WSOP Updates – Event #30, $2,500 NLHE Six-Handed — Corkins Goes Wire-to-Wire for Win

June 21, 2007

Michael Friedman

WSOP Updates – Event #30, $2,500 NLHE Six-Handed — Corkins Goes Wire-to-Wire for Win 0001

Hoyt 'The Alabama Cowboy' Corkins snapped a 15-year dry spell on Wednesday by taking down the first-place cash of $515,065 and the highly coveted bracelet in the Six Handed $2,500 No Limit Hold'em Event (#30). Corkins, who held the lead at the end of both Day One and Day Two action, was never headed as he finished off Terrence Chan for the victory.

Onlookers expected a fast-played final table and the players did their best to oblige. The first to hit the rail was James Pittman, who busted on Hand #10 when his A-9 failed to improve against William Lin's pocket eights. Pittman earned $63,118 for his play.

On the hand after Pittman's elimination, the two chip leaders, Corkins and Alan Sass, tangled with disastrous results for Sass. Corkins rivered a full house (nines over aces), knocking Sass into the pack and giving Corkins over 2.1 million in chips. Five hands later, Corkins finished off Kelly Vande Mheen, who fell victim to Corkins' pocket aces. Vande Mheen collected $96,431.

Four-handed play did stretch for a spell, with Corkins gathering chips but both William Lin and Terrence Chan managing a double-through. 40 hands elapsed before Corkins claimed another victim, and this time it was Sass. Sass was in good shape to double through himself with A-K to Corkins' A-10, but a river 10 ended Sass's hopes. Sass earned $132,471 for his fourth-place finish.

Chan busted Lin just four hands later. Chan hit a needed six on the turn to make two pair, ending Lin's WSOP hopes. Lin collected $196,758 for finishing third.

Down to two, Chan and Corkins battled for over 20 hands before Corkins finished the matter. On the last hand, Corkins tried K♦10♠ against Chan's A♦4♦. Chan was safe through the 9♠8♦8♥ flop, but the K♣ spiked on the turn and 6♠ river sealed Chan's runner-up fate. Chan earned $287,345 for finishing second while Corkins collected $515,065 and the bracelet for the runaway win.