Fifteen Years Isn't Too Long to Wait

Filed in archive Tournament News on July 9, 2007

Fifteen years is a good amount of time for scotch to age, go back for a high school reunion, or to win your second World Series of Poker bracelet. Hoyt Corkins has been living his second life in the high stakes poker world after dropping out of it for several years. But, a victory on the World Poker Tour convinced the "Alabama Cowboy" to return to the limelight and maybe pick up a few bucks on the way.

Terrence Chan, a well-known high stakes player and infamous for not being Johnny Chan during a charity tourney that ended less-then charitably took home the second place prize of $287,345. Event number thirty at the WSOP featured shorthanded No Limit Hold Em' which played up to Corkins' usual aggressive style, allowing him to pocket his second WSOP bracelet to go with the one he won fifteen years earlier.

Here's part of Pokernews.com's scoop on Hoyt's $515,065 victory, follow the link for the full story:

Hoyt 'The Alabama Cowboy' Corkins snapped a 15-year dry spell on Wednesday by taking down the first-place cash of $515,065 and the highly coveted bracelet in the Six Handed $2,500 No Limit Hold'em Event (#30). Corkins, who held the lead at the end of both Day One and Day Two action, was never headed as he finished off Terrence Chan for the victory.

Onlookers expected a fast-played final table and the players did their best to oblige. The first to hit the rail was James Pittman, who busted on Hand #10 when his A-9 failed to improve against William Lin's pocket eights. Pittman earned $63,118 for his play.

On the hand after Pittman's elimination, the two chip leaders, Corkins and Alan Sass, tangled with disastrous results for Sass. Corkins rivered a full house (nines over aces), knocking Sass into the pack and giving Corkins over 2.1 million in chips. Five hands later, Corkins finished off Kelly Vande Mheen, who fell victim to Corkins' pocket aces. Vande Mheen collected $96,431...