Day 29 at the 2008 World Series of Poker was a score for the online poker community. 23-year old Max Greenwood of Toronto has been playing professionally for years, his knowledge based helped immeasurably by the sharing of ideas and strategy that goes on in online poker forums. Primarily an online player, Max has been making his way to WSOP for the last couple of years with moderate success. He had a total of four cashes before day 29, the day when Max experienced what had to be his biggest poker moment.

Playing in the 879-player event #44 - $1,000 lo-limit hold’em w/rebuys, Torontonian Max entered the final table fourth in chips, with barely a third of the stack of chip leader Jesse Chinni. Still, he managed to persevere, making it to the final three before barely surviving a hand that would change the course of his tournament and ultimately his life.

Scott Freeman had just been eliminated in fourth place when Albert Iverson made it 80,000 to go from the button. Greenwood moved all-in with 5h-5d and Iverson made the call for the coin flip with Ad-Jh. The flop came 3s-8c-Ac, giving eventual third-place finisher Iverson his needed pair.

The raucous crowd supporting Greenwood fell silent and watched the turn come Ks. As quiet as they were, they were deafening a moment later; 5s hit the river, giving Greenwood his two-outer and doubling him up. He’d double up three more times before Iverson was eliminated, then took down Rene Mouritsen in the final to take the bracelet. He also took $693,444 for his trouble.

Gary Wise

gary@wisehandpoker.com