Grant Hinkle wins largest preliminary event in WSOP history.

The second event of the 2008 World Series of Poker was the largest preliminary event in its 39 year history with 3929 players. Grant Hinkle was rewarded with $831,462 and a bracelet for his efforts.
The final day leaves us with 18 players over two tables. Tables and chip stacks were as follows:
Table 14:
Seat 1 – Josh Engerdahl – 430,000Seat 2 – Melvin Jones – 660,000Seat 3 – Mike Ngo – 544,000Seat 4 – Grant Hinkle – 281,000Seat 5 – Perry Friedman – 653,000Seat 6 – Joe Rutledge – 486,000Seat 7 – Chris Ferguson – 444,000Seat 8 – David Bach – 168,000Seat 9 – Frank Sinopoli – 165,000
Table 15:
Seat 1 – Eric Hicks – 703,000Seat 2 – James Akenhead – 1,039,000Seat 3 – Matthew Kearney – 1,024,000Seat 4 – Jeff Wiedenhoeft – 482,000Seat 5 – Minh Nguyen – 600,000Seat 6 – Theo Tran – 1,199,000Seat 7 – Brandon Blake – 786,000Seat 8 – Elia Ahmadian – 171,000Seat 9 – Aaron Coulthard – 1,327,000
A pocket pair of 6s6h was good enough for Joe Rutledge to go all in. Chris Ferguson called him down from the big blind with A9o. The flop showed TsAc8C. Rutledge’s two outer never came as the turn came up Qh and the river a 7d. Rutledge went home in 9th place with a pay day of $83,127
David Bach felt good about his 6d7d and opens the action with a raise which is called by Theo Tran and Chris Ferguson. The flop of Kc9s5h causes reservation for the remaining players and all check. The turn brings 3h giving Bach the open ended straight draw. He pushes all in and is raised by Tran, pushing himself all in as well. Ferguson folded and Tran turns over his Jd9d. The river misses Bach with a 2c and he is eliminated in 8th place, pocketing $117,987.
Shortly after a break it is announced that Chris Ferguson has moved into the 5th place on the all time WSOP money list and 4th in final tables with 27.
An all in, preflop raise from Melvin Jones was called by Tran. Melvin shows QsTs while Tran flips over AhAd. A few hands earlier, Trans rockets were cracked by a 77. The flop of QhKc6s gives hope to Jones. The turn and river, 8h5c would dash that hope and Jones would leave in 7th place, winning $157,211.
Aaon Coulthard, who entered the final day as the chip leader, re-raises all in over the opening raise of James Akenhead. After the action folded back around to Akenhead, he made the call. Coulthard shows KcJh, which is dominated by Akenhead’s AhKh. Desperately needing a jack, Coulthard was not happy to see a board that came 8d2c7sQd9s. Coulthard is eliminated in 6th place, earning $211,841.
Mike Ngo was able to get all his chips in with the best hand, AhKs, after he re-raised Akenhead’s opening raise with AdJc. The flop and turn bring 3hQh5d8d, leaving little chance for Akenhead. The river would be a thriller, as the dealer paused before turning over the Jd. Ngo leaves in 5th place, on a three outer win by Akenhed, and wins $268,154.
Ferguson made a tournament saving triple up against Akenhead and Hinkle. He showed a top pair of queens at the showdown after Akenhand and Hinkle checked through the turn and river after calling Ferguson’s preflop all-in
Theo Tran and Grant Hinkle went to a showdown when Tran called a Hinkle bet on the river. Tran’s AdQd were no match for Hinkle’s Ah4d. The board, A 4 K A 8, gave Tran a set, but Hinkle had the boat. Tran leaves the tournament in 4th place and pockets $327,148.
A perennial favorite, Chris Ferguson, moved all in with KsTs and was called by Akenhead, who held AhTd. Ferguson had doubled up several times during the tournament, but would not survive this all in bet. The board showed AdQh8s4d5h at the end of the hand. Ferguson exits in 3rd place, taking home $388,287.
The heads up match of Akenhead and Hinkle would bring the total play for the final day to 16 hours, matching the previous day’s total. The final hand would pit a monster AK against a lowly T4.
Hinkle: Td4d
Akenhead: AcKh
The board would end up deciding this hand as Hinkle would flop a set and turn quads. In the end the board showed T4hTsTc5s. Akenhead got in with the better hole cards but walked away in second place with a pay day of $520,219. Hinkle came from behind on the final hand to pocket $831,462 and win the second event of this year’s WSOP.