Less than two weeks after his brother took home a World Series of Poker bracelet in Event #2, Blair Blur5f6 Hinkle (pictured) won WSOPEvent #23 ($2,000 No Limit Holdem) for $507,563. A PocketFives.com member for nearly two years, Blair Hinkle is no stranger to WSOP cashes. In April, he final tabled the WSOP Circuit Main Event at Caesars Palace for $80,500. Blair’s largest online win came in November of ’07, when he posted an outright victory in the Full Tilt Poker Sunday major tournament for $146,000.

Barely 22 years of age, Blair poses a major threat to opponents both online and live. In an exclusive interview with PocketFives.com just minutes after his WSOP victory, Blair Hinkle said, “It is just an amazing feeling. It is surreal that my brother and I won bracelets within two weeks of each other. I can’t believe it and it still hasn’t totally set in.”

Blair has already gained the respect of some of the best poker players in the world. Jared TheWacoKidd Hamby, who took Las Vegas by storm in 2007 with three major tournament victories in 35 days for over $600,000, had this to say about Blair’s talent. “I immediately recognized the sick live poker talent in this kid and have been warning (people) about him for months. Blair is an absolute monster… (I) had a feeling you were gonna win this when I busted.” In a congratulatory forum thread, Grantdrossxyu Hinkle, winner of Event #2 for over $831,000, informed our members that the brothers will pitch in to buy their mother a replica championship bracelet.

Following his brother’s victory early this morning, Grant told PocketFives.com, “(Blair) is just a sicko and I had a feeling that he would final table a World Series event soon. Once he built his stack up among the chip leaders, I really felt he was going to win the whole thing. Unfortunately I couldn’t attend live, so I had to resort to wearing out my “F5” key refreshing the live updates. I was extremely proud watching him dismantle the final table eliminating the final six players and winning nearly half of the hands that were dealt.”

Grant (pictured) elaborated on how the brothers have benefited from sharing poker knowledge. “I did not have nearly as much tournament experience as Blair, so during my run I was constantly picking his brain about different situations that come up in tournaments that I don’t encounter regularly in the cash games. I ended up adding a bunch of new weapons to my tournament game that definitely contributed to my final table success. He doesn’t need my help on the game play aspect. But during breaks when we talk or text, I am there to cheer him on and boost his confidence when he is in the zone or support him and help to get him back to level if he takes a sick beat.”

In a feel-good story that is bound to receive a lot of attention when ESPN begins airing its exclusive coverage of the 2008 WSOP later this year, the Hinkle family is enjoying the fame associated with such a rare feat. “It has been really exciting for our whole family and has brought everyone closer together. My grandpa said he never gets so many calls as when one of us is making a deep run and my grandma learned how to use a computer just so she could track our progress. The only complaints have been that nobody is getting any sleep.

Our mom is extremely proud and flew out to attend both of our final tables. I think she’s learned a lot about the game over the last ten days and might have even known which cards she was supposed to root for in some of the all-in pots that Blair played. She has insisted that we pitch in to have a replica bracelet made for her that she can show off when boasting about her World Series champion sons.” PocketFives.com congratulates drossxyu and Blur5f6 for winning WSOP bracelets, and looks forward to covering the Hinkle brothers in upcoming events as they compete for a third bracelet.

According to official World Series of Poker numbers, over $55 million has been awarded so far at this year’s WSOP through 28 events. PocketFives.com members have taken home approximately $7.5 million over that same period — nearly 14% of all prize money. P5’ers have earned three WSOP bracelets to date; two of which were captured by the Hinkle brothers. Michael worldsgrtest Banducci took home the third bracelet by winning Event #5 ($1,000 No Limit Holdem with Rebuys) for $636,736. He defeated fellow PocketFiver Jeff yellowsub Williams, who placed 2nd $406,330.

Michael Banducci also went deep in Event #25 ($10,000 Heads Up No Limit Holdem) last night, but came up short in his quest for a second 2008 WSOP bracelet; finishing 29th. Long-time fan favorite Michael ShipItThisWay McNeil finished Event #25 in 10th place for $36,096. WSOP action will continue later today when the Heads Up Championship and Razz events conclude. Our readers can keep up with all the action as it happens on PocketFivesLive.com, your home for WSOP coverage.

* Blair and Grant Hinkle will be our special guests next week on thePocketFives.com Podcast. Listeners can subscribe to our weekly program for free using iTunes.Subscribe for free

** For a list of 2008 WSOP cashes by PocketFives.com members, click here.