Monday, June 30, 2014 8:37 PM Local Time
Joseph McKeehen: The Broad Street Bully Looks to Terrorize the WSOP
We made Joseph McKeehen's acquaintance earlier in the year while covering the Borgata Winter and Spring Poker Opens, and with two victories in as many series, the 23-year old native of North Wales, Pennsylvania immediately made his presence known. First, we watched as McKeehen rolled through Event 3 of the Borgata Winter Poker Open, overcoming a field of 578 entries to take down top honors - along with $69,808 in prize money. Just a few months later, McKeehen returned to the winner's circle, defeating 193 opponents in Event 10 ($660 NLHE Reentry) for another $33,873 score.
In between those wins, McKeehen - a diehard Philadelphia Flyers fan who often sports his team's orange and black on the felt - added another first place entry to his résumé, winning a $1650 Foxwoods poker Classic event to add another $61,285 to his lifetime earnings.
McKeehen has made an astounding seven final tables in Atlantic City over less than two years of live action, and over a dozen during his brief but highly successful career, proving that when he plays the game he loves, he plays to win. Those final table appearances have garnered the young McKeehen a World Series of Poker Circuit ring from the 2012-13 Caesars Atlantic City Main Event, as well as yet another Borgata seasonal series win from last November's Fall Poker Open. That makes it three consecutive Borgata Opens in which McKeehen has held up a trophy, something that has made his parents Brent and Gina extremely proud. McKeehen jokingly told the table during his latest victory that he "wanted another trophy," before adding "my mom keeps them in her china cabinet."
With $937,253 in reported live earnings to his credit already, McKeehen has quickly become a a force to be reckoned with on the live tournament circuit, but he has yet to achieve the same level of success during WSOP play. We caught up with McKeehen while he prepared to take his seat in Event 4 ($1,000 NLHE) here at the Rio, as he looks to bring his East Coast dominance westward...
You can read the rest of McKeehen's interview with PokerNews here.
Monday, June 30, 2014 8:34 PM Local Time
Heads-Up Chip Counts
| Hugo Pingray | 75,600,000 | 30,700,000  |
| Joseph McKeehen | 42,150,000 | -100,000  |
Monday, June 30, 2014 8:33 PM Local Time
Sean Drake Eliminated in 3rd Place ($619,521)
Hand #95: Sean Drake raised to 2.4 million from the small blind and Hugo Pingray defended his big blind to see a flop fall.
Drake continued for 2.1 million before Pingray pushed out three stacks of chips amounting to a bet of 6.9 million. Drake deliberated for a few moments before moving all in for 28,050,000 with Pingray instantly calling.
Drake:
Pingray:
With Drake needing to spike a diamond to stay alive, the fell on the turn to give him an additional two outs to stay alive.
However when the landed on the river, Drake hit the rail in 3rd place for a $619,521 payday as both Pingray and Joseph McKeehen are now heads up.
Monday, June 30, 2014 8:31 PM Local Time
"With their vocal group, 'The Crypt-Kicker Five'..."
| Hugo Pingray | 44,900,000 | 4,150,000 |
| Joseph McKeehen | 42,250,000 | 2,450,000 |
| Sean Drake | 30,600,000 | -6,600,000 |
Monday, June 30, 2014 8:30 PM Local Time
Hands #93-94: Trips for Pingray
Hand #93: Sean Drake raised the button to 2.3 million and Joseph McKeehen called from the big blind to see a flop fall. Both players checked as the landed on the turn and McKeehen bet out 2.5 million.
Drake folded and McKeehen was pushed the pot.
Hand #94: Hugo Pingray raised the button to 2 million and Sean Drake called from the big blind to see a flop fall with both players checking as the landed on the turn.
Both players checked again as the landed on the river and Drake checked to Pingray who bet out 2 million. Drake quickly called, but then mucked at the sight of Pingray's for trips.
Monday, June 30, 2014 8:25 PM Local Time
Play Resumes
The cards are back in the air!
Monday, June 30, 2014 8:19 PM Local Time
Short Break
The remaining three players are taking a short unscheduled break.
Currently Sean Drake is moving over to the five-seat so that the final three are spaced out evenly.
Monday, June 30, 2014 8:19 PM Local Time
"The coffin-bangers were about to arrive..."
| Hugo Pingray | 40,750,000 | -1,150,000 |
| Joseph McKeehen | 39,800,000 | 18,700,000 |
| Sean Drake | 37,200,000 | -650,000 |
Monday, June 30, 2014 8:17 PM Local Time
Claas Segebrecht Eliminated in 4th Place ($468,594)
Hand #92: Joseph McKeehen raised to 2 million in the cutoff and Claas Segebrecht three-bet all in for 16.75 million on the button. After the blinds folded, McKeehen asked for a count before he called.
Segebrecht:
McKeehen:
The board ran out , ending Segebrecht's run in fourth place.
| Claas Segebrecht | 0 | -16,900,000 |
Monday, June 30, 2014 8:14 PM Local Time
"Igor on chains, backed by his baying hounds..."
| Hugo Pingray | 41,900,000 | -3,100,000 |
| Sean Drake | 37,850,000 | 650,000 |
| Joseph McKeehen | 21,100,000 | 150,000 |
| Claas Segebrecht | 16,900,000 | 2,300,000 |
Monday, June 30, 2014 8:14 PM Local Time
Hands #89-91: Segebrecht Shoving
Hand #89: Sean Drake raised to 2.4 million on the button and collected the blinds and antes.
Hand #90: Joe McKeehen shoved from the small blind for 14.3 million effective and Claas Segebrecht folded his big blind.
Hand #91: Hugo Pingray raised to 2.15 million in the cutoff and Claas Segebrecht reraised all in from the small blind for 13.15 million. Pingray gave it some thought, but opted to fold.
Monday, June 30, 2014 8:06 PM Local Time
"The scene was rockin', all were digging the sounds..."
| Hugo Pingray | 45,000,000 | 100,000 |
| Sean Drake | 37,200,000 | 6,100,000 |
| Joseph McKeehen | 20,950,000 | -1,000,000 |
| Claas Segebrecht | 14,600,000 | -5,200,000 |
Monday, June 30, 2014 8:06 PM Local Time
Hands #81-88: Bit of Back-and-Forth
Hand #81: Sean Drake raised the button to 2.5 million and collected the blinds and antes.
Hand #82: Hugo Pingray opened to 2 million from the button and Claas Segebrecht made the call to see a flop fall. Segebrecht checked and Pingray bet out 1.8 million to force a fold from Segebrecht.
Hand #83: Hugo Pingray raised to 2 million from the cutoff and Sean Drake called from the big blind to see a flop fall.
Both players checked as the landed on the turn and again both players checked as the landed on the river.
Drake led out for 1.8 million and Pingray quickly folded.
Hand #84: Joseph McKeehen opened the pot to 2 million only to have Sean Drake three-bet to 5.2 million from the small blind. McKeehen kicked his cards to the muck and Drake was pushed the pot.
Hand #85: Hugo Pingray raised to 2.1 million from the small blind and won the big blind and antes.
Hand #86: Hugo Pingray raised to 2 million and won the blinds and antes.
Hand #87: From the button, Joseph McKeehen moved all in for 15.9 million and won the blinds and antes.
Hand #88: Joseph McKeehen raised to 2 million and Hugo Pingray called from the big blind to see a and Pingray checked. McKeehen bet out 1.25 million and Pingray quickly folded.
Monday, June 30, 2014 7:50 PM Local Time
"The guests included Wolfman, Dracula, and his son..."
| Hugo Pingray | 44,900,000 | -4,550,000 |
| Sean Drake | 31,100,000 | 4,850,000 |
| Joseph McKeehen | 21,950,000 | 3,950,000 |
| Claas Segebrecht | 19,800,000 | -4,250,000 |
Monday, June 30, 2014 7:49 PM Local Time
Hands #76-80: Drake Back Above 30 Million
Hand #76: Claas Segebrecht raised to 2 million on the button and Hugo Pingray three=bet to 5.2 million from the big blind. Segebrecht folded and Pingray took down the pot.
Hand #77: Hugo Pingray raised to 2.5 million in the small blind and won the pot.
Hand #78: Hugo Pingray raised to 2 million on the button and Joseph McKeehen reraised all in for 16.55 million from the small blind. Pingray folded and McKeehen took the pot.
Hand #79: Jospeh McKeehen raised to 2 million on the button and received no action.
Hand #80: Sean Drake raised to 2.7 million in the small blind and Hugo Pingray three-bet to 6.5 million. Drake reraised all in for 24 million and Pingray folded.
Monday, June 30, 2014 7:39 PM Local Time
Blend 'em and Send 'em
The cards are back in the air!
Monday, June 30, 2014 7:39 PM Local Time
Level 40 started
Level: 40
Blinds: 500000/1000000
Ante: 150000
Monday, June 30, 2014 7:17 PM Local Time
Chip Counts at Break
| Hugo Pingray | 49,450,000 | 16,900,000 |
| Sean Drake | 26,250,000 | -13,300,000 |
| Claas Segebrecht | 24,050,000 | -600,000 |
| Joseph McKeehen | 18,000,000 | -3,000,000 |
Monday, June 30, 2014 7:16 PM Local Time
Hands #72-75: Pingray Rivers Straight on Drake
Hand #72: Joseph McKeehan opened to 1.6 million and Hugo Pingray called from the big blind to see a flop fall.
Pingray checked and McKeehen bet out 1,250,000 and Pingray made the call as the landed on the turn and both players checked.
The river landed the and Pingray pushed out 2,050,000 into McKeehen he took the opportunity to stare down the Swiss player. After about 60 seconds in the tank, McKeehen released his hand.
Hand #73: Sean Drake opened to 1.7 million from the button and won the blinds and antes.
Hand #74: Claas Segebrecht received a walk in the big blind.
Hand #75: Hugo Pingray opened to 1.65 million and Sean Drake called from the big blind to see a flop fall with Drake checking.
Pingray bet out 1.8 million and Drake check-raised to 4.2 million with Pingray making the call as the turn landed the . Both players checked as the completed the board on the river and Drake cut out a bet of 3.7 million.
Pingray went into the tank for close to a minute before raising to 7.5 million with Drake instantly calling.
Pingray tabled his for a straight, as Drake tabled his for the lower straight.