LAS VEGAS (AP) — A 29-year-old poker professional bested the World Series of Poker’s winningest player for $1.7 million early Thursday in the Poker Players Championship.
Brian Rast overcame a 5-1 heads-up chip disadvantage against Phil Hellmuth to win for the second time in the series.
The victory comes hours before the series’ most prestigious tournament, the no-limit Texas Hold ’em main event, is set to begin.
Hellmuth was looking to extend his record to 12 wins in the series.
Rast won the final hand with a pair of kings, dodging Hellmuth’s flush draw for a third time with the tournament on the line.
