Joe Ebanks Wins No-Limit Hold'em Six-Handed Championship at 2011 World Series of Poker

The first $1 million prize at the 2011 World Series of Poker has gone to 26-year-old poker pro Joe “ender555” Ebanks. With his first WSOP bracelet, coming in the 474-player $10,000 no-limit hold’em six-handed championship, the Ohioan brings his lifetime earnings to $3,378,557.

Ebanks had to beat out arguably the toughest no-limit hold’em final table of the summer, a final-six that included poker greats Mike Sowers, Taylor Paur, Tristan Wade, Bertrand Grospellier, and eventual runner-up Chris Moorman.

“This is a dream come true,” Ebanks said in a press release. “It’s what I have been working on ever since I came into poker, like seven years ago. I always wanted to win a World Series of Poker bracelet. And, I also won it in one of the best events to win it in, so it’s great.”

Here are the elimination hands, as featured in Card Player’s live updates:

Mike Sowers Eliminated in 6th Place ($138,301)

Mike Sowers began the official six-handed final table second from the bottom and was the first one eliminated in 6th place.

Sowers button-raised to 105,000 before the flop, Joe Ebanks reraised to 275,000 from the big blind and Sowers called.

The board came 9 6 5, Ebanks bet 275,000 and Sowers called.

The turn was the 3, Ebanks shoved and Sowers called all in.

Sowers was ahead with top pair on the flop, but Ebanks had a flush draw and a straight draw. The river was the 9, giving Sowers trips but Ebanks a flush to win the pot. Mike Sowers was the first to go, eliminated in 6th place ($138,301).

Taylor Paur Eliminated in 5th Place ($198,140)

Taylor Paur button-raised to 130,000 before the flop, Joe Ebanks reriased to 295,000 from the big blind, Paur moved all in for about 1.7 million and Ebanks called.

Paur had 5 5 against Ebanks’ A Q.

The board came Q 4 4 6 8, giving Ebanks top two pair on the flop to win the pot. Taylor Paur was eliminated in 5th place ($198,140).

Tristan Wade Eliminated in 4th Place ($292,866)

Tristan Wade raised to 155,000 from the small blind, Chris Moorman reraised to 335,000 from the big blind, Wade moved all in and Moorman called.

Moorman lead with A J against Wade’s A 9.

The board came A Q 7 8 Q, giving both players two pair (aces and queens), but Moorman’s jack-kicker played and he won the pot. Tristan Wade was eliminated in 4th place ($292,866).

Bertrand Grospellier Eliminated in 3rd Place ($447,074)

Bertrand Grospellier button-shoved before the flop for about 1.7 million, Joe Ebanks re-shoved from the small blind and Chris Moorman folded the big blind.

Ebanks had 8 8 against Grospellier’s K 10.

The board came 9 9 5 3 Q, no help for Bertrand Grosppelier who was eliminated in 3rd place ($447,074).

With the elimination of Bertrand Grospellier in 3rd place, Chris Moorman took the chip lead going into heads-up play with roughly 7,400,000 to Joe Ebanks’ 6,800,000.

Chris Moorman Eliminated in 2nd Place ($716,282)

Joe Ebanks came into the unscheduled fourth day of this event with a commanding chip lead of 11,015,000 to Chris Moorman’s 3,215,000. Ebanks began the day as the aggressor and quickly went to work chipping away at Moorman’s stack.

After losing a few small pots to the chip leader, Moorman button-raised to 240,000 before the flop in the final hand of the tournament and Joe Ebanks called from the big blind.

The flop came Q 10 3 and both players checked.

The turn was the K, Ebanks bet 250,000, Moorman moved all in and Ebanks called.

Ebanks was ahead with top pair and a flush draw against Moorman’s straight draw.

The river was the 9, giving Ebanks a flush to win the pot.

Chris Moorman was eliminated in 2nd place ($716,282) while Joe Ebanks won the gold bracelt for Event No. 46 and the $1,158,481 grand prize.

For all of the latest WSOP information, check out Card Player’s WSOP landing page

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