Chip Reese Bests Andy Bloch In Longest Heads-Up WSOP Match

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 15, 2006--David "Chip" Reese outlasted an all-star field to win nearly $1.8 million in the $50,000 buy-in H.O.R.S.E. tournament at the 2006 World Series of Poker at the Rio All Suite Casino & Hotel.

The final table of nine professional players lasted 12 hours with the final two - Las Vegans Reese and fellow pro Andy Bloch -- dueling for a record seven hours and 10 minutes of heads-up competition that ended earlier this morning. The previous record for heads-up play at the World Series of Poker -- seven hours -- occurred at the 1983 WSOP main event.

On the final hand in the H.O.R.S.E. tournament, Reese's Ace in the hole coupled with pairs of sevens and fours on the board beat Bloch's nine-eight unsuited.

The third day of competition in the H.O.R.S.E. event brought together what was widely considered the greatest final table in World Series of Poker tournament history. Among the nine players were two-time WSOP World Champion Doyle Brunson, 1993 WSOP World Champion Jim Bechtel, Phil Ivey and T.J. Cloutier. The competitors at the table had won a combined 27 WSOP gold bracelets.

"It was anybody's ballgame, but I won the match," said Reese who went on to talk about the others at the final table. "It was special to win because all my friends wanted to win it too."

A total of 143 men and women paid the unprecedented $50,000 buy-in for the tournament, which combines hold'em, Omaha, razz, stud and stud eight or better into a single event. Many poker professionals feel H.O.R.S.E., due to its multiple variations on the game, is uniquely suited to identify the world's greatest all-around poker player.

The $50,000 buy-in event, the first in World Series of Poker history, was added to the schedule at the request of players who sought an ultra-exclusive event with the potential for a huge payday. Paying the top 18 finishers, the first person to "hit the money" received $137,000, while the two players at the final table each won more than $1 million.

The 2006 World Series of Poker is on pace to break all records for participation and prize money in live poker events. In 2005, the total gross prize pool for the World Series of Poker exceed $106 million. The 45 events generated more than 32,000 player registrations.

Harrah's Entertainment, Inc., which acquired the World Series of Poker in 2004, is the world's largest provider of branded casino entertainment through operating subsidiaries. Since its beginning in Reno, Nevada 68 years ago, Harrah's has grown through development of new properties, expansions and acquisitions. Harrah's Entertainment is focused on building loyalty and value with its customers through a unique combination of great service, excellent products, unsurpassed distribution, operational excellence and technology leadership.

News Added: 16 July, 2006

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