Classic Cooler Sends 2009 Main Event Champ to the Rail

Back in 2009, Joe Cada topped a field of 6,494 players to win this very event for $8,547,042. Cada, who became the first player to follow up his Main Event win by capturing a bracelet since Carlos Mortensen (something he did this summer when he won Event #32: $10,000 Six-Handed No-Limit Hold'em Championship for $670,041), was hoping for another superb showing, but his hopes were just crushed in a most-classic of coolers.

It happened over at one of the secondary feature tables when a player opened for 1,800 and Dennis Longoria called. Cada then three-bet to 5,500, the original raiser called, and Longoria sprung to life with a four-bet to 20,100.

Cada thought long and hard before moving all in for 55,000 or so, and action was back on the original raiser. He tanked for a long time before releasing what turned out to be pocket queens. Longoria then snap-called with . Unfortunately for Cada, his was crushed and he failed to find help. It's worth noting though the board contained a queen, so things could have played out very differently for Longoria.