Chris Viox finally has a WSOP bracelet after two close calls.

Chris Viox might be known to some by his online screenname “PiMaster”, but Friday afternoon he became a legend killer. Viox defeated Poker Hall of Famer Mike Sexton heads-up to win the $1,500 Seven-Card Stud Hi-Lo bracelet and the $200,459 first place prize money.

Sexton earned $123,925 in what is his 50th WSOP cash in an event he won in 1989. Viox had a bit of a premonition that this event might go his way even before he sat down. On Tuesday as he was sitting down to play he sent out the following Tweet:

“1500 stud 8 starting. One of my fav games. Hopefully i can make a deep run. Table 134″

Its a big relief. I’ve had two third place finishes here in past years. Both times had over half the chips in play three-handed,” said Viox. “This one I get heads-up and have a huge chip lead most of the time – he started out with one – but pretty soon I had a pretty big chip lead.”

Viox and Sexton finished the tournament on Friday afternoon after the hard-stop rule came into play in the early hours of Friday morning. Having played ten hours the two players were forced to bag up their chips at 3:30 am and return in the afternoon.

“I like (the hard stop) on the first couple of days. Final table I think it should be up to the players discretion,” said Viox. “The whole texture of the heads-up match completely changed the dynamic. I thought ocming back today was a big advantage for (Sexton) rather than for me. If the players want to play it out at that point it should be up to them.”

Thursday started with 23 players including reigning WSOP Player of the Year Frank Kassela, ESPN commentator Norman Chad and four female players; Kristy Gazes, Karina Jett, Cyndy Violette and Ming Reslock. The first few levels though took care of the sweat. Jett, Gazes and Reslock were the first to bust when play got underway. All three earned $5,726. Violette didn’t last much longer, going home in 15th spot for $6,945. Chad went out in 12th place for $10,676. Chad’s only other WSOP cash came in the same event in 2009 when he finished 32nd.

The final table started with Cory Zeidman leading the way. The first player sent packing was Hernan Salazar. The 52 year old was eliminated when his pair of aces were beat by Zeidman’s two pair and Sexton’s winning low hand. The Chilean national earned $17,417 for finishing eighth.

Viox then sent Sean Urban home in seventh spot. On the last street Urban had outs to both the high and low but bricked with the 9. Viox’s pair of sevens took the pot and Urban walked away with $22,767.

Despite coming to the final table with the lead, Cory Zeidman wasn’t able to maintain his spot on top. Gerard Rechnitzer had two pair heading to seventh street with Zeidman drawing to a better two pair and a possible low. Drawing the A gave the former High Stakes Poker cast member a better two pair with no low but Rechnitzer turned his two pair into a full house and Zeidman was eliminated in sixth, earning $30,228.

Tyson “POTTERPOKER” Marks was the player closest to Zeidman when the final table began and he followed out the door as well. Marks, the former WCOOP Main Event champion, got the last of his chips in against Lundberg but was unable to make any kind of hand while Lundberg made two pair. The $40,782 prize money is the most Marks has earned at the WSOP.

Lundberg’s glory was short-lived however. The Norwegian poker pro ran was all-in against Viox after third street. On seventh street Viox made kings up while Lundberg’s only hope was to catch a third eight. Unfortunately for Lundberg the last card dealt to him was a nine and he was eliminated in fourth for $55,917.

Rechnitzer’s improbable final table run finally came to an end at the hands of Sexton. Coming into the final table with the shortest stack Rechnitzer picked up two eliminations before being shown the door himself. Sexton’s first four cards were K Q K Q and all the last of Rechnitzer’s chips were in the pot with him chasing a flush draw. On seventh street Sexton filled up and Rechnitzer, drawing dead, was out in third for $77,907.

When Sexton and Viox began heads-up play Sexton had a slight chip lead. Over the course of the 90-minute battle on Thursday Sexton saw his lead slipping away slowly until one hand gave Viox an overwhelming lead. When play ended for the night Viox held 2,090,000 and Sexton had 640,000. The two played 32 additional hands on Friday before Viox eliminated Sexton after making two pair on sixth street with Sexton unable to draw to a better two pair or a low.

The win gives Viox his 13th career WSOP cash. He had previously finished third in the $1,500 Razz event in 2008 and the $1,500 Pot Limit Hold’em event in 2006.

Final Table Payouts

1. Chris Viox - $200,459
2. Mike Sexton - $123,925
3. Gerard Rechnitzer - $77,907
4. Hakon Lundberg - $55,917
5. Tyson Marks - $40,782
6. Corey Zeidman - $30,228
7. Sean Urban – $22,767
8. Hernan Salazar – $17,417

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