David Chiu Beats Gus Hansen to Win WPT World Championship

This is a picture of Gus Hansen even though David Chiu won the 2008 WPT World Championship because we have a picture of Hansen and not Chiu. (Bodog Beat Image)

Despite being at an almost seven to one chip disadvantage to one of the best poker tournament players in the world during heads-up play at the final table of the WPT World Championship, David Chiu was able to battle his way back and beat out Gus Hansen for the $3,389,140 first-place prize.

Hansen entered the final table as the chip leader and dominated play, eliminating all of the other final tablists, Cory Carroll, Tommy Le, Jeff King and John Roveto. However, when it came to the last two players, Chiu was able to slowly chip away at Hansen's lead. He doubled up early on and then finally took the chip lead and ended the heads-up match after 55 hands, denying Hansen his record fourth WPT title.

While the comeback seemed statistically impossible (Hansen held over 80% of the chips in play), to a player like Chiu it was definitely not improbable. Chiu has been playing poker for over two decades with his first WSOP cash coming in 1981. He has racked up an amazing 36 more WSOP cashes since that one, including four WSOP bracelets (1996 $2,000 Limit Hold'em, 1998 $3,000 Limit Hold'em, 2000 $5,000 Seven-Card Stud and 2005 $5,000 Omaha Hi/Lo), and eight WPT cashes. However, this is by far the largest payday of his career, as it would be for most anyone. He lifetime poker tournaments earnings now sit at almost $6 million.

Here are the full final table payouts:

1. David Chiu - $3,389,140
2. Gus Hansen - $1,714,800
3. John Roveto - $923,355
4. Cory Carroll - $593,645
5. Tommy Le - $395,725
6. Jeff King - $263,815

With the conclusion of the 2008 WPT World Championship, Season VI of the World Poker Tour is officially in the books. Poker fans will not have to wait long for more WPT action though as Season VII kicks off in just about a month in Barcelona for the WPT Spanish Championship and then not long after that comes the Bellagio Cup IV in Vegas during the 2008 WSOP.

If you want a shot at becoming the next WPT Poker-Made Millionaire, then head over to Bodog Poker and check out the WPT online poker qualifiers and your chance to win a $12,000 prize package.