World Series 2003 - Main Event Winner Chris Moneymaker

*WSOP and World Series of Poker (referred to from now on as the Main Event and/or World Series)

Main Event Update

End of Day 4, MAY 23.

Final table was reached at 3.05a Friday morning. One PokerStars player remains, Chris Moneymaker - and he is the chip leader.

An incredible turn of events occurred tonight, taking the chip leader at 15 players out on two hands (note that this summary includes information provided by Olof):

Olof Thorson, who qualified for the Main Event in an FPP freeroll, had T1.2 million at the beginning of these two hands. Amir Vahedi, who had been chip leader until losing a few key hands, was reduced to T740,000. He raised two off the button with Q8d, making it T30,000. Olof reraised on the button to T130,000 with AKd. All others folded, Amir called. The flop came 753 with two diamonds. Amir immediately moved all-in. Olof immediately put him on a flush draw, and considered for a long time how he should react, finally deciding to call. He had the best hand until the river, when Amir spiked an 8, cutting Olof's stack to about T460,000.

As so often happens in this situation, Olof immediately picked up a big hand the very next hand, KK. He raised and got one caller. An A came on the flop, but Olof still bet all-in and was called by AJ, taking him out in two hands.

In the meantime, Chris was involved in a series of key hands that took him up to T600,000. He was then involved in a key hand with Russ Boyd, who had been the chip leader at 42 players with T1 million. Chris raised to T50,000 under the gun with 33. Everyone folded to Russ in the BB, who called. The flop came 952, Russ checked and Chris bet T100,000. Russ immediately moved all-in for T470,000. Chris thought for quite a while, studied Russ, and called. Russ turned over KQo, the turn and river made a 5 high straight for Chris and took him well over T1 million. He then stole a series of blinds and reached T1.6 million, but made no more major moves until this key hand:

Chris raised to T60,000 with AQo and was called by Phil Ivey and Jason Lester. The flop came QQ6 with 2 spades. Chris bet T100,000 and Phil called. The turn was a 9. Chris bet T200,000, and Phil moved all-in. Chris called, and Phil turned over a nightmare hand for Chris: 99, for a full house. Chris was drawing to 7 cards - a Q, one of the three remaining Aces or one of three sixes. An Ace came on the river, busting Phil and setting up Friday's final table.

PokerStars wishes all of our winners the best of luck at the World Series!

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