Live tournament updates from around the world see Dan Smith and Brian Rast take million dollar scores away from the World Poker Tour (WPT) Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic at the Bellagio, and a cracking final table takes shape at the Eureka Poker Tour in Prague.
It was always going to be difficult for Dan Smith to follow on from his once-in-a-lifetime achievements that he accrued in 2013, but ending the year with his third million dollar score of his career, and all before his 25th birthday, will do nicely thank you very much.
Smith’s earnings now exceed $5.6m after defeating the Australian Poker Hall of Famer, Gary Benson, in heads up action to take the money, the plaudits and a place in the WPT Champions Club in the final of the WPT Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic at the Bellagio.
Final Table Chip Counts
Seat 1. Eddy Sabat – 1,540,000 (38 bb)
Seat 2. Barry Hutter – 1,265,000 (31 bb)
Seat 3. Dan Smith – 3,720,000 (93 bb)
Seat 4. Gary Benson – 3,110,000 (77 bb)
Seat 5. Joe Serock – 1,615,000 (40 bb)
Seat 6. Shaun Suller – 2,425,000 (60 bb)
Joe Serock was the first to wilt under the pressure of being card dead when he moved all-in over a Dan Smith raise holding [Qs] [Th] and Smith called with [Ah] [Js]. An ace on the flop giving Smith the win and eliminating the former WPT Player of the Year.
Then Eddie Sabat found pocket kings to knock out Barry Hutter and his ace-king, before Gary Benson doubled though Shaun Suller, to mark the end of his demise. Benson moving all-in on [8h] [7h] [3c] with pocket aces and Suller calling with [Ad] [8c] for top pair. The turn and river were no help and Suller was in trouble.
Dented, and disappointed, Suller moved his stack into the middle at least half a dozen times before Eddy Sabat found the right combination of cards to make the call. It was pocket queens for Sabat, [Ad] [9d] for Suller, and a clean board turned Suller to sullen.
The three handed play saw Dan Smith double up through Eddy Sabat on two occasions, and on the third occasion the pair were at each others throats it was Sabat that eventually ran out of gas. Sabat moving all-in with [Ac] [9d] and Smith calling with [Ks] [Qs], only to hit a king on the flop and a flush on the river.
Heads up action saw Smith hold a dominant lead over the Australian Poker Hall of Famer Gary Benson: 11,940,000 v 1,735,000 and it took just nine hands for Smith to be declared the winner.
Benson moving all-in with pocket fours and Smith calling with [Ks] [Td]. A ten on the flop sealing the deal and handing Smith $1,161,135 in prize money and a place in that coveted WPT Champions Club.
Final Table Results:
1: Dan Smith – $1,161,135 2
2: Gary Benson – $672,685 3
3: Eddy Sabat – $436,160 4
4: Shaun Suller – $303,793 5
5: Barry Hutter – $219,165 6
6: Joe Serock – $175,766
Eureka Poker Tour Prague: Chidwick, Horecki and Barer Make the Final Table
The largest poker tournament ever held on Czech soil has reached the final table and it promises to be a cracker with Stephen Chidwick, Marcin Horecki and Ami Barer all making the final table.
When the action starts it will be Ami ‘UhhMee’ Barer who starts with the lion share of the chips. The youngster from Canada has accrued over $5.5m in online winnings, including two FTOPS titles, and will be hoping to add a live title to that impressive CV.
Chidwick sits third in chips and must be one of the favorites to take the title. This lad has it all, with major cashes in both live and online tournaments, and in every format of poker you can think of.
Marcin Horecki, the PokerStars Team Pro, is the third player who has experience on his side. Not only has he made two EPT Main Event final tables, but also two Micro Millions Player of the Series titles.
Final Table Standings
Seat 1: Jaroslav Peter – 3,995,000
Seat 2: Marcin Horecki – 1,340,000
Seat 3: Johannes Tiefenbrunner – 935,000
Seat 4: Dmitri Holdeew – 4,720,000
Seat 5: Ami Barer – 7,280,000
Seat 6: Milan Simko – 695,000
Seat 7: Stephen Chidwick – 4,955,000
Seat 8: Mark Dalimore – 2,170,000
Brian Rast Wins the 2013 WPT Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic $100,000 High Roller
Dan Smith wasn’t the only player to win a million bucks whilst playing poker in the heart of Las Vegas this week.
Brian Rast defeated a tough table of 22 entrants to take the $1,083,500 first prize in the $100,000 High Roller event at The Bellagio.
Rast saw off competition from the likes of Antonio Esfandiari (9th), Marvin Rettenmaier (7th), Justin Bonomo (6th), Chris Klodnicki (5th) and eventually Erik Seidel who he defeated in heads up competition.
The victory sees Rast take his lifetime tournament earnings up to $4.7m.
Good match @Erik_Seidel – you played great. I’m thankful for the win.
— Brian Rast (@tsarrast) December 11, 2013
Final Table Payouts
1. Brian Rast – $1,083,500
2. Erik Seidel – $650,100
3. Roger Sippl – $433,400
Photo courtesy of WPT Flickr
