| Buy-In: | $2,350 + $150 |
|---|---|
| Prize Pool: | $2,218,125 |
| Entrants: | 975 |
After a dominating final-table performance that saw him eliminate five of his opponents, Ezequiel ‘EZ’ Waigel is the 2021 Card Player Poker Tour Venetian main event champion.
The 29-year-old poker pro from Argentina banked $417,004 for the win, the largest score of his career. It also bests the $263,627 he pocketed last month after finishing second in the Wynn Classic mystery bounty event.
Waigel has been coming to Las Vegas for years but said this trip was particularly great, not just because of his results, but also because he got to experience Las Vegas in the fall instead of the summer.
“This is a great time of the year to be here, and I’m having a lot of fun,” said Waigel.
Waigel said he felt like he was destined to win the tournament, especially after a hot start on day 1 that included several knockouts.
“It’s pretty funny. You never know your destiny,” he explained. “I was supposed to get seat 3 yesterday during the redraw, but they gave me seat 6 instead. That ended up being a good seat.”
Kevin O’Donnell limped in on the button and Ezeqiel Waigel raised to 1,400,000.
O’Donnell then moved all in for about 6,000,000, and Waigel made the call, turning over A
J
.
O’Donnell knew he was in trouble and started calling for a four, showing A4
. Unfortunately for the Scottsdale, Arizona bar owner, the board of J
7575 wasn’t any help, sending him to the rail.
O’Donnell earned $287,247 for his runner-up showing, the second largest score of his career behind the $494,797 he earned for his deep run in the 2006 WSOP main event.
Play continues as the blinds increase to 200,000-400,000 with a 400,000 big blind ante.
O’Donnell — 6,950,000
Waigel — 32,050,000
O’Donnell just picked off a river bluff from Waigel with bottom pair of fives. When he saw that he was right, he stood up and gave a fist pump to his rail. He’s now back up to 9 million in chips.
On a board reading K425J, O’Donnell bet 525,000.
Waigel then raised to 1,825,000, prompting O’Donnell to get out of his seat.
After a few moments, he stuck in the chips, and Waigel showed him J5 for two pair. O’Donnell is now back down to 6 million in chips, while Waigel has 33 million.
Play continues as the blinds raise to 150,000-300,000 with a 300,000 big blind ante.
O’Donnell has been able to mount a small comeback, and now has 10 million in chips to Waigel’s 29 million.
The two players have played a few pots to showdown, but remain exactly where they started heads-up play. O’Donnell still has 5 million, while Waigel holds 34 million.
Here are the chip counts as heads-up play begins.
Ezequiel Waigel — 34,000,000
Kevin O’Donnell — 5,000,000
Waigel moved in from the small blind and Gumz called off from the big blind for his last 2,550,000.
Waigel held AQ and it held against K6 as the board fell 97783.
Gumz picks up $210,722 for third place.
Waigel raised all in from the button and Nagygyoergy called off for his last four big blinds with Q10.
Waigel held K2 and he made two pair on a board of AK29Q to bust Nagygyoergy in fourth place.
Nagygyoergy earns $117,561, and Waigel closes in on the win with almost 30 million in chips.
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