Tran's First WSOP Bracelet (Update)

Published: Tuesday, June 17, 2008 Online-Casinos.com

TRAN'S FIRST WSOP BRACELET (Update)

Big win for poker pro

Kenny Tran's tough, grinding style of play brought him rich rewards over the weekend as he won his first World Series of Poker bracelet - and a useful $539 056 winner's check - in Event 25, the $10 000 Heads-Up No-Limit Hold'em World Championship (see previous Online-Casinos.com/InfoPowa report).

To get there, Tran had to work his way through a series of ever decreasing heads up contests opposed by excellent players before facing second placed Alex Torrini in a best out of three final. Defeated 2 - 0, Torrini's second place check was worth $336 896.

Vanessa Selbst and Jonathan Jaffe had an outstanding tournament, but had to be satisfied with semi-finalist finishes.

After the game, Tran told media reporters: "I definitely have a strategy. I like to grind people out and make them feel bored. I just torture them and let them finally make a mistake."

Tran first faced Jaffe in the semis, and initially did not appear to be enjoying much success, but his determined and tenacious style always brought him back into contention until around hand 25 he began to take the game over. The match was decided after some sixty hands of play with Tran heading into the final and Jaffe collecting a reward of $108 288 for his impressive time and efforts.
Jonathan Jaffe took home $108,288 while Tran advanced to the finals.

The match between Vanessa Selbst and Alex Torrini decided who would face Tran in the final, and started cautiously until hand 17, half way through the 35 hand match, when Torrini gained the chip lead and held onto it for the remainder of the contest. Selbst, who has been very successful in this year's WSOP so far, had to be content with the runner-up check of $108 288.