The Epic Poker League’s $20,000 Main Event brought outstanding play and some familiar faces to the forefront of poker when it needed it most. Few names were bigger at the final table than its eventual winner, Chino Rheem.
Though the Epic Poker League’s approval rating is still wavering, few things stood more concrete than the first-ever EPL player pool that was assembled. Compiled with many of the best players poker has ever witnessed, a star-studded final table emerged with the surnames of Mercier, Seidel, Seed and Rheem rising above the rest.
Some referring to it as one of the toughest final tables ever assembled, several players who were featured came into the Main Event on epic heaters. The man leading that list of course, is this year’s top tournament earner, Erik Seidel.
However, if it was up to Chino Rheem, he would have something to say about Seidel’s quest for another title in 2011.
After the final table whittled down to just two players, it was Seidel and Rheem who emerged from the fray. Both players had much on the line, and although the reasons for each man’s public popularity couldn’t be more antagonistic, at this time, the focus was strictly on winning the EPL crown.
Entering heads-up play, the chip counts were nearly even. However, they wouldn’t stay that way for long, as Rheem continued the aggression he displayed throughout the tournament on Seidel. Seemingly picking up every pot, Rheem slowly built a sizeable chip advantage over his adversary, which he would use to his advantage.
Both players played tough, but Rheem was not only controlling the action, but also surprisingly running better than 2011′s hottest tournament player. The crucial point of the contest was when all of the money entered the middle as Chino Rheem held 
against Seidel’s 
, and Seidel was unable to make two-pair to thwart the barrage of blows that Rheem delivered.
In his first EPL event, Rheem not only picked up the $1 million dollar first-place prize, but also the first-ever EPL Championship ring.
“I’m proud to be the first Epic Poker League Main Event champion,” said Rheem. “The league is setting a new standard for poker players and I’m committed to using this win as an opportunity for a fresh start.”
It’s likely that Chino Rheem will need a new outlook on poker, considering that shortly after his recent EPL win he was put on probation from the league for the public statements and TwoPlusTwo.com outbursts concerning his outstanding debts throughout the poker world. Several players, including online success Will “molswi47″ Molson, “The Grinder” Michael Mizrachi, and recent 2011 WSOP PLO Champion Ben Lamb have all come forward about their financial confrontations with Rheem, and later Rheem even responded to the publicity with a comment of his own.
“Ya, I won a million bucks! And I’m still broke! But I feel better than ever,” stated Rheem on his busy Twitter account.
According to the Epic Poker League, Rheem is under violation of the Standard & Conducts Committee, because of his ongoing monetary struggles. Needing to follow the Players’ Code of Conduct outlined in the league’s documentation, Rheem will be on strict observation in terms of his actions, and needs complete personal resolution in order to reinstate his eligibility for the next EPL event.
The latest EPL event is scheduled for September 2-9.
Understandably so, the EPL has made it a primary aspiration to ensure that if they’re creating a stage that displays world-class clientele, then each player in turn should behave as a professional. Satisfying your personal responsibilities, fits under those guidelines.
Seidel, on the opposite end of the spectrum, has been a stellar example of how perseverance and focus can turn into high praise and unrivaled results. So far this year, Seidel has earned just over $6.2 million in tournaments, and his second place finish in the EPL Main Event for $604,300 astonishingly only comes in as his fifth-largest cash of 2011.
Nonetheless, given his recent results, and the implementation of one of the finest leagues poker has ever seen, he has little reason to complain.
“It was a real thrill to participate in the final table of the first ever Epic Poker League main event,” said Seidel. “What’s special about this league is that the best players in the world compete against each other and ensure that fans will see high-level play across the board. I can say with certainty that the Epic Poker League is good for poker and puts players first. I think it deserves the complete support of the entire poker community.”
With his victories this year, Seidel managed to jump up several spots on poker’s All-Time Money List, and now leads this historic assembly with $16.6 million in career tournament earnings.
Surprising to a few, but not to all, Seidel sits in the number two spot behind fellow EPL Main Event final tabler Jason Mercier in ESPN.com’s top player rankings. Mercier finished third in the Main Event.
Overall, Mercier has $1.5 million in tournament winnings in 2011, and $6.7 million career.
We’ll stay busy keeping you current with all of the latest occurrences of the EPL.
The final table results go as follows:
$20,000 EPL Main Event Championship
Entries: 137
Prize Pool: $3,140,000
- David “Chino” Rheem: $1,000,000
- Erik Seidel: $604,330
- Jason Mercier: $360,970
- Hasan Habib: $237,560
- Gavin Smith: $154,260
- Huckleberry Seed: $107,980
For more tournament updates, follow me on Twitter, at @andrewjbagley.
that was a pretty sick final table.
That’s an understatement!