Poker pro takes inaugural Full Tilt Heads-up Championship

05/28/2008

The weekend saw plenty of online poker action at Full Tilt, where the new $25 000 buy-in Heads-up Championship took place, with pro player David Singer and Emil Patel in a tense final heads up in which Singer prevailed, taking home the main prize of $560 000. For his second placing Patel collected a check for $320 000.

In the semi-finals, Brian Hastings and Andy Bloch received $168 000 each after surviving through the entry field of 64 players. The entry field included players of quality such as Chris Ferguson, David Benyamine, Erick Lindgren, Phil Ivey, Erik Seidel Gus Hansen, Max Pescatori and Howard Lederer..

Patel, who has had some impressive appearances at the WPT Caribbean Adventure and the 2007 WSOP impressed many with his skill and tactical moves, and will be watched with respect at the upcoming World Series of Poker in Las Vegas. He is an instructor at CardRunners.com.

Singer has been professional since 1996 and has also racked up some admirable finishes in major tournaments. He is one of the Full Tilt Poker pro team.

Another player to watch in the future is semi-finalist Brian Hastings, a nineteen year old college student at Cornell U who instructs at CardRunners and has already made some creditable earnings. This young gun exhibited the sort of talent that will get him noticed in the big games of the future.