WSOP Classic Moments – Johnny Chan Wins 1988 Main Event for Second Straight Title
Johnny Chan headed into the 1988 Main Event as the reigning champion and worked his way all the way to the final table. 167 players entered the 1988 Main Event to make a prize pool of 1.67 Million. $700,000 went to the first place finisher.
The final table of this event was stacked with top talent. Jesse Alto, Jim Bechtel, T.J. Cloutier, Humberto Brenes, and a young Erik Seidel were all looking to take down the title. Alto was the first out and Bechtel finished in 6th. Cloutier fell short of his goal of winning the Main Event, busting in 5th. Humberto and his shark finished in 4th.
In the end, it was Erik Seidel and Johnny Chan. Chan barely held the chip lead when the final hand went down between the two. Chan limped in and both saw a flop of Qs-10h-8d. Can held Jc-9c and had flopped the nut straight. Seidel held Qc-7h for top pair. Chan bet out 40,000 and Seidel raised by 50,000. Chan called and the turn fell the 2s. Chan checked to Seidel, who moved all-in. Chan made the call and Seidel was drawing dead.
Johnny Chan became the first back-to-back Main Event champion since Stu Ungar in 1980 and 81. Chan would proceed to make the 1989 final table and just missed winning a third straight title when Phil Hellmuth won the title.
Since his 1988 win, Chan has won seven additional bracelets to put himself tied for second on the all-time bracelet list. Chan is still a regular force at the WSOP, but he admits that he does not play as many events as in the past.
The final hand of the 1988 Main Event was also immortalized in the poker movie Rounders and Chan even made a cameo appearance in the movie, playing poker against star Matt Damon.
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