What a comeback by Brian Rast! He was down to about 2 million and almost out of the tournament a while ago. Now, about 10-15 minutes later, he's the champion and $1,720,328 richer! This was his second bracelet at the 2011 WSOP! Very impressive!
This is how the last 2 hands were played out.
Hand #216
Brian Rast had the button and raised to 240k. Phil Hellmuth called. The flop fell Q78, and Hellmuth bet 300k. Rast called. The turn was the 4, Hellmuth checked, and Rast checked as well. The river was the 4 and Hellmuth betted 300k. Rast folds, and Hellmuth won the pot.
Hand #217
Phil Hellmuth had the button and raised to 400k. Brian Rast called. The dealer lays out the flop J910 on the table. Rast led for 500k, and Hellmuth moved all-in.
Rast stood up and said "I'm sorry Phil, I have the nuts. I call."
Rast KQ
Hellmuth 82
The turn was the 5 and changed nothing. The room fell silent and neither Hellmuth or Rast could look as the dealer was about to show the river card.
The 8 fell on the river and completed the board, and ended the tournament with Brian Rast as the winner.
Brian Rast's friends ran out onto the stage, jumping up and down celebrating the new champ. After a while, when things had calmed down, Rast and Hellmuth shook hands.
"If I were I'd tip that dealer a million," Hellmuth told Rast.
There was no doubt whatsoever that Phil Hellmuth was disappointed with his third runner-up finish at the 2011 WSOP. This was also the second heads-up match he lost with a huge lead. Let's hope that Hellmuth will take down the Main Event and get his 12th bracelet, he really deserves it!