This Week's Big Winner: David Larson Wins World Poker Tour Rolling Thunder Main Event

David Larson has won the 2018 World Poker Tour Rolling Thunder $3,500 no-limit hold’em main event. He outlasted a field of 440 total entries who turned out to the Thunder Valley Casino Resort to win $295,128 and his first WPT title. The San Jose, California resident’s largest previous cash was for just $11,500.

In addition to the money and the title, Larson also earned 1,080 Card Player Player of the Year points, enough to move him into 40th place. This was his second final-table finish of the year, having finished seventh in the World Series of Poker Circuit Thunder Valley $365 buy-in bounty event earlier this year.

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

Tournament: WPT Rolling Thunder Main Event

Buy-In: $3,500
No. of Entries: 440
Prize Pool: $1,408,000
1st Place Prize: $295,128

The Action

On only the second hand of the six-handed final table, Alexander raised to 90,000 from under-the-gun and McKeehen made the call from the cutoff. Larson then moved all-in from the button for 670,000 and Alexander folded. McKeehen made the call, however, with A J. Larson was ahead with pocket queens and took a huge lead with a flop of Q 6 2. The turn and river fell 7 3 and Larson doubled up to about 38 big blinds.

The Action

After laying low until three-handed play began, Larson was put to the test with a shove from McKeehen in the small blind. Larson looked down at A K in the big blind, and made the quick and easy call for his last 1,320,000. McKeehen was drawing live with Q 7, but the board fell A J 10 10 J to give Larson yet another double up back into contention.

The Action

McKeehen raised to 250,000 on the button and Larson called from the small blind. The flop came down J 5 4 and Larson bet 400,000. McKeehen then moved all-in for 1,320,000 and Larson called with A 7 for the nut flush draw. McKeehen held a bluff with Q 9, giving him four outs to come from behind. The turn was the K, giving him more outs with a straight draw, but the 4 on the river was a brick. McKeehen earned $131,081 for his third-place showing.

The Action

Despite starting the heads-up match down 2:1, it only took six hands for Larson to take the chip lead. After both players limped in to see a flop of 9 8 3, Steinman checked and Larson bet 200,000. Steinman called and the turn was the 6. Both players checked and the river was the 6. Steinman bet 465,000 and Larson raised to 1,500,000. Steinman called, but mucked when he saw Larson turn over 6 2 for runner, runner trip sixes. With that pot, Larson moved to the top of the leaderboard.

The Action

Larson raised to 375,000 on the button and Steinman three-bet to 1,100,000 from the big blind. Larson called and the flop fell A J 6. Steinman checked and Larson bet 400,000. Steinman called and the turn was the Ah. This time, both players checked. The river was the Qs and Steinman bet 500,000. Larson moved all-in, and Steinman made the call for his tournament life with pocket kings. Larson, however, had flopped two pair and turned a full house with A 6 to scoop the pot. Steinman picked up $201,428 for his runner-up finish, while Larson took home the trophy, title, and the $295,128 first-place prize.

Final Table Results

1. David Larson — $295,128
2. Ian Steinman — $201,428
3. Joe McKeehen — $131,081
4. Ping Liu — $97,510
5. Rayo Kniep — $69,650
6. D.J. Alexander — $56,417