When the final table of the $10,000 buy-in World Poker Tour Finale began, there were a couple of storylines in play. Spain’s Adrian Mateos was hoping to become the youngest player to win poker’s Triple Crown and Chino Rheem, with two previous WPT titles under his belt, was looking to become just the fourth player with three.

Mateos saw his run ended early, but Rheem, with a rail of friends, family and supporters that kept growing as the final table wore on, came through in the end, beating Aditya Prasetyo heads-up to win the title and the accompanying $705,885. He also earned an automatic seat in the WPT Tournament of Champions that starts Friday at Seminole Hard Rock Casino.

“This one feels real good. It’s been a couple of years since I got to see anything substantial in any kind of tournament,” said Rheem, 36. “When you have a shot, and you’re close and you’ve been there before and you already know the process of what you’ve got to do. It just feels good to zig and zag and get there.”

Bryan Piccioli, the shortest stack at the start of the final table, was also the first player eliminated. Piccioli moved all in from under the gun, Richard Leger called from his left and Prasetyo called from the small blind. The flop came and Leger and Prasetyo checked. The turn got Prasetyo to check again, only to have Leger bet 600,000. Prasetyo folded. Leger tabled , which left Piccioli drawing dead after he showed . The hit the river and Piccioli was out in sixth.

It took another hour of play before another player hit the rail. William Benson moved all in for 695,000 from UTG and Leger called from the small blind. Benson flipped over and found himself racing against Leger’s . The flop gave Leger top set, but left Benson with the nut flush draw. The turn and river were both blanks, though, and Benson was out in fifth place.

Mateos’s run at becoming the youngest winner of poker’s Triple Crown (EPT, WSOP and WPT title winner) was cut short. Prasetyo raised to 150,000 from UTG and Mateos defended his big blind. The flop got checks from both players. The turn got Mateos to bet 150,000 and Prasetyo called. Mateos moved all in after the river and Prasetyo quickly called. Mateos showed for a flopped two pair, but Prasetyo turned over for a turned straight, eliminating Mateos in fourth place.

The pace of play slowed with three players left as Rheem and Prasetyo each took turns with the lead while Leger continued to look for a spot to double up. Rheem opened to 215,000 from the button and Leger responded by moving all in for 1,785,000 – just under 18 big blinds. Rheem called and tabled , much to the chagrin of Leger who held . The flop gave Leger some chop outs, but the turn and river completed an unneeded flush for Rheem and sent Leger packing in third place.

Rheem started heads-up play with an 8-5 lead over Prasetyo. The two played 39 hands with Rheem never surrendering the lead. After increasing his lead to nearly 13-1, Rheem moved all in and Prasetyo called. Rheem held while Prasetyo was slightly ahead with . The board ran out to give Rheem trip sevens and eliminate Prasetyo.

With the win, Rheem joins Gus Hansen, Carlos Mortensen and Anthony Zinno as the only players to have won three WPT titles.

“For the years that I’ve been playing, I have created an image that is priceless. The good thing is I can, for the most part, take advantage of that image,” said Rheem.

Final Table Payouts

1. Chino Rheem – $705,885
2. Aditya Prasetyo – $484,130
3. Richard Leger – $311,305
4. Adrian Mateos – $200,510
5. William Benson – $154,585
6. Bryan Piccioli – $127,905