James Akenhead finished a great year in which he finalled both the WSOP and WSOPE main events, finishing ninth in each, with a win in the live Poker Million VIII final sponsored by Fulltiltpoker.Com. As he said on the Sky broadcast, this meant he final tabled in his three biggest buy in events in 2009.
Akenhead won $500,000 for first place after he beat Juha Helppi heads-up for the title.
Taylor ‘Greenplastik’ Caby was the first player out when his 77 was outdrawn by Dag Martin Mikkelsen's K4 in a blind on blind confrontation, Caby having pushed and Mikklesen making the call.
Free roll qualifier Pete Vasiliou was then eliminated, shoving A9 into the pocket Jacks of Mikkelsen.
Online qualifier Craig Wakeham fell in 5th, losing a race his 77 against Helppi’s A10, Ace on the flop
Luke Schwartz was out in 4th, he won a massive pot against Akenhead 99 v AJ but then the situation reversed. Akenhead pushed A7s, Schwartz called with 88 and they saw the action-tastic flop of
The turn brought a spade, the river didn't pair and Schwartz was down to the felt. His Ace-five then lost to Mikklesen's Norweigan’s KQ, King on the flop and the turn.
Mikkelsen was out in 3rd when Helppi raised with AQ, Mikklesen pushed with 33, Helppi called and turned an Ace
Despite taking a lead into Heads-Up which soon became a 2-1 chip lead, Akenhead brought it back and then found 10 10 against Helppi's 66 to scoop the title.
Full Tilt Poker Million VIII Final Result
1 James Akenhead $500,000
2 Juha Helppi $250,000
3 Dag Martin Mikkelsen $200,000
4 Luke Schwartz $150,000
5 Craig Wakeham $100,000
6 Pete Vasiliou $75,000
7 Taylor Caby $50,000
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