Bodog Beat

Poker pro Scotty Nguyen took down the 2008 WSOP HORSE World Championship event early this morning. (Bodog Beat Image)

After five grueling days of five different styles of poker only one poker player managed to emerge victorious from the $50,000 HORSE World Championship here at the 2008 WSOP, and that player was none other than Scotty Nguyen (baby). At approximately 6am this morning the final hand was dealt in the heads-up match between Nguyen and Michael DeMichele, giving Nguyen the WSOP bracelet, $1,989,120 in prize money and the instantly legendary Chip Reese Trophy.

The final table began at 4pm yesterday with only eight players remaining from the 148 who ponied up the original $50,000. They were several familiar faces among the final table participants and a couple of newcomers to this kind of spotlight. Erick Lindgren, Barry Greenstein, Lyle Berman and Huck Seed have all been in these kinds of situations before whereas Patrick Bueno, Matt Glantz and Michael DeMichele were all chasing their first bracelets, even if this wasn't their first trip to the pony show. An astounding 12 hours later one player from each camp was left standing, and two hours after that Nguyen was able to parlay his 5 to 1 chip lead into a win.

This victory was well deserved for Nguyen, who ran deep in the 2007 WSOP Main Event only to finish in 11th, two spots shy of the final table. The win puts his career earnings just short of the mythical $10 million mark, something he should be able to reach within the next year, if he doesn't spend all his money on beer.

Second place finisher DeMichele was making his second trip to a WSOP final table on his way to a fourth WSOP cash. He makes $1,243,200 for his finish and a name for himself in the poker community.

Two of the final table participants had an effect on the 2008 WSOP Player of the Year standings. With Lindgren finishing in third place, and earning $781,440, he is catapulted into the top spot with five cahses for over $1.3 million so far. Right behind him, and moving up a couple of spots after his sixth place finsih for $355,200, is Greenstein, who has cashed six times this year for a total of $768,461. Nguyen also moved up the standings, but is still pretty far down the leaderboard even though he has made more money at the Series than any other single player yet this year.

While arguably the toughest poker tournament of the 2008 WSOP is now in the books, the most coveted prize is still just four days away from starting. The 2008 WSOP Main Event gets underway on Thursday and the Beat will be on hand to bring you all the details of the Bodog WSOP VIP qualifiers and their amazing Vegas experience.