As with any Bellagio WPT event, you
expect to see some big names still contending at the end. With the great
structure, and the fact that all the big names show up for Bellagio
tournaments, it's always just bound to happen. The 2008 Five Diamond took that
to a new extreme. Every starting table was "stacked," and with around
twenty players remaining Mike Matusow commented that there were "maybe two
bad players left" (QUITE a compliment from someone who rarely gives
opponents credit).
The final table followed the same pattern as Evan McNiff and Justin Young were
the only unknowns. WPT Final Table staples Steve Sung, Hoyt Corkins, and Amnon
Filippi joined the newcomers, bringing with them the experience of a collective
ELEVEN WPT final tables.
Then there was Chino Rheem who, although this was his first WPT final table, is
no stranger to high profile and high-pressure end game play (2008 WSOP November
Nine, anyone).
Sung came in with the chip lead, but
everyone had enough chips to take this one down. Chino doubled up Justin Young
early, but was able to keep his composure and hang in. The biggest hand of the
final table was Justin Young dropping an ultra-cooler on Sung and Filippi.
After a short-stacked Filippi moved in for just under one million, Sung called
only to have Young move in over the top of him. Filippi's 9-9 and Sung's K-K
were in bad shape against Young, who woke up with A-A at a very opportune time.
Chino then doubled through Evan McNiff
and eventually knocked him out, taking around eight million in chips into the
heads-up battle. Chino and Young jockeyed very carefully for what would be a
one hundred and fifty-one hand heads-up match. After the chip lead was
exchanged numerous times, Chino finally came out the victor.
