Moon Kim Wins 2012 World Poker Tour Bay 101 Shooting StarSan Jose Local Captures $960,900 First Prize |
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San Jose amateur Moon Kim has topped the 364-player field at the 2012 WPT Bay 101 Shooting Star main event, earning his first WPT title, the $960,900 first place prize and 1,500 Card Player Player of the Year points. As a result of this enormous win, Kim has moved into 12th position in the overall POY standings.
At the beginning of this unique main event, each table started with at least one “Shooting Star,” a famous professional poker player with a bounty on their head. If someone busts a Shooting Star, they are rewarded with $5,000 and an autographed bounty t-shirt. For the first time in WPT history, not a single Shooting Star made it to the final table. Eventual runner-up Ubaid Habib eliminated the last remaining Shooting Star in the tournament, Jonathan Duhamel in 13th place. Duhamel, who is currently third in the POY standings after making six final tables and winning one title, earned $25,620 plus $10,000 in Bounties.
It took 113 hands before the first player was eliminated at the final table, 23 more than the total number played at last weeks L.A. Poker Classic final table. The first elimination came when young pro Joseph Elpayaa running into the pocket kings of Andrew Badecker. Badecker had a breakout 2011, winning both a WSOP bracelet and the Borgata Winter Poker Open. He eventually lost a key race to eventual champion Kim to bust in fifth place when Badecker’s A
K failed to outrun Kim’s 4
4
. Poker pro Erik Cajelais entered his second WPT final table as the chip leader, but was unable to better his runner-up finish, eventually busting in fourth place.
Three-handed play was short lived, as Joe Serock quickly got involved in a massive all-in pot against Kim. His 9
9 were not able to hold against the KQ, as a king on the turn gave Kim the lead and sent Serock to the rail in third. With that, only the two San Jose local amateurs remained. On the final hand, Kim three-bet shoved all-in on a 942 flop with the J7 for a flush draw. After careful consideration, Habib called with Q9 for top pair. The A on the turn maintained Habib’s lead, and he was a solid favorite to double up to take a commanding lead. The 8 fell on the river, however, completing Kim’s flush and ensuring his victory.
Here is a look at the complete payout and POY point information for the final table:
| Place | Player | Earnings | POY Points |
| 1st | Moon Kim | $960,900 | 1,500 |
| 2nd | Ubaid Habib | $570,200 | 1,250 |
| 3rd | Joe Serock | $320,400 | 1,000 |
| 4th | Erik Cajelais | $256,300 | 750 |
| 5th | Andrew Badecker | $192,300 | 625 |
| 6th | Joe Elpayaa | $128,200 | 500 |
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