This Week's Big Winner: Daniel Strelitz Wins WPT LA Poker Classic Main Event

In early March, Daniel Strelitz took down the World Poker Tour L.A. Poker Classic $10,000 buy-in no-limit hold’em main event. The 27-year-old poker pro based out of Orange, California overcame a field of 521 players to win his first WPT title and the top prize of $1,001,110.

This was Strelitz’s first ever seven-figure score. His largest prior live tournament cash came when he finished second in a $5,000 no-limit hold’em event at last year’s World Series of Poker for $338,774. He now has career live tournament earnings of more than $2.6 million.

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

Tournament: WPT LA Poker Classic
Buy-In: $10,000
No. of Entries: 521
Prize Pool: $5,001,600
1st Place Prize: $1,001,110

The Action

Strelitz raised to 65,000 from the cutoff and Serock called from the button. Richard Tuhrim called from the big blind. The dealer rolled out the 8 4 4 and Tuhrim checked. Strelitz bet 100,000 and Serock raised to 250,000. Tuhrim folded and Strelitz moved all in. Serock called with A 8 for top pair, top kicker, but Strelitz revealed 5 4 for flopped trips. The turn and river came 10 Q and Serock was sent to the rail in eighth place, earning $128,650.

The Action

With seven players remaining in the tournament, Berkey limped in from the cutoff and Strelitz completed from the small blind. Naydenov then checked his option in the big blind. The flop came out Q 10 9 and both blinds checked to Berkey, who bet 80,000. Strelitz then check-raised to 260,000 and Naydenov folded. Berkey then moved all in for 820,000 and Strelitz called with A 2 for the nut flush draw. Berkey held K J for the flopped nut straight, but the A and 5 completed the board to give Strelitz the winning flush. Berkey banked $161,320 for his seventh-place showing.

The Action

Early on at the televised, six-handed final table, Strelitz raised to 85,000 on the button and Tuhrim moved all in from the big blind for his last 545,000. Strelitz quickly called with K Q and was happy to see his cards were live against Tuhrim’s A 7. The flop came down 7 4 3, keeping Tuhrim in the lead. The turn was the 9, leaving Strelitz with just six outs and a 13 percent chance of scoring the knockout. The river was the K, and Tuhrim was eliminated in sixth place, pocketing $191,490.

The Action

Sitting on the shortest stack four-handed, Sexton moved all in for his last 670,000 on the button and was called by Strelitz in the big blind. Strelitz held A 7, but Sexton had the real hand with K K. According to the Card Player Poker Odds Calculator, Sexton was a 71 percent favorite to double up, but the board ran out A J 7 9 A, giving Strelitz a full house. Sexton earned $300,690 for his deep tournament run.

The Action

Holding a 2:1 chip advantage heads-up, Strelitz raised to 260,000 on the button and Naydenov called. The flop was Q 7 6 and Naydenov checked. Strelitz bet 325,000 and Naydenov check-raised to 975,000. Strelitz called and the turn was the 8. Naydenov checked again, and Strelitz bet 1,350,000. Naydenov then moved all in for 3,860,000 and Strelitz immediately called. Naydenov showed K Q, but he was drawing dead against Strelitz and his 5 4 for a straight. The meaningless river was the 4 and Naydenov was eliminated in second place, earning $672,190. Strelitz took home the trophy, the title and the $1,001,110 first-place prize.

Final Table Results

1. Daniel Strelitz — $1,001,110
2. Simeon Naydenov — $672,190
3. Jared Griener — $431,340
4. Mike Sexton — $300,690
5. Jesse Martin — $230,380
6. Richard Tuhrim — $191,490
7. Matt Berkey — $161,320
8. Joseph Serock — $128,650
9. James Calderaro — $96,640