The 2008 Aruba Poker Classic was the largest event held so far by online poker room UltimateBet.com. Over five hundred poker players make their way to one of the world’s best island destinations to compete in a massive Texas Hold ‘Em tournament with a prize pool of $2,775,000 and over a million guaranteed to the winner.  Philadelphia-area resident Matt Brady took the top spot and became a millionaire after a week of fierce competition and fun in the sun.  Even UltimateBet’s pros were excited for Brady, and for good reason.

“For the third time in seven years, we’ve turned an online poker player into a millionaire,” stated Annie Duke, UltimateBet’s Cardroom Consultant. “And the best part about it is that it happened in paradise. It doesn’t get any better than that.”

The final hands were spectacular examples of poker play:, Brady (who had held a pretty commanding chip lead for the past few rounds) limped from the small blind then called when Johan Storackers raised to 200,000. They saw a Jack of Cubs –ten of Cubs –ten of Diamonds flop and when Storackers checked, Matt aggressively bet 270,000. Johan moved all in and Brady called instantly, showing the ten of Hearts and seven of Hearts for three of a kind while Johan held Ace of Clubs- Jack of Hearts for top pair. Johan needed a Jack or more clubs, but the turn brought the seven of diamonds, giving Matt a full house and leaving Johan dead to a Jack. But it was the 6c that came on the river, giving Matt Brady the million dollars, the gold bracelet, and the 2008 Aruba Poker Classic title.

Brady wasn’t the only first place winner this year in Aruba. In addition to the Main Event, UltimateBet added a $2,000 buy-in two-day event and a $1,000 one-day event to the tournament schedule to give players even more action. Jose Martinez of Venezuela beat out 126 other players in the $2,000 2-day event to secure a first place prize of $78,540 and William Looper of Greer, South Carolina turned a $1,000 buy-in into $21,530 after destroying 87 other players in the $1,000 1-day tournament.