2010 Bellagio Cup Concludes

LAS VEGAS (July 16, 2010)– When the dust settled at the World Poker Tour® (WPT) Bellagio Cup VI, German poker pro Moritz Kranich prevailed, defeating a deep and talented field of top young guns and well-known veterans to earn the prestigious title of WPT Champion and a seat into the Season IX WPT World Championship. Flanked by WPT Royal Flush Girls™ as he received his prize money, the Hamburg resident took home $875,150 for the win. A jubilated Kranich told WPT Anchor Kimberly Lansing in a post-event interview that he was eagerly anticipating celebrating his triumph.
 
The results of recent changes by Bellagio and WPT had a noticeable and immediate impact on the tournament. There was an evident buzz surrounding Bellagio Cup VI, with a packed house inside the Fontana Lounge and a line of fans stretching halfway out of the Bellagio casino, hoping to get a chance to watch the star-studded final table live.
 
“We are thrilled with the turnout for Bellagio Cup VI and with the high quality of players represented,” said Jack McClelland, Bellagio Tournament Director, whose modifications were a major factor in this year’s increased field. “The WPT is obviously re-energized and the Bellagio is looking forward to being a part of WPT’s continued success.”
 
The legendary Phil Ivey continued to enhance his Hall of Fame credentials with another memorable performance. Along with such elite pros as Phil Hellmuth, Daniel Negreanu, Todd Brunson, Eric Seidel, Chris Ferguson, Tom Dwan and Andy Bloch, Ivey bought into the WPT Bellagio Cup VI at the 11th level, the latest entries ever into a major tournament, more than two full days after WPT commentator Mike Sexton uttered his famous rendition of “shuffle up and deal.” With blinds already at 1,200/2,400 and the average chip stack at $128,000, Ivey was at a more than 3:1 chip disadvantage when he took his seat. But while his fellow all-stars succumbed to their small stacks, Ivey managed to not only catch up to the competition, but also surpass them on his way to making a record-breaking 9th WPT Final Table. His third place finish netted him $363,650 and added another you-won’t-believe-what-Phil-just-did story to his résumé.
 
The frenzy of big name pros registering just before the extended deadline brought the total number of players to 353, a 32% increase over last year’s Bellagio Cup V.
 
Justin “Boosted J” Smith, the 22-year old rising star, accomplished an equally impressive feat, final tabling his second consecutive Bellagio Cup. Last year Smith finished 3rd and famously played most of the Bellagio Cup V Final Table in severe pain after badly injuring his knee celebrating a big hand. This year, healthy and rested, Smith played inspired poker, picking his spots and making very few mistakes. He just couldn’t overcome Kranich’s sizeable chip lead and finished in second place for $594,755.
 
Also appearing at the final table were Australia’s John Caridad, UK player Robert Akery and Canadian Eric Afriat.
 
“The Bellagio adjusted their tournament so the greatest number of players could participate in this event,” said Matt Savage, WPT Executive Tour Director. “This flexibility is in line with the WPT’s mission to create the biggest and most player friendly fields.”