FREDDY DEEB WINS WSOP H.O.R.S.E. (Final)

6 July 2007

Pro builds a formidable chip lead to take winner's prize of $2 276 832

After a five day competition against some of the top players in world poker, Freddy Deeb is the 2007 World Series of Poker H.O.R.S.E. champion, winning out over 148 of the best poker players around, claiming the coveted Event 39 H.O.R.S.E. victor's bracelet....and giving his bank balance a boost with the main prize of $2 276 832.

A tired Deeb told ESPN: "This is a big accomplishment. I played great and I got what I deserved. This was a special tournament. The biggest in the world. This time I was determined to play the best poker of my life, and I did. I took a lot of bad beats and I survived to come back and win it."

Second place finisher who put up a brilliant fight in the tense heads up despite Deeb commanding a huge chip lead was French poker pro Bruno Fitoussi, who collected a $1 278 720 paycheck for a great effort. He was in position to win it all and at one point held a significant chip lead himself before Deeb managed a talented comeback. Fitoussi now ranks at the top of the all-time money list for all French players.

Third-place and $852 480 went to John Hanson, a New York stockbroker.

With his low stack, Thor Hansen was perhaps predictably the first man to head for the rail when the final table action commenced on Day 5. For his number 8 position he pocketed $188 256. Next to go was the popular Barry Greenstein on $259 296, followed at number 6 by former H.O.R.S.E. final tabler David Singer on $337 440.

Kenny Tran took the exit door at position 5 on $444 000, just ahead of fourth placed Amnon Filippi ($586 080) who at the start of the day had been in a strong position as chip leader. And when Hanson was eliminated in the third slot on $852 480, the stage was set for an epic heads up between Deeb and Fitoussi, culminating at hand 341in the 7 Card Stud Eight or Better round with a win for Deeb and his overwhelming multi-millions chip lead.

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