Around 3:15am ET on Wednesday morning, Pius Heinz(pictured) became the first World Series of Poker Main Event champion from Germany. After a timely double up, Heinz put an end to the longest heads-up match in the last 10 years at the WSOP. Providing an early congratulations to Heinz was ESPN’s Andrew Feldman, who Tweeted, “Congrats to Pius Heinz, 2011 WSOP Main Event champ & now $8.7 million richer. He eliminated Staszko after an epic heads-up battle.”

Epic was an operative adjective for the marathon heads-up session, which stretched six hours and 115 hands following Ben Lamb’s elimination in third place after four hands. After Heinz recorded better than a 4:1 chip lead heads-up and there were only 85 total big blinds in play, the final hand of the 2011 WSOP Main Event occurred.

Martin Staszko (pictured) open-shoved all-in for nearly 40 million and Heinz, rather uncharacteristically, insta-called. Staszko showed just 10-7 of clubs, while Heinz had him dominated with A-K, but had to fade two live cards. Heinz was a 62% to 38% favorite pre-flop. The flop came 5-2-9, no help to either player. The crowd was chanting “Ace” quite loudly, Heinz was pacing around the left-hand side of the stage, and the turn was a jack.

Staszko was down to his final card, needing a seven, eight, or 10 on the river (10 outs) in order to double up and keep heads-up play going. However, the river was a red four and that was all she wrote for the Cinderella story from the Czech Republic. Heinz earned $8.7 million for the win, while Staszko collected $5.4 million. Heinz is the fourth straight Main Event winner under the age of 25 and the first from Germany.

Heinz hoisted the gold bracelet high above his head, much to the delight of his fans, who have been singing his name ever since three-handed play began a little over six hours ago. Meanwhile, confetti rained down from the heavens. Staszko, a former PokerStars SCOOP champion, was gracious in defeat, clapping for Heinz alongside Kara Scott, Jack Effel, and company on the stage of the Penn and Teller Theater at the Rio in Las Vegas.

Heinz told PokerStars officials following his big win, “It’s got to be the happiest day of my life. I can’t believe what happened – it’s unreal. I just tried to focus and not make mistakes.” Heinz signed with the world’s largest online poker site in recent days.

Oh, and if you’re still watching ESPN, SportsCenter is next. It’s been a pleasure updating the PocketFives community on the latest from the Main Event. Tonight was an epic night. Check out our previous reports:

Pius Heinz Doubles Up to Take Commanding WSOP Main Event Lead
Martin Staszko, Pius Heinz Jockeying Heads-Up in WSOP Main Event
Ben Lamb Gets First Place Money Letter After Third Place Finish
Staszko Cripples Lamb in First Hand of Play, Lamb Out of Main Event in Third