Sam Panzica Wins 2016 World Poker Tour bestbet Bounty Scramble

Coming into the final table of the 2016 World Poker Tour bestbet Bounty Scramble $5,000 no-limit hold’em main event there were two players remaining who had won WPT titles at the bestbet Jacksonville. Noah Schwartz took down the 2012 WPT Jacksonville main event and Tyler Patterson was looking to defend his title in this event, which he won last year. In the end fate saw fit to anoint a new champion and Sam Panzica emerged victorious, earning his first WPT title and the top prize of $354,335.

In addition to the hardware and the money Panzica also earned 1,200 Card Player Player of the Year points. This was his sixth final table finish and third title of 2016, having won both a €10,300 high roller at the European Poker Tour Dublin festival and the 2016 Florida State Poker Championship $1,500 main event. With 3,383 total points and $1,001,908 in year-to-date earning Panzica has climbed into 17th place in the overall POY standings.

This year’s running of the bestbet Bounty Scramble drew a total of 379 entries to build a final prize pool of $1,762,350. The top 48 players made the money, with six-figure paydays going to the top four players.

Coming into the final day only six remained with a shot at the title, with Panzica and Richard Malone, Jr. tied for the chip lead. Within the first ten hands Malone had already sent both Paul Balzano (6th – $64,183) and Noah Schwartz (5th – $77,499) to the rail. On the 40th hand of the final table he scored a double knockout, eliminating defending champion Tyler Patterson (4th – $100,643) and WSOP bracelet winner Ankush Mandavia (3rd – $152,766) when his AQ outran their pocket kings and pocket tens, respectively.

Having taken out the other four opponents all by himself, Malone took roughly a 2-to-1 chip lead into the final showdown against Panzica. The two played more than 140 hands heads-up, with several swings along the way. Panzica was eventually able to overtake the lead and run with it, building up more than a 3-to-1 advantage. On the final hand Panzica moved all in from the button and Malone called with the A3. Panzica was behind with the K9. The board ran out 8759K, giving Panzica two pair and the pot. With that Malone was eliminated in second place, earning $237,616 for his deep run.

Here is a look at the payouts and POY points awarded at this final table:

Winner photo courtesy of WPT / Joe Giron.

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