WPT -- Andras Koroknai Wins the L.A. Poker Classic Main EventKoroknai Takes Home a Huge First-Place Prize Worth $1,788,001 |
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The final table of the World Poker Tour L.A. Poker Classic $10,000 no-limit hold’em championship event took place today at Commerce Casino. The final six players emerged from a large field of 745 but only one of them would walk away with $1,788,001 and the title of WPT L.A. Poker Classic champion. Here is what the table looked like when cards got into the air this evening:
Seat 1: Jean-Claude Moussa — 1,360,000
Seat 2: Gevork Kasabyan — 2,000,000
Seat 3: Tri Huynh — 2,565,000
Seat 4: Raymond Dolan — 3,300,000
Seat 5: Michael Kamran — 680,000
Seat 6: Andras Koroknai — 4,995,000 (pictured right with friends)
The play down stretch to this final table was a long affair. It took the final 22 players 14 hours to reach the final six on Tuesday, Mar. 2, so the pace of play at the beginning of this final table came as a bit of a surprise. Michael Kamran was eliminated in sixth place ($246,744) and J.C. Moussa fell in fifth place ($321,840) during the first 35 minutes of play.
After that things returned to normal and the final four players settled into their seats for a long ride. The energy of fans and supporters in the crowd kept things interesting throughout the night and no big move went down without a loud reaction from the attendees in the room. During the course of three hours at the final table three players managed to double up but not one player hit the rail. The crowds spirits were never diminished as they cheered on each double up as if the person who had survived had just won the tournament.
The cheers were dampened a little bit when Gevork Kasabyan hit the rail in fourth place and he took home $450,580 in prize money. He also took home his section of the crowd but the final three competitors pressed forward. Andras Koroknai doubled up through Raymond Dolan soon after Kasabyan’s departure and then he busted Tri Huynh in third place ($665,136).
The two hands all but won him the tournament. He took a massive chip stack worth 13,450,000 into the final heads-up battle against Dolan, who held only 1,450,000. Dolan moved all of his chips into the middle on the first hand of heads-up play with Q-4 in the hole against the Q
8 of Koroknai. The final board ran out 10 9 4
7
K
to give Dolan a slight lead on the flop, but the river gave Koroknai a flush for the tournament win.
Dolan was eliminated in second place and he took home $1,002,710. Koroknai was mobbed by the group of supporters that had cheered him on so enthusiastically after the win and they finished off their exuberance by tossing him into the air in celebration of the victory. Along with the approval of his comrades, Koroknai was awarded $1,788,001 in prize money along with a WPT bracelet, a watch, and a Commerce trophy.
Final-Table Results:
1: Andras Korovakai — $1,788,001
2: Raymond Dolan — $1,002,710
3: Tri Huynh — $665,136
4: Gevork Kasabyan — $450,576
5: J.C. Moussa — $321,840
6: Michael Kamran — $246,744
Here is a look at all of the big hands from the final table as featured in CardPlayer.com’s live updates:
Michael Kamran Eliminated in Sixth Place ($246,744)
Michael Kamran moved all in under the gun preflop for 490,000 and Gevork Kasabyan made the call after going into the tank briefly. Everyone else mucked and they flipped over their cards:
Kamran: 10 7
Gevork A
J
Board: 9 8 5 7 A
Kamran made a pair of sevens on the turn but they were defeated when Kasabyan hit an ace on the river to win the hand. Kamran was eliminated in sixth place and he will take home $246,744 in prize money.
J.C. Moussa Eliminated in Fifth Place ($321,840)
J.C. Moussa raised to 135,000 from the button and Tri Huynh reraised to 375,000 from the big blind. Moussa then reraised all in for 935,000 and Huynh made the call. Their cards:
Moussa: A 9
Huynh: A Q
Board: 10 6 2 K 5
Huynh won the hand with the queen-kicker and he eliminated Moussa on the hand. Moussa exits in fifth place and he will take home $321,840 in prize money.
Gevork Kasabyan Eliminated in Fourth Place ($450,580)
Tri Huynh raised to 250,000 under the gun and Gevork Kasabyan made the call from the big blind. The flop was dealt A 9 8 and Kasabyan checked. Huynh bet 300,000 and Kasabyan check-raised to 700,000. Huynh reraised all in and Kasabyan made the call after spending three minutes in the tank. Their cards:
Kasabyan: A 7
Huynh: A 9
Turn and River: 7 and 9
Kasabyan was eliminated in fourth place on the hand and he will take home $450,580 in prize money.
Andras Koroknai Doubles Up and Snags the Chip Lead
Raymond Dolan raised to 300,000 from the button preflop and Andras Koroknai reraised to 775,000. Dolan made the call and the flop was dealt A Q 2. Koroknai bet 875,000 and Dolan raised to 2 million. Koroknai went into the tank for two minutes and then reraised all in for 3.73 million. Dolan made the call and they flipped over their cards:
Koroknai: A J
Dolan: A 6
Turn and River: A and 10
Koroknai doubles up to 9,190,000 after the hand and Dolan dropped down to 1,660,000.
Tri Huynh Eliminated in Third Place ($665,136)
Tri Huynh raised to 400,000 from the button preflop and Andras Koroknai moved all in. Huynh quickly made the call and the players flipped over their cards:
Koroknai: A K
Huynh: J J
Board: K 7 2 9 10
Huynh was eliminated on the hand in third place and he will take home $665,136 in prize money. Koroknai now holds a dominant chip lead with 13,450,000.
Andras Koroknai Wins the L.A. Poker Classic ($1,788,001) — Raymond Dolan Eliminated in Second Place ($1,002,710)
On the first hand of heads-up play Andras Koroknai moved all in preflop from the button and Raymond Dolan made the all-in call. Their cards:
Dolan: Q 4
Koroknai: Q 8
Board: 10 9 4 7 K
Koroknai won the hand and the tournament with a rivered flush! He is awarded $1,788,001 in prize money along with a WPT bracelet, a watch, and a Commerce trophy. Dolan was eliminated in second place and he took home $1,002,710.
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