WPT+EPT+WSOP = Lots of Money for Gavin Griffin

Filed in archive Tournament News on February 4, 2008

In hockey it's called a hat trick. In poker it's called a first. Gavin Griffin after taking down the World Poker Tour Borgata Poker Classic, now has completed the trifecta of major poker tournament circuits. Along with wins in the World Series of Poker (was the youngest bracelet winner in 2004) and the European Poker Tour (winning last year's Grand Finale in Monte Carlo no less), he is the first to claim titles in the alphabet soup of poker tourney circuits.

The 1.4 million dollars from the heads-up victory over David Tran took some work as noted by the live blogging duties from WorldPokerTour.com:

David Tran once again proved his reliance by doubling up through Griffin and continuing the fight. Tran used pocket aces to do his bidding and after being close to elimination, he climbed back up to 3.9 million. Twenty-one hands later Tran was at it again, and he doubled up once more to sustain his chip stack. This time Tran received a little help from the poker gods when flopped a 10 to make a pair and overtake Griffin's A-K. Tran held 4.73 million after this second double up, and he kept creeping back into contention.

Griffin was not about to let his grip on the title fall away and it was only a matter time before he struck a fatal blow to Tran's stack. Tran held the button on the hand, and he completed for 100,000. Griffin checked and the flop came Td6h2d. Griffin checked, Tran bet 150,000, and Griffin made the call. The turn card was the 7s, and both players checked. The river card was the 8h, Griffin bet 475,000, and Tran raised to 1,125,000. Griffin thought for about 20 seconds before making it 3,625,000. Tran thought for about 15 seconds before he made the call. Griffin showed down J-9 for the nuts - a jack-high straight. Tran mucked and he was below 800,000 in chips. It was only a matter of time at this point, but Tran kept things interesting by doubling up one more time before the final hand of the evening.

And Gavin finished Tran for his final chips with a race, and took home the cash, a custom Harley, $25,000 buy in to the WPT Championship, and nice watch from Tag Heuer. No word if he was comp'd at the Borgata buffet however.