A total of 6,352 players put up the $10,000 buy-in for the 2013 World Series of Poker main event, but it was a 23-year-old poker pro from East Lansing, Michigan who topped them all to earn the lion’s share of a $59,708,800 prize pool.
Ryan Riess, a player with just $317,000 in career tournament earnings prior to this year’s summer contest, banked $8,361,570 and his first career WSOP bracelet.
“I’m overwhelmed with joy,” said Riess. “I’ve been dreaming about [this] since I was 14 and saw Moneymaker win it. The table was tough, but I just had a good feeling about everything.”
Riess, the youngest member of the November Nine, defeated Las Vegas club promoter Jay Farber heads-up to take the title just one day after outlasting a final table that included notable pros David Benefield, Mark Newhouse, J.C. Tran and Amir Lehavot.
Though he entered heads-up play with a slight chip deficit, the man decked out in a Detroit Lions jersey quickly clawed his way back before dominating and ultimately putting away his over matched opponent. The match lasted just 90 total hands.
In addition to the cash and the title, Riess was awarded 3,300 Card Player Player of the Year points, which was enough to vault him into seventh place overall. Farber, who picked up 2,750 points, moved into 13th.
Here is a look at how the final day of action went down according to the Card Player live updates page.
Riess Pulls Even
After ten hands of heads-up play, it was Riess who made the most progress, picking up about 3 million to close the gap on his opponent.
Although Farber won six of the ten hands, it was Riess who won the biggest encounters. Three hands later, the two had pulled virtually even, with Farber having only a single 25,000 chip for a lead.
Riess Takes The Lead
In the biggest pot of the heads-up match thus far, Riess took the lead with a big bet on the river that Farber couldn’t call.
On the 19th hand of heads-up play, Farber raised to 2 million on the button and Riess reraied to 5 million from the big blind. Farber called and the flop fell A
8
4
.
Riess continuation bet 5 million and Farber called. The turn was the 7 and Riess checked. Farber bet 8.2 million and Riess called. The river was the A
and Reiss bet 15 million. Farber folded and Reiss claimed his first lead, with 112.125 million to Farber’s 78.55 million.
Farber Strikes Back
On the 23rd hand of heads-up play, in a hand that took over ten minutes, Riess raised on the button to 2.5 million and Farber called.
The flop came down 733 and Riess bet 3 million. Farber called and the turn was the 2. Farber checked for a second time and Riess bet 5 million. Farber then check-raised to 13.45 million and Riess called.
The river was the 9 and Farber bet 24.5 million. Riess tanked for over six minutes and eventually decided to fold.
After the hand, Farber was stacked with 97.5 million, having taken the lead back from Riess with his 93.175 million.
Riess Takes Huge Lead
On the 32nd hand, Farber raised to 2 million and Riess reraised to 5 million. Farber four-bet to 8.8 million and Riess called.
The flop came down 843 and Riess checked. Farber bet 6.7 million and Reiss called. The turn was the 2 and Riess checked again. Farber bet 13.6 million and Riess called.
The river was the 7 and both players checked. Riess showed JJ and Farber mucked. The pot gave Riess a dominating 134.375 million to Farber’s 56.3 million.
Farber Doubles Up
With his stack circling the drain after dozens of small pots, Farber called a 2 million raise from Riess. The flop was KQ5 and Farber checked.
Riess bet 2.5 million and Farber shoved for his last 16.3 million. Riess immediately called, tabling K10 for top pair. Farber could only show J10 for an open-ended straight draw.
The turn and river fell 9Q, however, and Farber doubled up to 36.9 million. Riess was left with 153.775 million.
Farber In Trouble
After losing a lot of ground, Farber dug himself into an even bigger hole. Riess raised to 2.5 million on the button and Farber called. Both players checked a J-9-4 flop and the turn was another nine. Riess bet 3 million and Farber called. The river was an ace and Riess bet 8 million.
Farber called and was shown the bad news as his opponent turned over Ks9s for trips. Farber was left with just 13.1 million to Reiss’ 177.6 million.
Farber Eliminated In Second Place ($5,174,357) Riess Wins 2013 WSOP Main Event ($8,361,570)
Down to his last 14.2 million, Farber shoved over a button raise of 2.5 million and Riess made the call with AK.
Farber was drawing live with his Q5, but a flop of J104 took away some of his outs.
The turn was the 3 and a teary-eyed Riess moved closer to his rail before falling to a crouch awaiting the eventual river card.
Farber needed one of the three remaining fives in the deck to stay alive, but the river was the 4, ending his tournament run in second place.
Riess and his supporters jumped in celebration, rushing the stage as an explosion of streamers and confetti littered the stage and theater.
For his runner-up finish, Farber banked $5,174,357. Riess, who was overcome with emotion in victory, earned $8,361,570.
