Kevin Eyster Wins World Series of Poker $5,000 Six-Handed No-Limit Hold'em Event24-Year-Old Poker Pro Tops A Field of 541 in Event 24 To Win First Bracelet and $622,998 |
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Kevin Eyster had a breakout year on the live tournament circuit in 2013, making four final tables and winning his first World Poker Tour main event title.
The 24-year-old looks to be continuing his good form into 2014. Eyster topped a field of 541 players to win the World Series of Poker $5,000 six-max no-limit hold’em event. For the win the poker pro from Colorado earned his first WSOP gold bracelet and the first-place prize of $622,998.
Eyster navigated his way through a tough field that featured the likes of 2012 WSOP main event champ Greg Merson (13th – $24,613), Byron Kaverman (10th – $41,344), Matt Jarvis (9th – $41,344), current Card Player Player of the Year points leader Mustapha Kanit (7th – $55,710), Bryn Kenney (4th – $160,927) and Andrew “luckychewy” Lichtenberger (3rd – $242,827).
After outlasting all of those accomplished players Eyster had to do battle with Pierre Neuville, a 71-year-old Belgian player who has 50 cashes to his name. Neuville took a roughly 4-to-3 chip advantage into the start of heads-up play, but by the time play was halted for the night at 2:00 AM Esyter had taken the lead, holding 5.5 million to Neuville’s 2.6 million chips.
The American was able to extend that lead even further, and by the time the final hand arose he had roughly a 7-to-1 chip advantage. With blinds at 50,000 / 100,000 with a 10,000 ante Eyster picked up the K9 on the button and moved all-in for Neuville’s last 995,000. The Belgian made the call with the KQ and was in great shape to double up until the flop brought the K93 to give Eyster two pair. The turn brought the 9, leaving Neuville drawing to a one-outer to chop. The last king did not come, however, and the A on the river instead secured the pot and the title for Eyster. Neuville was sent to the rail in second place, earning $385,041 for his efforts.
Eyster’s win also earned him 1,680 Player of the Year points. This was his second final table of the year, and as a result he now sits in a tie with Sotirios Koutoupas for 20th place in the overall standings with 1,848 points and year-to-date earnings of $639,265.
Here is a look at the payouts and POY points awarded in this event:
Place | Player | Earnings (USD) | POY Points |
1 | Kevin Eyster | $622,998 | 1680 |
2 | Pierre Neuville | $385,041 | 1400 |
3 | Andrew Lichtenberger | $242,827 | 1120 |
4 | Bryn Kenney | $160,927 | 840 |
5 | Jeremy Kottler | $109,844 | 700 |
6 | David Borrat | $77,145 | 560 |
*Photo courtesy of the WSOP
For more coverage from the 2014 summer series, visit our WSOP landing page.
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