2007 WSOP Event #14 – Michael Keiner Wins $1,500 Seven Card Stud

Michael Keiner most definitely earned his first World Series of Poker bracelet.  The $1,500 seven card stud event was scheduled to be a two day event.  And it was.  The problem was that it took much longer to complete than expected and the final table did not start until 3:30 in the morning.  They could have extended it to a third day to allow the players a chance to rest, but the final eight unanimously decided to play on.  Fortunately, it only took them about three hours to decide the title, so they could hit an early breakfast on their way home for a few hours sleep before gearing up for the next tournament. 

Keiner, a former cosmetic surgeon in Germany, went into the final table with a large chip lead.  He had $318,500 in chips versus the next player, who only had $177,500.  That second player was Barry Greenstein, owner of two WSOP gold bracelets.  One other well known player at the table, Greg Raymer, only had one bracelet, but something tells us that he was not jealous of Greenstein.

The final table was all Keiner.  In what tends to be a rarity at the WSOP, the massive chip leader went wire-to-wire.  He was never really in any danger at all. 

He may have Steve Sung to thank just a little bit, though.  Sung did the entire table a favor, crippling both Greenstein and Raymer.  Raymer was the first to be victimized by Sung about an hour into play.  Holding a pair of Queens in the hole, he hit a set on sixth street.  In the meantime, Sung received a fourth diamond on the same street, although only three were actually visible to Raymer (one was in the hole).  Of course, Raymer led out on the river, but Sung’s flush was made on the final card.  Raymer was left with virtually no chips and John Robertson, who was all-in early in the hand, was eliminated in 7^th place.

Forty minutes later, Sung made a better two pair than Barry Greenstein, causing Greenstein’s stack to plummet down to $44,000.  He was gone just fifteen minutes later in 4^th place. 

Even with those big hands, Sung was not able to make it to heads-up, bowing out in 3^rd place. 

Before heads-up started, the tournament director informed Keiner and his opponent, Nesbitt Coburn, that ESPN wanted to film some of their battle later that day, as well as the bracelet ceremony.  The two declined, opting to just play it out. 

Coburn almost caught up within the first several minutes, but like a basketball team who doesn’t quite have the energy to get over the hump on a big comeback, he wasn’t able to take it home.  Keiner took over, devastating Coburn over the course of the final twenty-five minutes to win the title.

Final Table Standings 

1. Michael Keiner -- $146,987
2. Nesbitt Coburn -- $80,876
3. Steve Sung -- $51,222
4. Barry Greenstein -- $33,698
5. Dale Phillips -- $26,150
6. Greg Raymer -- $19,680
7. John Robertson -- $15,097
8. Larry Eubanks -- $11,053