Jesse Rockowitz Wins Event #45 ($721,373)!
Coming back for Day 2 with 35, we knew the journey could be long, and your blogging team were taking bets on the under/over for a 4am finish. But, with just two minutes to spare, we eventually unearthed a winner, an elated Jesse Rockowitz who toppled a tough opponent in Raymond Coburn to overcome what was an epic final table.
Prior to the heads-up battle, the arena was buzzing with the ever-vocal Brazilian contingent supporting their hero as if he were the second coming. However, when he crashed out in third, the chanting and singing came to an abrupt end, and the mood suddenly became deadly serious: the bracelet was brought to the table, and our two remaining Trojans were just one spot away from topping a 3,097-thick field.
Cooler than the Fonzie in a fridge freezer, Rockowitz remained composed throughout, and battled ferociously to come back from a chip deficit to, first, double through, and then, several hands later, drop the hammer with to claim victory. Without doubt, this was a tough, hard-fought out victory that would have aged any man, but it was all worth it as Rockowitz goes home with some new jewelry and the small matter of the $721,373 first prize.