Bodog Beat

Poker pro Mike 'The Mouth' Matusow fought long and hard to win Event No. 18 at the 2008 WSOP. (Bodog Beat Image)

The final table of Event No. 18 - $5,000 No-Limit 2-7 Draw w/ Rebuys - here at the 2008 WSOP lived up to its billing and became a poker battle royale. Lasting just almost 12 hours, this marathon final table saw some of the best poker players in the world fight back and forth to stay alive with Mike Matusow eventually emerging victorious to take home a WSOP bracelet and the $537,862 first-place prize.

This is the third WSOP bracelet for Matusow, the first and second came in 1999 and 2002, and this win pushes him over the $6.5 million mark for career earnings. Known by the moniker "The Mouth," Matusow provided all with entertainment on his way to victory, keeping up a running dialog with the other players and the crowd gathered to watch the impressive display of poker talent.

The storylines were plentiful with so many colorful and successful players reaching the final seven. Poker pro Erick Lindgren shed the moniker of "Best Player to Never Win a Bracelet" just about a week ago and was trying to follow that victory up in dramatic fashion with another win. Unfortunately, the poker gods would not be so kind this evening, and Lindgren busted out in fourth to take home $156,151.

Two players who could either now be taking up the mantle as "Best Player to Never Win a Bracelet" were unable to rid themselves of that possibility this evening as David Benyamine and Tony G were the first two out, finishing seventh ($58,990) and sixth ($78,075), respectively.

The 2007 World Series of Poker Player of the Year, Tom "DonkeyBomber" Schneider, was looking to put together another stellar series with his third cash and first final table. While there are several players making an early run at the title already, Schneider has proven that he has what it takes to face the best and succeed. With his play getting steadily better as the series continues, and with about 35 events still left to go, he will most likely be seen at several more final tables. He finished fifth and walked away with $104,101.

One of the true legends of the game, Barry Greenstein already has two WSOP bracelets and over $5.7 million in career earnings to his name, but like most true competitors is never content to rest on his laurels. He hung in for the better part of three hours finally succumbing to the short stack that plagued him for most of the final table, taking home $225,552 for third place.

When it got down to heads-up play Matusow only had Jeff Lisandro to beat out for the title, but it would take almost two hours to do so. Lisandro kept falling behind only to scoop a big pot and narrow the gap. However, as the clock rolled closer to 3:00 AM, several big pots fell to Matusow, leaving Lisandro short of his second WSOP bracelet but $347,004 better off.

Stay tuned for more live updates from the 2008 WSOP.