WPT – Doyle Brunson Classic Championship Day 5Final Table Set – More Fireworks on the Felt |
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The final six in the World Poker Tour Doyle Brunson Classic Championship is now determined, but getting to that point from the remaining 16 players was anything but pleasant thanks to yet another off-the-wall situation at the table, this time between Scotty Nguyen and Chad Batista.
The day began innocently enough with short stacked Joe Elpayaa losing a race to John Juanda. The online pro with the name “Big Egypt” received $38,092 for his 16th place finish. He was quickly followed out the door by Matt Waxman, who was unfortunate enough to run his big slick into Joe Cassidy’s pocket kings. The pro from South Florida picked up $47,615 for his 15th-place finish.
The next two players went out on coin flips, as Carter King and Mike Sowers both failed to outrun their opponents in crucial race situations. Both players banked a nice score of $47,615 for their efforts.
Longtime grinder Lee Salem hung around on the short stack for over a day before busting in 12th place and earning $57,137. At that point, play slowed down considerably as the tournament was dealt hand-for-hand.
At the time, it took a bizarre turn of events for the final table of ten to be determined. John Juanda moved all in from the button, but failed to move any chips forward, opting instead to verbalize his action. The dealer then repeated the all-in bet and awaited Chad Batista’s decision. Batista, wearing headphones and a hoodie, and seeing eyes on him, asked the dealer if the action was on him. The dealer confirmed that it was and the young online pro announced that he was all-in, seemingly putting the pressure on the shorter stacked Scotty Nguyen in the big blind.
At this point, Nguyen, recognizing Batista’s mistake, began laughing at him. Batista became visibly upset after realizing his error and he and Nguyen traded words as the floor was called over. Nguyen continued to laugh as the tournament director ruled that verbal declarations are binding and then moved all in himself, quickly turning over pocket aces.
A devastated Batista showed pocket deuces and Juanda revealed pocket A
6
. The board ran cleanly with K
43105 and Nguyen tripled up to 2.9 million. Since he had Nguyen covered before the hand started, Batista took the side pot of just 405,000 and Juanda was eliminated in 11th place.
After the table consolidated to the final 10, Batista wasted no time getting his short stack all in with pocket fives. Nguyen looked him up with KJ and knocked him out when the board came king high. Batista, who may have been madder at himself than anything, was not consoled by his $57,137 payday.
Nguyen continued his tear, making a straight against Curt Kohlberg to send him to the rail in ninth place. Kohlberg, who had spent most of the day among the chip leaders, had to settle for $76,183.
Short stacked Eric Hershler was the next to go in eighth place, when his A10
fell to Josh Arieh’s KJ. The former WPT champion was awarded $107,133.
Some more controversy surrounded the final elimination of the night. Joe Cassidy moved all in from under the gun, Arieh isolated all in himself and the action moved to Nguyen in the small blind. Despite Shawn Buchanan still behind him, Nguyen picked up his cards and flashed them to the table as he folded, showing A-Q, which more than upset Steve O’Dwyer.
Buchanan then called all in behind him with pocket queens, which were ahead of Arieh’s tens and Cassidy’s KJ. The board ran out J5475 and Cassidy was eliminated, nearly tripling up Buchanan in the process.
The final table will begin Saturday at 4 p.m. PST. Here’s a look at the seating assignments and chip counts.
Seat 1 — Daniel Alaei — 3,925,000
Seat 2 — Faraz Jaka — 5,385,000
Seat 3 — Josh Arieh — 1,710,000
Seat 4 — Steve O’Dwyer — 1,050,000
Seat 5 — Scotty Nguyen — 4,900,000
Seat 6 — Shawn Buchanan — 2,800,000
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