Jeff Cabanillas Profile

22 years old, living in LA, and in one dramatic moment Jeff Cabanillas is nearly a millionaire. Not a bad way to get life going, eh? Jeff participated in the 2006 World Series of Poker in Las Vegas in the $5,000 No Limit Hold’em Event 9, a young man whom many may have considered dead money (an expression where the person who paid the money has no hope of cashing.) Getting passed day one must have been a thrill, but realizing at the end of Day Two that you were one of nine players left in contention for $818,546 must have seemed unbelievable.

Now fast forward to the end of Day Three and the only two players left at the table are Jeff and Phil Hellmuth. The crowds were packed with pros and fans alike, hoping to catch poker history as Hellmuth spiked his tenth WSOP Braclet, and that crowed was on their feet when Phil was all in and the board showed  6d 4d 3h. Previously Phil was in the lead but a bad beat by Jeff soured his mood, causing him to start hemorrhaging chips. At this point it was all or nothing, and Hellmuth had 5h  4s  and Cabanillas  5d 3d. The 4c on the turn seemed to ensure Hellmuth’s victory, but the Jd on the river gave Cabanillas a diamond flush and the win.

37th Annual World Series of Poker
Event #9 - WSOP No Limit Hold'em 
1st $818,546 
Jul 4, 2006