UK's John Kabbaj Wins WSOP Mixed Event (Event #25)

Britain has just picked up its first bracelet of WSOP 2014, after John Kabbaj took down $2,500 Omaha/Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo (Event #25) for $267,327. On his way to victory the UK pro had to first overcome a field of 470 players over three days, to claim the title, as well as a second career bracelet.
John Kabbaj also boosts his live career earnings to an impressive $2,786,344, but the score certainly came at a most opportune time for the Brit, who has lacked any major results over the past two years. Commenting on what the win meant to him, Kabbaj said:
“If you ever get divorced, don’t play poker for a long time..I should have taken some time out and I didn’t. I just went on a roller coaster. It’s hard for me to explain the year that I had, but it’s basically the low of the low to the high now, so it’s going to take time to sink in.”
The $2,500 buy-in mixed event attracted some of the best players in the game to create a prize pool worth $1,069,250. Amongst the big names then cashing in at one of the paid 48 money spots was Vanessa Selbst in 38th ($5,517), Humberto Brenes in 32nd ($6,490), Mike Matusow in 19th ($7,784), Matt Glantz in 18th ($7,784), and Robert Mizrachi in 13th ($11,676).
The final table of eight was equally well packed with talent such as Tom Schneider (8th), Mike ‘GoLeafsGoEh’ Leah (7th), Erik Seidel (6th), and Joe Tehan (5th), but eventually John Kabbaj would progress all the way through to heads-up against Thomas Keller, who in 2004 won a WSOP bracelet at the $5k No-Limit Hold’em event for $382,020,
As the final battle commenced, Kabbaj held a more than a 2-1 chip lead and just three hands later Thomas Keller had to settle for a runner-up finish worth $165,177, while John Kabbaj put the Brits on the map at this year’s WSOP.
“It’s surreal. I’m still in shock at the moment,” explained a jubilant Kabbaj.
Final Table Results:
1 John Kabbaj     $267,327
2 Thomas Keller $165,177
3 Chris McHugh     $105,000
4 Terry Hastoo     $75,713
5 Joe Tehan     $55,451
6 Erik Seidel     $41,230
7 Mike Leah     $31,115
8 Tom Schneider $23,823