KEINER BEATS THE BIG GUNS

15 June 2007

Raymer, Greenstein in final table tussle

Event 14 at the World Series of Poker - the two-day $1 500 Seven Card Stud - was decided in the early hours of Sunday morning after a tough 17 hour race to a final table tussle that featured big names Greg Raymer and Barry Greenstein.

Emerging from the fray with the winner's bracelet and $146 987 main prize was Michael 'The Doc' Keiner, who shut down heads up opponent Nesbitt Coburn in a great climax to a long and hard competition that initially featured 385 starters, winnowed down to 137 players at the start of Day 2 amid fears that the event may have to be extended into a third day.

On Day 2 Michael Mizrachi was among several experienced players who went out in the first three hours of play. Later casualties included Barbara Enright, who is the only woman player ever to make a main event final table at WSOP, and previous gold bracelet winners Mel Judah and Josh Arieh.

With 13 players still left at 2 am Sunday, the decision was made to continue playing and when Keiner busted Matthew Kelly in ninth place, the final table was set, with Keiner holding a strong lead on 318 500. It took another 4 hours to decide the matter, with Larry Eubanks the first out in eighth place at the hands of Keiner.

John Robertson was out at position 7 after a clash with Steve Sung, and that was followed by WSOP veteran Raymer's departure at position 6 after falling foul of some aggressive play by Greenstein. Position 5 went to Dale Phillips - another Keiner victim, and soon after Greenstein was gone in the number 4 slot following a clash with Nesbitt Coburn.

The heads up was decided when Sung was taken down by Coburn, leaving him to face Keiner in the heads up.

At 7am, ESPN wanted to record the Keiner-Coburn heads-up match, but as it would mean having to return later the idea was dropped, allowing the game to continue with two very tired players. Around eight Sunday morning and after more than 17 hours of play, Keiner was able finally to prevail and pocket the big money and the bracelet. Coburn's consolation was $80 876.

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