World Series Of Poker -- Matt Ashton Wins $50,000 Players Championship And $1.7 Million

The fourth time was the charm for poker professional Matt Ashton in Las Vegas.

After making three final tables earlier at the 2013 World Series of Poker, Ashton entered the final day of the $50,000 Poker Players Championship with the second largest stack. When it was all over early Friday morning, he was sitting with all the chips and more than $1.7 million in prize money.

In addition to the bracelet and the money, Ashton received the Chip Reese trophy.

Ashton’s victory was also his first career bracelet, after cashing seven times previously in World Series of Poker tournaments. His first cash at the WSOP was in 2011.

With the win, Ashton moves up to eighth in Card Player’s 2013 POY race

The 25-year-old, who lives in the United Kingdom, has online tournament results under the screen name “MUSTAFABET”. He now has nearly $2.5 million in lifetime tournament scores spread between live and Internet play, after starting to play poker in 2003.

The runner up was Don Nguyen, who entered the final table as the chip leader. Ashton began heads-up play with a massive chip lead, and his match with Nguyen lasted just seven hands. The entire final table stretched on for a grueling 264 hands, though.

The final table was stacked, in terms of talent, after an elite field of 132 was whittled down to the remaining eight. Mike Gorodinsky was the final table bubble boy on Wednesday.

Here’s a look at the final results.

Here’s a look at the elimination hands:

Jon Duhamel Eliminated in Eighth Place ($207,630)

Pot-Limit Omaha

Jonathan Duhamel raised to 65,000 under the gun and both George Danzer and Matthew Ashton called. The flop was dealt J106 and Ashton checked. Duhamel also checked and Danzer bet 130,000. Ashton got out of the way and Duhamel raised to 600,000. Danzer reraised and Duhamel called all in. The two players then tabled their hands.

Danzer: J652
Duhamel: KKQ2

Turn and River: Q4

Danzer won the pot with two pair, jacks and sixes, to grow his stack to 3.74 million. Duhamel was eliminated in eighth place.

Mike Wattel Eliminated in Seventh Place ($251,602)

No-Limit Hold’em

Don Nguyen raised to 80,000 and Mike Wattel reraised all in for 550,000. Nguyen called and the two players tabled their hands.

Nguyen: AQ
Wattel: AJ

Board: Q10629

Nguyen won the pot to grow his stack close to 6 million with a pair of queens and Wattel was eliminated in seventh place.

Minh Ly Eliminated in Sixth Place ($309,830)

Seven-Card Stud

George Danzer posted the bring-in and Minh Ly completed. David Benyamine called and Danzer called as well. Minh bet on fourth street and both opponents called. On fifth street it was Ly who led out again. Benyamine raised and Danzer reraised. Minh called all in and Benyamine four-bet.

Danzer called and then action in the side pot saw Benyamine bet on sixth street and seventh street and Danzer calling both times. All the cards were tabled and Benyamine won the side pot with (86) Q810A (10) for an ace-high flush. That was also good enough to top Minh’s (AK) K102A (9) and win the main pot.

Minh was eliminated in sixth place and Benyamine grew his stack to a chip-leading 5.15 million. Danzer was below 2 million after the hand.

George Danzer Eliminated in Fifth Place ($388,523)

Pot-Limit Omaha

David Benyamine raised to 80,000 on the cutoff and Don Nguyen called on the small blind. George Danzer also called on the big blind and the flop was dealt 883. Nguyen bet 150,000 and Danzer bumped it up to 425,000. Benyamine folded and Nguyen reraised to 800,000. Danzer then made it 1.2 million to go and Nguyen kicked it up to 1.6 million. Danzer then reraised all in for 2.25 million and Nguyen called. The two players then revealed their hands.

Nguyen: KJ108
Danzer: AK98

Turn and River: 4J

Nguyen won the pot with a full house on the river to take the chip lead with 7.55 million and Danzer was eliminated in fifth place.

David Benyamine Eliminated in Fourth Place ($497,122)

Seven-Card Stud

Don Nguyen posted the bring-in and David Benyamine completed. Nguyen called and on fourth street Nguyen checked. Benyamine bet and Nguyen called. On fifth street Nguyen bet and Benyamine raised. Nguyen called and on sixth street Benyamine got the last of his chips into the middle.

Nguyen showed (72) 2Q72 (J) and Benyamine mucked his cards. Benyamine was eliminated in fourth place and Nguyen increased his chip lead to 9 million.

John Hennigan Eliminated in Third Place ($686,568)

Pot-Limit Omaha

John Hennigan limped preflop and Matthew Ashton raised to 300,000. Hennigan reraised the pot to 900,000 and Ashton called. The flop fell J86 and Hennigan was all in. Ashton called and the two players tabled their hands.

Ashton: A863
Hennigan: QQ74

Turn and River: 10A

Hennigan was eliminated in third place by two pair, aces and eights. Ashton grew his stack to 17.3 million in advance of the heads-up final against Don Nguyen (2.5 million).

Matt Ashton Wins Event No. 55, Don Nguyen Eliminated in Second Place ($1,096,254)

Limit Hold’em

Matthew Ashton raised preflop on the button and Don Nguyen called. The flop was dealt 1073 and Nguyen checked. Ashton bet and Nguyen raised. Ashton called and the turn fell 9.

Nguyen bet and Ashton called before the river delivered the Q. Nguyen bet, Ashton raised, and Nguyen called all in. Nguyen revealed 106 but he was behind the K10 held by Ashton, who won the pot and the tournament with his king-kicker.

Nguyen was eliminated in second place and took home $1,096,254 in prize money.

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