This Week's Big Winner: Justin Young Wins Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Main Event

The last time Justin Young was heads-up for a World Poker Tour title, it was back in 2008 at the Five Diamond World Poker Classic at Bellagio. He fell just short of the win, but followed up that performance with WPT finishes of eighth in 2009 and sixth in 2011. Clearly, it was just a matter of time before the spry 36 year old added his name to the champions club trophy.

Then in April of 2016, at the Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown in Hollywood, Florida, Young put together four days of great play to get the monkey off his back and take home the title. For the victory, Young picked up $669,161, the second-biggest score of his career. He now has more than $4.3 million in live tournament earnings.

Here are the five biggest hands that propelled Young to the win.

Tournament: WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown
Buy-In: $3,500 • No. of Entries: 1,222 •Prize Pool: $3,910,400 • 1st Place Prize:$669,161

The Action

With eight players remaining at the final table, Sam Soverel raised to 175,000 from under the gun and was called by Andrey Plotnikov behind him. Hyoung Chae called in middle position, Ben Tarzia called from the hijack, and Tim Reilly called from the button. The action then fell on Justin Young in the small blind, and he decided to reraise to 1.14 million. Soverel folded, but Plotnikov moved all in for a total of 4.06 million. Chae asked for a count and went into the tank for more than a minute before folding, and he was soon joined by both Tarzia and Reilly. Young instantly called all in for his last 3.55 million and turned over K K. Plotnikov could only reveal Q Q and failed to connect on a board reading A 7 3 2 10. The pocket kings held up and Young doubled up to the chip lead.

The Action

Justin Young raised to 525,000 from under the gun and Matt Haugen moved all in from the big blind for 4,975,000. Young called with pocket jacks and Haugen needed help with A J. The board ran out K 10 7 7 3 and Haugen was eliminated in fourth place, earning $220,207. The pot put Young in a virtual three-way tie entering three-handed play.

The Action

After doubling up Garrett Greer in an earlier hand, Hyoung Chae was left crippled and looking for an immediate double up. He finally moved all in for his last two big blinds on the button and Justin Young reraised from the small blind to isolate. Greer folded his big blind and Chae showed A Q, which was flipping against the pocket fives of Young. The board fell 9 9 2 7 4 and Chae was eliminated in third place, taking home $297,336. Going into heads-up play, Greer held approximately 61 percent of the chips in play.

The Action

Garrett Greer raised to 700,000 on the button and Justin Young reraised to 1.85 million. Greer thought it over for a bit before moving all in. Young tanked for about a minute before calling all in for a total of 9.625 million with A 9. Greer had him in a coin flip for the title with pocket fours, but the flop of A Q 5 left him drawing to a four or a backdoor straight. The turn was the 6 and the river was the Q, giving the pot to Young, who suddenly held a slight lead in the heads-up match.

The Action

Justin Young raised to 900,000 on the button and Garrett Greer moved all in for 10.3 million from the big blind. Young quickly called with K Q, and was a slight underdog to Greer’s A 8. The flop came down A K 4, keeping Greer in the lead but giving Young a pair. According to the Card Player Poker Odds Calculator, Young was just 20 percent to win the pot after the flop. The J on the turn, however, gave him a gutshot straight draw as well, keeping him at 20 percent heading into the river. The final card was the Q, and Young’s two pair took down the pot. Greer earned $458,722 for his runner-up finish, but Young was awarded his first WPT title and the $669,161 first-place prize.

Final Table Results

1. Justin Young — $669,161
2. Garrett Greer — $458,722
3. Hyoung Chae — $297,336
4. Matt Haugen — $220,207
5. Tim Reilly — $164,113
6. Ben Tarzia — $132,560
7. Sam Soverel — $110,357
8. Andrey Plotnikov — $87,880
9. Cate Hall — $65,404