After finishing runner-up in 2010 Daniel Idema managed to win the $10,000 Limit Hold'em event in 2011.

Idema beat Matt Gallin heads-up to claim the $378,642 first place prize money, the WSOP bracelet and a little bit of redemption.

“I feel very fortunate, I think I played extremely well but it’s a tournament and the short term luck was generally with me thorughout the two tournaments. Last year I think I got a little unlucky when it came to heads-up, mind you I was running good to get to heads,” said Idema. “Altogether it’s just a surreal turn of events. I really look at it in kind of a funny way, it’s shocking. It hasn’t set in yet.”

Gallin, who finished 16th in this event in 2010, earned $233,994 as the runner-up for his largest career cash.

The final table included two players making their second such appearance at the 2011 WSOP, Nick Schulman and Steve Landfish, as well as previous bracelet winners Barry Greenstein and Nick Schulman. The shortest stack when the final table began Schulman also spent the shortest amount of time in his seat. Almost one hour after the official nine-handed final table began Schulman ran his pocket nines into Barry Greenstein’s pocket sevens on a 8 7 4 flop. The turn and river didn’t improve Schulman’s hand and his second final table appearance at the 2011 WSOP ended in a ninth place finish for $35,519.

Greenstein picked up yet another victim when he busted Richard Brodie in eighth place. With only three bets left Brodie got his chips in with Q 4 to Greenstein’s A 8. Greenstein stayed ahead the whole way and caught an 8 on the river to eliminate Brodie in eighth spot. The co-creator of MS Word earned $44,207.

It took a dinner break and another hour of play before another player to bust. Isaac Haxton raised, Steve Landfish re-raised and Haxton called. Landfish showed A J and was racing against the pocket tens of Haxton. The flop came Q 7 2 giving Landfish extra outs to the flush. He made that flush on the turn with the 7. Haxton missed the full house draw on the river and was out in seventh place for $55,908. Next to go was

Justin “BoostedJ” Smith who became Greenstein’s third scalp of the final table. From the small blind Smith raised for the last of his chips and Greenstein called from the big. Smith showed 8 5 and Greenstein showed A J. The board delivered two pairs, tens and sevens, and Greenstein’s ace kicker played, sending Smith out in sixth for $71,897.

The player with the loudest rail and longest name, Domenico Denotaristefani, then fell victim to Landfish in the most dramatic hand of the night. Denotaristefani raised from the button, Landfish raised from the small blind, Idema folded from the big blind and Denotaristefani called. The flop came 7 5 4 and the two players took turns betting until Denotaristefani had his entire stack in the middle. Denotaristefani showed pocket fours for flopped bottom set while Landfish tabled pocket nines for an overpair. The turn was a blank for both players but the river brought the 9 and the end of the tournament for Denotaristefani with a sixth place finish and $71,897.

Despite being the orchestrator of two eliminations, Landfish was unable to keep his momentum going. Gallin and Landfish engaged in a pre-flop raising war with all of Landfish’s chips ending up in the middle. Gallin showed pocket aces and Landfish turned over A-Q. The flop, turn and river failed to provide any relief for Landfish and his second $10,000 WSOP event final table ended with a fourth place finish for $125,120.

Easily the most high profile player at the final table, Greenstein was also responsible for sending three players from the final table out. His pursuit of a fourth WSOP bracelet – and first since 2008 – came to a halt thanks to Gallin.Greenstein, who had been as low as two big bets with seven players remaining, got the last of his stack in holding Q T against Gallin’s T 5. The flop and turn failed to bring anything for either player but the 5 on the river gave Gallin the pot and sent Greenstein out with $169,512 in his pocket.

Heads-up play did not last long. Just four hands after Greenstein’s elimination Idema and Gallin played the final hand of the night. Gallin raised from the big blind and Idema called. The flop came J 7 3 and Idema check-raised and Gallin called all-in. Gallin showed pocket queens but was trailing the J-3 of of Idema. The 8 on the turn and the 5 on the river sealed Gallin’s fate as runner-up. Final Table Payouts

1. Dan Idema – $378,642
2. Matt Gallin – $233,994
3. Barry Greenstein – $169,512
4. Steve Landfish – $125,120
5. Domenico Denotaristefani – $94,029
6. Justin Smith – $71,897
7. Isaac Haxton – $55,908
8. Richard Brodie – $44,207
9. Nick Schulman – $35,519

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