Youngest poker champion-Joe Cada sets world
record
LAS VEGAS, USA -- Joe Cada (21) of
Shelby Township, Mich., a poker professional who chose cards
over college won the World Series of Poker main event winning
$8.55 million and setting the new world record for the Youngest
poker champion.
Photo: Joe Cada, 21, is the youngest
champion ever in the World Series of Poker. / Reuters photo
(enlarge
photo)
Cada's record-breaking win breaks a record
for the tournament's
youngest winner set last year by 22-year-old Peter Eastgate
of Denmark. The previous Guinness world records holder for
the title of Youngest
poker champion, Phil Hellmuth, held the record for
over two decades. He was 24 when he won for the first time
in 1984.
He battled 41-year-old logger Darvin Moon
and at one point held only one per cent of the chips in play.
Cada, who turns 22 next week, took home $8.5 million early
Nov. 10 when he outlasted Maryland logger Darvin Moon (and
6,492 other competitors) at No-Limit Texas Hold 'Em to win
the sport's biggest prize.
Joe
Cada turned over a pair of nines early after 46-year old Darvin
Moon called his all-in wager with a suited queen-jack, setting
up an about-even race for most of the chips on the table.
(enlarge
photo)
"I ran really well and I never really thought
this was possible," Cada said. "It was one of those dreams
and I'm thankful it came true."
He told reporters: 'Luck always helps. I'll
take all the luck I can get.' The player was virtually unknown
when he started the competition, but he is now worth approximately
£5.1million.
The finale pitted the youthful professional
- who makes a living playing poker online - against a self-employed
logger who, until this year's World Series of Poker, had never
been on an airplane or gambled for high stakes. Related world records: Longest
5-a-side football game-Surrey County Council sets world record
Joe
Cada turned over a pair of nines early after 46-year old Darvin
Moon called his all-in wager with a suited queen-jack, setting
up an about-even race for most of the chips on the table.
