Ryan Riess crouched in front of his rail after three and a half hours of play Tuesday, tears welling up in his eyes. One card to come. His dreams were right in front of him, but then again, they were right in front of him an hour earlier, too. One card to come. As he stared at the video screen hanging over the table, he could feel his family and friends about to erupt behind him. But there was still one card to come. Three outs to fade.
It was actually Jay Farber who was the chip leader going into heads-up play at the end of the 2013 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event, holding 105 million chips compared to Riess’s 85.675 million. For much of the first hour, there was not a whole lot of chip movement. Riess cut into the deficit slightly, but Farber maintained the lead. All that changed, though, about 40 minutes into play. Farber min-bet pre-flop to 2 million, Riess re-raised to 5 million, and Farber called. On the A♣-8♥-4♦ flop, Riess bet another 5 million and Farber made the call. The 7♦ was dealt on the turn, but this time, Riess decided to check. That prompted Farber to bet 8.2 million and after a little thought, Riess called. The river brought the A♠ and Riess switched gears again, betting 15 million chips. This was too much for Farber, who folded. That pot was worth 51.7 million, giving Riess the chip lead with 112.125 million.
Just ten minutes later, Farber turned the tables, forcing a similar river fold from Riess to regain the lead, 99.8 million to 90.875 million. It was an interesting hand: Riess raised pre-flop to 2.5 million and Farber called. Farber check-called a 3 million chip bet on the 3♠-3♥-7♣ flop. When the 2♣ was dealt on the turn, Farber checked, Riess bet 5 million, and then Farber check-raised to 13.45 million. Riess finally called after some thought and the river came down 9♠. At that, Farber bet 24.5 million chips. Riess tanked…and tanked…and tanked. After three minutes, he finally broke the silence, smiling a bit and saying, “That’s a big bet.” It took him another three minutes before he finally folded, giving the pot to Farber. ESPN’s cameras revealed that Riess and Q-7, while Farber was on an all-out bluff, holding just 6-5. At the time, ESPN’s Norman Chad compared it to Chris Moneymaker’s bluff against Sammy Farha ten years ago, calling Farber’s move “the bluff of THIS decade.”
It didn’t take long, though, for Riess to grab the lead back again and he soon pulled away. At about 7:20pm, Farber raised pre-flop to 2 million, Reiss re-raised to 5 million, and Farber four-bet to 8.8 million. Riess called and the men saw a flop of 8♦-4♠-3♣. Riess checked-called a 6.7 million bet before the turn card of 2♥. Again, Riess check-called, this time for 13.6 million, and the river produced the 7♠. Both players checked and Farber mucked when Riess showed him pocket Jacks. Riess scooped the 58.5 million chip pot and watched his stack grow to 134.375 million, compared to Farber’s 56.3 million.
Farber would never get close again.
From there, Riess kept his boot on Farber’s throat, not giving him any means to gradually chip up. It helped, and this was noted in the broadcast, that Riess seemed to keep hitting his hands, but he also played the hands extremely well. It was quite obvious that he was the better of the two players (not to diminish Farber’s play – he was really good, as well, as evidenced by his huge bluff) and clearly deserved to be in the position he was in.
On the last hand before Level 40, Farber was all-in for his last 11.9 million, his J♣-T♠ dominated by Riess’s K♠-T♥. The flop was K♣-5♥-Q♠; Riess had paired his King. His dreams were right in front of him. He could feel the bracelet on his wrist. But the 9♥ on the turn gave Farber a straight and new life. Riess handled it well and he was still miles ahead, but it could not have been easy to watch the title pull away like it did.
Shortly after the break, it looked like Farber might be able to get back into the match. He raised to 2.5 million pre-flop and Riess called to bring on the flop of K♣-3♠-2♣. Riess check-called a 2.8 million chip bet and the two saw a turn of 9♦. Farber bet 6 million and Riess called. The 3♣ was dealt on the river; Riess checked and Farber slid out a bet of 13 million. Like he did when Farber bluffed, Riess went into the tank for a long time. He eventually chuckled, smiled, and said, “I don’t know,” to which Farber gave a wry grin. Antonio Esfandiari, one of ESPN’s television commentators, believed that Farber’s reaction indicated that he was bluffing again. Apparently, Riess believed that, too, and called with Q♠-J♣. Oops. Farber flipped over 9♣-7♣ for the flush. That took his stack up to 65.4 million; Riess now had less than a 2-to-1 lead.
That was Farber’s final highlight, though. It was almost as if that hand angered Riess (though his countenance always remained very calm) and he decided enough was enough. He stepped on the gas, constantly putting pressure on Farber. Hand after hand, Farber couldn’t find another opening and his stack dwindled.
On the championship hand at about 9:30pm, Farber was down to 14.2 million and moved all-in after a 2.5 million chip pre-flop raise from Riess. Riess quickly called, showing A♥-K♥, up against Farber’s Q♠-5♠.
The flop: 4♣-J♦-T♦. Terrible for Farber. His Queen was now no good.
The turn: 3♣
Ryan Riess crouched in front of his rail after three and a half hours of play Tuesday, tears welling up in his eyes. One card to come. His dreams were right in front of him. One card to come.
The river: 4♦
Riess’s cheering section exploded, engulfing the champ. Red-eyed and overwhelmed, Riess embraced everyone he could find. He was the 2013 World Series of Poker Main Event Champion.
After things had calmed down and Riess had been awarded his bracelet, he was asked about his extreme confidence throughout the entire tournament. Riess said, simply, “I just think I’m the best player in the world.”
