The Main Event of the Chicago Poker Classic ended with members of the PocketFives.com online poker community taking the top three spots. Coming away with the win after battling heads-up with Nick GripGrippo was Ryan RJules12Julius (pictured at right). Upon seeing the lively rail thread in Poker Discussion, Julius thanked his supporters: “Thanks to everyone who supported Nick and myself throughout. Means a lot. I feel very fortunate to have won, as Nick deserved it just as much, if not more. How we finished 1 and 2 is beyond me.”

Three-handed action featured Julius, Grippo, and Josh jotagran49 Tekesky. The former two had 2.2 million in chips when the chop was forged, while Tekesky had a stack of 1.6 million. The trio left $10,000 up for grabs plus the Chicago Poker Classic trophy for the winner. First place officially paid out $182,000 and Julius ultimately took home $138,000.
On the unique heads-up match against his close friend, Julius told PocketFives.com, “He could care less and it was all in fun. We were bickering back and forth and the dealers were cracking up. It didn't seem like we were playing for any money, but it was just fun to play it out. It could have went to any one of us three; I was just lucky to win.” Grippo (pictured at left) earned $128,000 for his three days’ worth of work.

All three days of play in the Chicago tournament stretched 12 hours, so Julius didn’t return home to Peoria until 5:00am after his win. He slept until 11:00am and then awoke to a barrage of phone calls, text messages, and e-mails. It marked his largest live cash to date. Prior to his Chicago Poker Classic Main Event run, Julius’ claims to fame included cashing in a $1,500 No Limit Hold’em event during the 2009 World Series of Poker (WSOP); he also recorded in the money finishes in Atlantic City and Hammond.

Barely making it back to Peoria was the championship trophy, which was last seen in the middle of the Horseshoe Hammond driveway: “Grippo and I were escorted to our cars by a security guard and I give him his cash prize in the passenger seat. I set the trophy on top of his car and drove away. Five minutes into the drive, I realized that I left the trophy on top of his car. I called him and he was on the highway, so the trophy was gone.” Julius returned to the casino and found his award in the middle of the road. He explained, “It was run over a few times by cars. It's a bit weathered, so I might ask for another trophy.”

In a one-month stretch last September, Julius final tabled the $1 million guaranteed event during the PokerStarsWorld Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP), finished third in the Full Tilt Poker $1K Monday, and won the PokerStars $55 rebuy and Nightly Hundred Grand. The four scores combined for $180,000 in prize money.

Rooting him on in the Chicago Poker Classic Main Event were Faraz The-ToiletJaka, Ben chong94LeFew, and Triple Crownwinner Kyle KJulius10Julius (his brother, pictured at right), whose girlfriend also turned out. The tournament’s champion told PocketFives.com, “I want to say thanks to everyone who supported me and all of my buddies from Peoria for the support.” The $3,125 buy-in poker tournament generated a field of 235 players and the top 27 finished in the money. Also appearing at the final table was Weekday Tournament Review author Ken wandigo Coppens, who finished in sixth place for $31,000.

Here were the top nine finishers in the Chicago Poker Classic Main Event. Payouts are according to CardPlayer and known chop numbers:

1. Ryan RJules12 Julius – $138,000
2. Nick Grip Grippo – $128,000
3. Josh jotagran49 Tekesky – $105,000
4. Gian Bencivenga – $52,843
5. Curtis Householder – $39,818
6. Ken wandigo Coppens – $31,777
7. David Diaz – $26,786
8. Dwyte Pilgrim – $23,788
9. Gregory Masterson – $22,196

Congratulations to Julius, Grippo, Tekesky, and Coppens for reaching the final table in Chicago. Visit the thread in Poker Discussion for more information.