David Larson Defeats Joe McKeehen and Takes Down WPT Rolling Thunder for $295,128
6 years ago
07 Mar
Coming into the final table shortstacked, and facing an in-from WSOP Main Event champion in the shape of Joe McKeehen, proved to be no barrier to David Larson who took down the WPT Rolling Thunder Main Event for his first WPT title and biggest ever cash of $295,128.
The San Jose poker player could boast only $30,000 in winnings coming into the event, but 2018 – 20 years since his first recorded cash! - has started very well indeed for the Californian, deep runs at the WSOP Circuit event in Thunder Valley and the LA Poker Classic funding his buy-in for the $3500 buy-in Main Event at the Thunder Valley Casino Resort in Lincoln this week.
Among the 440 entrants, however, he would be facing the likes of WSOP Main Event champ Joe McKeehen, as well as notables such as two-time WPT winner Sam Panzica, and Ari Engel – all chasing a share of the $1,408,000 prizepool on offer.
The final table witnessed one of the most incredible hands you’re likely to see this year – or any year for that matter – and it’s already gone viral, with David Baker tweeting…
This remarkable, and let’s face it, ridiculous fold kept Steinman in the mix, and saw him go on to knock out both Andreas Kniep and Ping Liu to take the chip lead into three-handed play, McKeehen still there and Larsen back nursing the shortest stack.
But as the livestream and updates showed, there was plenty of action still to come… with McKeehen on the receiving end of a triple-whammy of hands against Larson, sending the man who won the clash of 5 Main Event champions last week to the rails in 3rd…
Heads-up saw Steinman starting out with a 2-1 advantage, but Larson by now was used to being behind, and yet again he confounded the odds by overtaking and then steadily pulling ahead of his rival for the title. When the end came it was a full house, aces full of sixes which won him the WPT trophy, Steinman's fine efforts bringing him $201,428 by way of consolation…
Final table results:
| 1 | David Larson | $295,128 |
| 2 | Ian Steinman | $201,428 |
| 3 | Joseph McKeehen | $131,081 |
| 4 | Ping Liu | $97,510 |
| 5 | Andreas Kniep | $69,650 |
| 6 | D.J. Alexander | $56,417 |
| 7 | Paul McCaffrey | $43,322 |
| 8 | Glenn Larson | $43,322 |
| 9 | Pat Lyons | $30,228 |
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