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Moon Kim Wins 2012 World Poker Tour Bay 101 Shooting Star

San Jose Local Captures $960,900 First Prize

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Bay 101 Champ Moon KimSan 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 AClub SuitKClub Suit failed to outrun Kim’s 4Heart Suit4Diamond Suit. 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 9Spade Suit9Club Suit were not able to hold against the KClub SuitQClub Suit, 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 9Diamond Suit4Club Suit2Diamond Suit flop with the JDiamond Suit7Diamond Suit for a flush draw. After careful consideration, Habib called with QClub Suit9Heart Suit for top pair. The AClub Suit on the turn maintained Habib’s lead, and he was a solid favorite to double up to take a commanding lead. The 8Diamond Suit 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