Largest Preliminary WSOP Event won by an Amateur

So much for all the hype surrounding these ''professional'' poker players eh?

A 27-year-old businessman from Kansas City, with the unassuming name Grant Hinkle, earns a WSOP bracelet the hard way by coming out on top of a 3,929-player event. This will go down as the largest preliminary event and the fourth longest tournament in WSOP history. Just the kind of hype the 2008 World Series of Poker tournament needs eh?

This was Hinkle's first-ever cash won at a major poker venue. Hinkle joined the $1,500 No-Limit Hold 'Em Tournament which was the 2nd event in the 2008 WSOP tournament. Although Hinkle previously had no plans of entering another event, with $831,462 in prize money, he now plans on entering the main event.

''I have always wanted to play the main event,'' Hinkle enthused. ''It's just a dream come true.''

The marathon tournament took 53.5 hours to finish. Although the final table was supposed to be reached by the end of Day 2, play was stopped at 5:30 am after a majority vote from the 18 players left standing took place to stop play.

On the third day, it would take six more hours before a final table of nine could be reached.

Hinky sealed his victory in heads-up play against James Akenhead when he moved all-in on a stone-cold bluff with 10, 4 of diamonds pre-flop. Akenhead called with A,K and got killed when 10, 4, 10 hit the flop.

Adding insult to injury, Hinkle hits another 10 on the turn, giving him quads to leave Akenhead with $520,219 for his second-place finish.

Poker legend Chris Ferguson came in a respectable third place with $388,297. Other notable finishers are Theo Tran who came in fourth for $327,148 and Perry Friedman who came in 11th for $52,021.

Which player will last the longest at the 2008 World Series of Poker? Bodog sportsbook has the odds.

Doyle Brunson 7.00

Daniel Negreanu 5.50

Phil Ivey 5.50

Chris Ferguson 8.50

Want more odds? Visit Bodog for more poker betting odds and the best betting lines on some of today's biggest sporting events.

2008 World Series of Poker WSOP Bracelet