Baker Breaks Through with First WSOP Win

Baker outlasted 476 players and then beat close friend Greg Mueller heads-up to win Event 37 $2,500 8-Game Mix for $271,312.

“This is great,” he said. “This is why we get up every day and come in here. It’s just for an opportunity like this. We just hope it comes along.”

Not to be confused with David “Bakes” Baker from Las Vegas who won his second bracelet last week, Baker is long-time pro with over $2 million in lifetime earnings but, until today, no bracelet.

Baker even made a final table in the $2,500 2-7 Triple Draw event earlier in the 2012 WSOP but finished in third place, despite entering the final table as the chip leader.

“I always knew if I kept getting there and giving myself shots that I would eventually run well late in a tournament and that’s basically what happened today,” he said.

Even Mueller, who fell just short of his third WSOP bracelet, admitted via Twitter that Baker was deserving of the title.

David Baker's heads-up opponent: Greg Mueller

 

“He always comes to play, no matter what,” he said.

Mueller picked up $167,637 for coming in second place.

The final table was no joke as noted poker players Chris Viox, Donnacha O’Dea and Konstantin Puchkov were all in contention to win a bracelet.

The touranment turned into somewhat of a marathon when Mueller and Baker played so late they had to extend the event an extra day. The tournament was originally supposed to end yesterday.

It was the right decision, according to Baker.

“Greg’s one of my best friends in poker and the last thing I wanted was either one of us to make a huge mistake that wasn’t really representative of us,” he said. “I wanted a good match.”

Baker has been playing poker professionally for the last eight years after working in sales. He mentioned he’s much more suited to this life than his prior one.

“I love it. I think it’s funny when some of the young kids say, ‘Oh if I win I’ll never play again,’ he said. “Go get a real job and we’ll see if you’re still saying that.”

For all the action from the WSOP in Las Vegas click through to our 2012 World Series of Poker Live Coverage section, brought to you by 888poker.com.