Matt Brady Wins the 2008 Aruba Poker Classic

Holding a commanding chip lead, Matt Brady limped from the small blind then called when Johan Storackers raised to 200,000. They saw a Jc-10c-10d flop and when Johan checked, Matt bet 270,000. Johan moved all in and Brady called instantly, showing the 10h-7h for trips while Johan held Ac-Jh for top pair. Johan needed a Jack or more clubs, but the turn brought the 7d, giving Matt a full house and leaving Johan dead to a Jack. But it was the 6c that came on the river, giving Matt Brady the million dollars, the gold bracelet, and the 2008 Aruba Poker Classic title.

"Yo Brady, whaddya want?" one of Brady jubilant friends called out, and Matt replied, "Where are we? Aruba? Balashi!!!" What the champ wants, the champ gets:



Hopefully, our runner-up will take some consolation in knowing that he fought tooth-and-nail all day when he was often scratching at the felt. Johan Storackers took a body blow very early on when he doubled up Jeff Papola, but he stuck to his guns, kept grinding, and eventually took the chip lead late in the game. But it was Matt Brady's night, and the $486,000 Johan collects for his magnificent performance will hopefully ease some of the sting. The money, and a couple of Balashis:



So that's it for the 2008 Aruba Poker Classic...well, no it's not. There's still a party going on at the pool, a party no doube livened up by the arrival of our champion and his thirsty gang of friends. Time to switch venues and see what's going on over there.

Rest assured, I took A LOT more pictures of the final hand and Matt and Johan (and more of the party, the band, the pool, etc) but there's just too much going on right now to look back. That will come once Aruba is in our rear-view mirror. Keep checking out the 2008 Aruba Poker Classic Flickr page both today, tomorrow and beyond, I'll be posting lots and lots of photos that I couldn't quite squeeze through the intertubes this week.

Now if you'll excuse me, I could kinda go for a Balashi myself.