This Week's Big Winner: Art Papazyan Wins WPT Legends of Poker Main Event

Poker legend Phil Hellmuth has 14 World Series of Poker bracelets, but his poker resume contains zero World Poker Tour titles. He was ever so close to winning his first in Los Angeles at the recent WPT Legends of Poker main event, but has now fallen short in all seven of his WPT final tables.

The Hall of Famer finished runner-up in the prestigious main event at the Bicycle Casino in Bell Gardens. Local cash game professional Art Papazyan won the event for $668,692, while the Poker Brat walked away with $364,370 in his pocket.
The $4,000 buy-in no-limit hold’em event drew a field of 763 total entries, the second largest turnout in the tournament’s 16-year history.

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

Tournament: WPT Legends of Poker Main Event
Buy-In: $4,000 • No. of Entries: 763 • Prize Pool: $2,738,407 • 1st Place Prize: $668,692

The Action

At the eight-handed final table, Papazyan raised to 130,000 from middle position and Hellmuth three-bet to 250,000 on the button. Papazyan then moved all in to put Hellmuth to the test. Hellmuth had 1,600,000 behind, about 27 big blinds, and opted to save it, folding Q Q face up. Papazyan couldn’t resist the needle, and showed Hellmuth the 4. “What are you doing?” asked Hellmuth. “Did you really think I reraised you with nothing? What the f**k is going on here? It’s the crazy shit I’ve ever seen.”

The Action

With four players left at the final table, Papazyan moved in for 2,535,000 from the button and was called by Tran in the small blind. Papazyan held 8 8, and he was a favorite against Tran’s A 8. The flop came Q 10 5, keeping Papazyan in the lead, and the 8 on the turn gave him a set. Tran needed a heart to steal the pot, but the 2 hit the river instead, shipping the double to Papazyan.

The Action

Hellmuth limped in on the button and Alexander completed from the small blind. Papazyan then moved all-in from the big blind for 3,160,000. Hellmuth folded, and Alexander went into the tank. After about a minute, Alexander called all-in for his last 2,810,000 with A 2, only to see that he was dominated by Papazyan’s A 6. The flop fell 10 8 6, pairing Papazyan and giving him a stranglehold on the hand. The J and 9 on the turn and river were no help to Alexander and he was eliminated in fourth place, earning $161,490. Papazyan took the pot and moved up the leaderboard.

The Action

Papazyan raised to 600,000 and Hellmuth called from the big blind. The flop came down A 3 2 and Hellmuth checked. Papazyan bet 400,000 and Hellmuth quickly check-raised to 950,000. Papazyan called and the turn was the J. Hellmuth bet 1,200,000 and Papazyan called once again. The river was the 7 and Hellmuth checked. Papazyan bet 2,600,000 and Hellmuth went into the tank before eventually calling with 5 5. Papazyan turned over 5 4 for a flopped wheel and took bigger than a 3:1 chip lead in the heads-up match.

The Action

On the very next hand, Hellmuth raised to 600,000 on the button and Papazyan moved all in. Hellmuth called off the last of his stack with A K, and was happy to see that he had Papazyan’s K Q dominated. According to the Card Player Poker Odds Calculator, Hellmuth had a nearly 74 percent chance of doubling back into contention, but the flop came Q 10 8, giving Papazyan the lead. The turn was the 5, giving Hellmuth a flush draw to go with his straight draw and overcard, but the 3 on the river was a brick. Hellmuth picked up $364,370 for his runner-up finish, while Papazyan claimed the title, the trophy, and the $668,692 first-place prize.

Final Table Results

1. Art Papazyan — $668,692
2. Phil Hellmuth — $364,370
3. J.C. Tran — $217,040
4. D. J. Alexander — $161,490
5. Marvin Rettenmaier — $120,775
6. Adam Swan — $91,825
7. David Sands — $72,985
8. Jared Griener — $57,190
9. Oddie Dardon — $43,570