21-year-old becomes youngest WSOP champion ever

[Tony Trader]

LAS VEGAS -- A 21-year-old Michigan poker professional who chose cards over college won the World Series of Poker main event in Las Vegas early Tuesday, winning $8.55 million and becoming the youngest player to win the tournament in its 40-year history.

Joe Cada of Shelby Township, Mich., turned over a pair of nines early after 46-year old Darvin Moon called his all-in wager with a suited queen-jack, setting up an about-even race for most of the chips on the table.

But a board of two sevens, a king, an eight and a deuce didn't connect with either player's cards and gave Cada the win.

"I ran really well and I never really thought this was possible," Cada said. "It was one of those dreams and I'm thankful it came true."

The hand abruptly ended a final table that saw Moon, a logger from western Maryland, bounce back to a dominant chip lead after being down 2-1 in chips to start the night.

"I knew if I could catch, I got him," Moon said of the final hand. "I just took a shot."

Cada broke a record for the tournament's youngest winner set last year by Peter Eastgate of Denmark. Cada is 340 days younger than Eastgate.

The record was previously held for two decades by 11-time gold bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth, who posed for pictures with Cada after the win.

He also posed with his mother, Ann Cada, a dealer at MotorCity Casino Hotel in downtown Detroit. "My baby," Ann Cada said as she approached her son with cameras snapping.

[blueday]

Nice win - oh I wish it were me.  But then I wouldn't make the news because Im not 21.

Thanks Tony.

blue

[critter.gambler]

More bankrolls to make! I guess he can spend it in a wise manner!

[angeladebra44]

Now we can expect definitely some new and young crowd moving towards poker rooms. He's certainly the youngest, the champ but still not the best.

[lipstick_xoxos]

Can't imagine someone winning that kind of cash at 21. The Poker Gods were with him!

Great article tony......thanks for sharing it!

Lips

[whitespade]

I'm happy for the kid but I was kind of pissed when he won. He made alot of donk moves in that tournament and lucked out everytime.
As a poker player- I hate the fact that luck seems to win over skill most of the time.

[lipstick_xoxos]

Which poses the question white........is it luck or is it skill? I think its a little of both.

Lips

[whitespade]

Your right lips- it does take both.

I guess I'm just biased from constantly getting my pocket aces and kings cracked by like Q4 or 92-

[lipstick_xoxos]

Oh white i understand completely. Worst bad beat i ever had was getting cracked with 4 of a kind!

Lips