2008 World Series of Poker

Day 3 completed

Posted 06-27-2008 21:14 GMT-7

Max Greenwood -- Event 44 Champion

23-year-old Max Greenwood from Toronto, Canada has just become your newest World Series of Poker gold bracelet owner. It took just 33 hands of heads up play for Max to complete his impressive come-from-behind win against formidable opponent Rene Mouritsen.

At one point in the tournament when the action was three-handed, a short-stacked Greenwood was all in for his tournament life and drawing to two outs when he managed to spike a miracle five on the river to stay alive. After that fateful hand, he ran his stack up from 900,000 to 3.2 million in a little over a half an hour and the rest is history.

A blazing-fast final table that wrapped up in just under five and a half hours featured everything from zany Danes wearing crowns and bearing axes to drunken Greenwood fans building pyramids with beer cans and chanting "Max.... Max..... MAX!"

The atmosphere was nutty to say the least, but no one that witnessed things go down here this afternoon would've had it any other way -- especially not Greenwood himself, who will walk away with just under $700,000 in prize money for his efforts. Runner-up Rene Mouritsen earned $445,523 for his second place finish, as well as the respect and admiration of the many Danes that came out to support him.

Congratulations to all of today's final table participants for a job well done. Here are your final results:

1st: Max Greenwood ($693,444)
2nd: Rene Mouritsen ($445,523)
3rd: Albert Iversen ($267,314)
4th: Scott Freeman ($223,572)
5th: Jesse Chinni ($183,069)
6th: Aliaksandr Dzianisau ($144,187)
7th: Curits Kohlberg ($111,786)
8th: Phung Ngo ($87,484)
9th: Alex 'Diesel' Bolotin ($63,183)

Hand #129 - Greenwood Eliminates Mouritsen; Claims Event 44 Crown!

Rene Mouritsen has the button and makes it 120,000 to go. Max Greenwood then asks Mouritsen approximately how many chips he has left behind. Mouritsen moves his hands away from his stack so that Max can see his chips and Greenwood nods his head and makes the call.

The flop comes and Greenwood knuckles the table, giving Mouritsen the first option. Rene seizes the opportunity and leads out with a bet of 175,000. Greenwood then counters with a check-raise, kicking it up to 500,000. Rene slid his hood over his head and rested his chin on his hands as he considered his move. "I'm all in," said the Dane and Greenwood made a very quick call.

Mouritsen quickly pulled his hood back so that he could see his opponent's hand -- -- which was a single card better than his own: .

Chaos ensued as cheering sections for both players rushed the stage to catch a glimpse of the board. With his tournament life on the line, Mouritsen would need to catch a king to double up and stay alive, but the board would not comply as the turn and river filled out , in favor of Greenwood, your newest 2008 WSOP bracelet winner!

Updated Chip Counts

Greenwood: 4,575,000
Mouritsen: 2,175,000

Hand #128 - Max Greenwood

Max Greenwood has the button, and he limps in. Rene Mouritsen checks his option, and the two see a friendly flop.

The dealer runs out the board of , with the players checking it down the whole way. Max Greenwood shows , and his queen-high is the best hand, topping Mouritsen's and taking down a small pot.

Hand #127 - Max Greenwood

Rene Mouritsen has the button and raises to 120,000. Max Greenwood makes the call and we see a flop of .

Greenwood leads out with a bet of 175,000 and Mouritsen makes the call.

The turn brings the and Greenwood puts on the brakes, passing the first action to Mouritsen who bets 325,000. Greenwood then reaches for a bigtime stack of chips and slides 2.025 million worth into the middle. The bet sends Mouritsen into the tank and he appears flustered. He glances down at his stack and takes several deep breaths, all the while shuffling a small stack of chips. Staring across the table at his opponent, Mouritsen flashes the before reluctantly tossing his cards into the muck.

Hand #126 - Max Greenwood

Max Greenwood has the button, and he raises to 110,000. Rene Mouritsen folds quickly.

Hand #125 - Max Greenwood

Rene Mouritsen has the button, and he gives Max Greenwood a walk.

Hand #124 - Max Greenwood

Max Greenwood has the button, and he limps in. Rene Mouritsen checks his option.

The flop is . Mouritsen leads out with a bet of 55,000, and Greenwood makes the call.

The turn card is the . Mouritsen checks this time, as does Greenwood.

Fifth street: . Mouritsen bets out 125,000, and Greenwood makes the call. Mouritsen just mucks his hand, and Greenwood wins an easy pot.

Hand #123 - Rene Mouritsen

Rene Mouritsen has the button, and he puts in a raise to 120,000. Max Greenwood folds quickly.