive year.

Friedman faced a 122-player field in the difficult tournament and outlasted them all to claim his third career WSOP bracelet and cash $312,417. That surpassed his winnings in the same event the previous year, when he topped a 111-player field to earn $293,275.

Friedman’s first WSOP win came back in 2012 in the $5,000 Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better tournament. For that win, he cleared $269,037.

In this year’s Dealer’s Choice tournament Friedman faced a tough six-man final table that had won a combined six WSOP bracelets. He also had to own a ton of poker knowledge with 20 variations of poker eligible to be played in the tournament.

This included the basics like Hold’em and Omaha and the more obscure variations like Razz, 2-7 Lowball and Badugi.

Friedman’s final opponent, Shaun Deeb was very familiar with what it takes to win at the WSOP with four WSOP bracelets to his name entering the event.

When heads-up play began Friedman and Deeb were nearly even in chips with Friedman having a slight advantage with 3.9 million chips to Deeb’s 3.3 million. The two traded the chip lead back and forth several times throughout heads-up play.

On the final hand of the tournament with No-Limit Hold’em selected, Friedman raised to 60,000 from the button. Deeb raised to 250,000 and Friedman called. The flop was 8c-7d-4h.

Deeb made a continuation bet of 175,000 and Friedman raised to 530,000. After a call from Deeb the turn was the 7h. After a check from Deeb, Friedman bet 670,000. Deeb thought it over before making the call. After another check by Deeb, Friedman pushed all-in.

Deeb made the call and showed Ah-Jc for two pair, Jacks and Sevens. Friedman had him beat with 8d-7c for a full house.

For second place Deeb received $193,090.