Joe Cada, a 21-year-old Michigan poker professional who chose cards over college won the WSOP today, winning $8.55 million and becoming the youngest player to win the tournament in its 40-year history.
In the final hand, after an 88 hand heads-up battle, Cada took pocket Nines against Moon's QJ suited, Moon having called Cada's all in. Cada won the race, and the title when the 7-7-K-8-2 board missed Moon. Moon said of the final hand. "I just took a shot."
The Heads-Up play was a see-saw battle. Cada began with a 2:1 chip lead but was pulled back early on when Moon found QQ against Cada's 99, from which point Moon progressed to a healthy chip lead.
In a key hand that reversed fortunes Cada faced a decision for all his chips on a 10-10-9-5 board when Moon pushed in. Cada thought for several minutes, calmly sipping on a bottle of water while he did so and eventually called with a Nine. This was a superb call as Moon had nothing but a straight draw which missed on the river.
"He made a phenomenal call," Moon said. "That's why he's the champion."Moon eventually won just over $5m for finishing runner-up
Cada broke a record for the tournament's youngest winner set last year by Peter Eastgate of Denmark. Cada is 340 days younger than Eastgate.