This year, there is a special balcony over the final table with all 55 bracelets waiting for their winners. Jeffrey Pollack presents the bracelet to Steve Billirakis as photographers and ESPN's crane camera attempt to capture the moment. It's a nice little touch, but it'll probably work better when a more outgoing player wins a bracelet, and isn't shy about showing how happy he or she is.
Steve Billirakis sits down with Norman Chad at the table behind the money for his ESPN interview. He's a soft-spoken youngster, but he's exuding confidence. Apparently, in his pre-final table interview, he predicted that he would win. When Chad asked him about it, he said, "What am I supposed to say? I think I'll come in second?"
After that interview, PokerNews got to talk to Steve about his big win.
Hand #157 - (Limit) Greg 'FBT' Mueller has the button. He raises to 200,000, Billirakis reraises to 300,000, Mueller goes all in for 325,000, and Billirakis calls with . Mueller shows , and he'll need to improve to stay alive.
The flop comes , and Billirakis pairs his deuce to retain the lead. The turn card is the , and Mueller needs a five or a four on the river to survive.
The river card is the , and Greg 'FBT' Mueller is eliminated in second place, earning $328,554.
Steve Billirakis wins World Series of Poker Event #1, earning $536,287, a Corum watch, and a coveted WSOP bracelet. At 21 years and 10 days, he becomes the youngest player in history to win a WSOP bracelet. Curiously enough, it's the fourth straight year that particular record has been broken. It'll be much tougher to beat it next year.
Hand #156 - (Limit) Steve Billirakis has the button. He raises to 200,000, and Mueller calls. The flop comes , and both players check. The turn card is the . Billirakis bets 200,000, and Mueller calls. The river card is the , and both players check. Billirakis shows 10-2 to win the pot with a full house, eights full of deuces. Mueller mucks.
Hand #155 - (Limit) Greg 'FBT' Mueller has the button. He limps for 100,000, and Billirakis checks. The flop comes , and both players check. The turn card is the . Billirakis checks, Mueller bets 200,000, Billirakis raises to 400,000, and Mueller calls. The crowd rises in anticipation, as Mueller is running out of chips.
The river card is the . Billirakis bets 200,000, and Mueller calls. Billirakis shows 8-7 to win the pot with a full house, sevens full of eights, and Mueller mucks.
Hand #150 - (Limit) Steve Billirakis has the button. He raises to 200,000, and Mueller calls. The flop comes . Mueller checks, Billirakis bets 100,000, and Mueller folds. Billirakis takes the pot.
Hand #151 - (Limit) Greg 'FBT' Mueller has the button. He raises to 200,000, and Billirakis folds.
Hand #148 - (Limit) Steve Billirakis has the button, and he folds.
Hand #149 - (Limit) Greg 'FBT' Mueller has the button. He limps for 100,000, and Billirakis checks. The flop comes . Billirakis checks, Mueller bets 100,000, Billirakis raises to 200,000, and Mueller calls. The turn card is the . Billirakis bets 200,000, and Mueller calls. The river card is the . Billirakis bets 200,000, and Mueller thinks for about 20 seconds before he folds. Billirakis takes a huge pot.