Larrabe's unorthodox style leads to sixth place at WSOP Main Event

If you watched any of the World Series of Poker coverage leading up to the Main Event final table, you probably saw Andoni Larrabe making what most players would call unorthodox plays.

The 22-year-old professional poker player from Spain didn't disappoint on Monday night at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino's Penn and Teller Theater, checking a set of fives on the river on a board of 6-7-J-5-K. With just a few possible hands that could beat him (bigger sets and straights), many poker players took to Twitter to criticize the young Spaniard's play.

"I think it doesn't matter much what I did there, because the (number of) hands that beat me and the (number of) hands that I beat are going to be very (close)," said Larrabe. "I think it's just very close hands that can go either way, betting or checking. It's not a hand that I regret or that I would play differently. The people that say it's not a great play, I think they are wrong."

Larrabe later tried to bully Billy Pappas off a hand holding K-Q of diamonds, only to find Pappas had raised with pocket kings and snap called to take half of Larrabe's chips. The big three-bet all in was another decision that seemed questionable and that professional and amateur players will be debating all day on Tuesday.

Down to less than 10 million chips, he three-bet all in holding just J-10 suited and was called by Jorryt Van Hoof, who paired his king on the flop to knock Larrabe out in sixth place. Larrabe won more than $1.6 million to bring his lifetime total to nearly $2 million.

"The experience was amazing," said Larrabe. "I really prepared for this tournament. I did everything I could to get a maximum edge on the rest of the players that I could. And I'm really happy with how I played the tournament. I could not ask for more. The cards just didn't come and I'm happy."