Riess the Beast: Ryan Riess Wins 2013 WSOP Main Event
Ryan Riess has won the 2013 World Series of Poker Main Event after he defeated Jay Farber heads-up. Riess earns $8,361,570, the platinum bracelet valued at $500,000, and poker immortality. The 23-year-old Michigan native is the 45th world champion in WSOP history after topping a field of 6,352 players
"I've been dreaming about this for a long time," Riess said after the win. "Ever since I was 14 and saw [Chris] Moneymaker win it. I just had a great feeling about it.
"I'm extremely excited," Riess added. "I'm excited for what the future holds."
Farber took home a proud $5,174,357 for his second-place finish.
2013 WSOP Main Event Final Table Results
| Place | Name | Country | Payout (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ryan Riess | United States | $8,361,570 |
| 2 | Jay Farber | United States | $5,174,357 |
| 3 | Amir Lehavot | Israel | $3,727,823 |
| 4 | Sylvain Loosli | France | $2,792,533 |
| 5 | J.C. Tran | United States | $2,106,893 |
| 6 | Marc-Etienne McLaughlin | Canada | $1,601,024 |
| 7 | Michiel Brummelhuis | Netherlands | $1,225,356 |
| 8 | David Benefield | United States | $944,650 |
| 9 | Mark Newhouse | United States | $733,224 |
Final Table Action
The final nine players in the 2013 WSOP Main Event were led by J.C. Tran with 38 million ahead of Amir Lehavot with 29.7 million. All players were guaranteed a minimum of $733,224, while the winner would walk away with $8,361,570, the gold bracelet, and a place in poker history.
Mark Newhouse entered the day second to last in chips, and would double inside the first orbit, after his pocket queens cracked the kings of Marc-Etienne McLaughlin.
Short-stack David Benefield, known by many as “Raptor” because of his online handles, would also double early, as Tran and Amir Lehavot traded the chip lead, but it was Newhouse the first player out. Just thirty hands after doubling, Newhouse ran 9♠9♣ into the A♠K♥ of Riess, with a king-high board ending Newhouse’s run in ninth place.
Benefield had cashed five events and reached three final tables since the November Nine, the best result coming in the EPT Barcelona €50,000 Super High Roller, finishing fifth for $278,439.
But just two hands after Newhouse’s elimination, Benefield joined him in eighth place. He was all-in and at risk with K♠2♠ but was dominated by Jay Farber’s A♣K♦, who would turn a straight on Q♣10♠5♦J♠2♦ to eliminate Benefield.
Michiel Brummelhuis was the first Dutch player to ever reach a Main Event final table and welcomed his newborn son Thijmen to the world on Sept. 13. He was able to double up holding pocket nines, but then ran another pair of nines into Riess’ pocket aces just two hands later to hit the rail.
Farber had led after Benefield’s exit, but the latest elimination saw Riess head the remaining six players. The pair both moved away from the rest of the field before McLaughlin was eliminated in a massive hand that gave Farber around half of the chips in play.
The pair would trade pre-flop raises, before McLaughlin six-bet shoved for 38.6 million. Farber quickly called.
Marc-Etienne McLaughlin: K♠K♣
Jay Farber: A♠A♥
The board ran out 8♠7♠2♥J♦J♣ in this huge cooler, sending McLaughlin out the door.
Entering the final table, all eyes had been on chip leader Tran. He came into the final table with a large gap separating him from second place, and held onto the chip lead even after the first two eliminations. However, he failed to get any real momentum after that point, and his run ultimately ended in fifth place.
Four hands after the elimination of McLaughlin, Tran shoved with A♥7♠ into the K♠Q♥ of Farber, only to lose out after a king hit the flop.
The two eliminations had moved Farber up above 100 million in chips, with Riess his nearest challenger. However, he would boost his chances with the final two eliminations of the first day of play.
First, he sent Frenchman Sylvain Loosli to the rail in fourth place, his A♣10♥ besting the Q♥7♣ of his opponent. Then, on the very next hand, Amir Lehavot was eliminated in third place by running two sevens in Riess’ pocket tens.
Heads-Up Play
The following day, Farber returned with the chip lead, holding 105 million in chips to Riess’ 85.675 million. With the blinds at 500,000/1,000,000/150,000, the match was still very much anyone's for the taking.
Quickly, though, Riess powered his way to the front with expert play and timely maneuvers. Every big pot seemed to be pushed the way of Riess, although there was one double up for Farber that extended play a bit.
On that double up, Farber took his straight draw up against Riess' top pair in a clash on the flop. Spiking the straight on the turn gave Farber some extra life, but Riess didn't waver. He sat right back down and went back to work. The next thing everyone knew, Farber was short once again.
On the final hand, Hand #261 of the final table and Hand #89 of heads-up play, Farber was all in with Q♠5♠ against Riess' A♥K♥.
Following the J♦10♦4♣ flop, Farber was looking for a five to stay alive. His queen would now give Riess a Broadway straight, and that would've spelt the end. The turn was the 3♣, leaving just one more card for Riess to dodge.
The 4♦ paired the board on the river, and the swarming began. Riess' rail stormed the stage, engulfing the new champion and piling on top of him. Chants of "Riess the beast!" rang loud throughout the Penn & Teller Theater, but Riess made sure to fight his way out of the pack and congratulate Farber on a job well done.
Overcome with joy, Riess hugged his railbirds one by one, holding his close family members a little tighter than the others, yet showing emotion to each person. He came into the final table believing he was the best player remaining, and he can now rightfully call himself world champion.
With thanks to original reporting from Chad Holloway.
