Joe McKeehen Wins 2015 World Series of Poker Main Event24-Year-Old Pennsylvania Poker Pro Wins $7,683,346 |
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The 2015 World Series of Poker main event is officially in the books with 24-year-old Joe McKeehen etching his name in history as this year’s world champion. The North Wales, Pennsylvania resident topped a field of 6,420 players to earn his first career bracelet and the $7,683,346 first-place prize.
Most WSOP main event winners are forced to overcome some adversity en route to the title, but McKeehen’s win was never in doubt. Sporting a relaxed attitude that matched his casual attire, (an Allen Iverson jersey and sweatpants) McKeehen led wire to wire at the final table and pretty much imposed his will on his opponents.
McKeehen entered the final table with a record 32.7 percent of the chips in play. His 47.5 percent of the chips going into six-handed play was the second most all time. Entering three-handed play, he held a whopping 66.8 percent.
It also helped that he seemed to always hold over his fellow November Niners as well. McKeehen knocked out six of his eight competitors at the final table.
His run began on the first day of the final table when he knocked out Patrick Chan in ninth place with his A-4 besting K-Q. He took out Federico Butteroni in eighth place when his A-K held against A-J. He finished the day by eliminating Pierre Neuville in seventh place, this time with his J-6 making a flush against A-J.
On the second day of the final table, McKeehen took a break while Max Steinberg cracked the pocket aces of Tom Cannuli to send him to the rail in sixth place and Ofer Zvi Stern went out in fifth at the hands of Neil Blumenfield. McKeehen got back in the action by eliminating Steinberg with A-Q against A-J to end the day.
On the third and final day of the final table, McKeehen quickly took out Blumenfield with pocket queens against pocket deuces. Sporting a 5-1 chip lead heads-up, it took just 12 hands for McKeehen to end it when his A-10 outflopped the pocket fours of Josh Beckley.
For the win, McKeehen earned 3,300 Card Player Player of the Year points, which moves him into seventh place in the rankings for this year. He now has more than $9.7 million in career tournament earnings, which puts him in 37th all-time, ahead of poker legends such as Erick Lindgren, David Pham, Mike Matusow and Freddy Deeb.
Here’s a look at the final table results.
| Finish | Player Name | Prize | POY Points |
| 1 | Joe McKeehen | $7,683,346 | 3,300 |
| 2 | Josh Beckley | $4,470,896 | 2,750 |
| 3 | Neil Blumenfield | $3,398,298 | 2,200 |
| 4 | Max Steinberg | $2,615,361 | 1,650 |
| 5 | Ofer Zvi Stern | $1,911,423 | 1,375 |
| 6 | Tom Cannuli | $1,426,283 | 1,100 |
| 7 | Pierre Neuville | $1,203,293 | 825 |
| 8 | Federico Butteroni | $1,097,056 | 550 |
| 9 | Patrick Chan | $1,001,020 | 275 |
Check out Card Player TV’s video featuring McKeehen’s press conference that took place on stage just after he became the 2015 WSOP main event champion:
For more coverage from the WSOP, visit the 2015 WSOP landing page complete with full results, news, player interviews and event recaps.
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