The $5,000 buy-in World Poker Tour (WPT) bestbet Scramble Championship concluded with Chilean poker pro Nick Yunis capturing the title and a $310,079 first-place prize. Yunis defeated Yunkyu Song in a heads-up battle after a thrilling final table that saw plenty of dramatic swings.
Eric Afriat’s Collapse
Canadian pro Eric Afriat, a three-time WPT champion, entered the final table as the chip leader with hopes of tying Darren Elias’ record of four WPT titles. However, his lead crumbled within hours of play. Afriat eventually finished in third place, earning $165,000.
A key turning point came during three-handed play when Yunis pulled off a bold bluff with queen-high and a missed straight draw. Afriat folded top pair and a flush draw, allowing Yunis to scoop the largest pot of the tournament, which helped secure his eventual victory.
Final Table Results
1. Nick Yunis - $310,079
2. Yunkyu Song - $252,059
3. Eric Afriat - $165,000
4. Joe Jordan - $123,000
5. Nick Funaro - $93,000
6. Dion Jagroo - $71,000
Eliminations and Highlights
• Dion Jagroo was the first player eliminated after two hours of play, losing a gutshot straight draw to Afriat’s pocket jacks.
• Nick Funaro, who started second in chips, miscalculated his aggression and bluffed off his stack against Yunis, finishing in fifth place.
• Joe Jordan exited in fourth place, losing a key 60/40 hand to Yunis, who solidified his position as the chip leader.
Three-Handed and Heads-Up Action
Three-handed play began with Afriat holding a commanding lead, but Yunis quickly turned the tide. Song, who recently won the WPT Prime Playground event in Montreal, briefly regained momentum during heads-up play after doubling his stack. However, Yunis ultimately sealed the victory. On the final hand, Song, down to 11 big blinds, moved all-in with Q-5 but was bested by Yunis’ Q-3 after a 3 hit the river.
Champion’s Legacy
The win marks the biggest cash of Nick Yunis’ career, bringing his total live tournament earnings to over $2.7 million. Along with the prize money, Yunis secured entries into the upcoming WPT World Championship and the ClubWPT Gold $5 Million Invitational Freeroll at Wynn Las Vegas next month.
What’s Next on the WPT?
The WPT has two Main Tour stops remaining this year:
• $3,500 WPT Seminole Rock ‘N’ Roll Poker Open Championship in Hollywood, Florida, starting November 29.
• $10,400 WPT World Championship in Las Vegas, kicking off December 14.
These events promise even more high-stakes action as the poker world gears up for the year-end finale.
Source: https://www.pokernews.com/news/2024/11/wpt-bestbet-scramble-final-table-recap-47389.htm
Eric Afriat’s Collapse
Canadian pro Eric Afriat, a three-time WPT champion, entered the final table as the chip leader with hopes of tying Darren Elias’ record of four WPT titles. However, his lead crumbled within hours of play. Afriat eventually finished in third place, earning $165,000.
A key turning point came during three-handed play when Yunis pulled off a bold bluff with queen-high and a missed straight draw. Afriat folded top pair and a flush draw, allowing Yunis to scoop the largest pot of the tournament, which helped secure his eventual victory.
Final Table Results
1. Nick Yunis - $310,079
2. Yunkyu Song - $252,059
3. Eric Afriat - $165,000
4. Joe Jordan - $123,000
5. Nick Funaro - $93,000
6. Dion Jagroo - $71,000
Eliminations and Highlights
• Dion Jagroo was the first player eliminated after two hours of play, losing a gutshot straight draw to Afriat’s pocket jacks.
• Nick Funaro, who started second in chips, miscalculated his aggression and bluffed off his stack against Yunis, finishing in fifth place.
• Joe Jordan exited in fourth place, losing a key 60/40 hand to Yunis, who solidified his position as the chip leader.
Three-Handed and Heads-Up Action
Three-handed play began with Afriat holding a commanding lead, but Yunis quickly turned the tide. Song, who recently won the WPT Prime Playground event in Montreal, briefly regained momentum during heads-up play after doubling his stack. However, Yunis ultimately sealed the victory. On the final hand, Song, down to 11 big blinds, moved all-in with Q-5 but was bested by Yunis’ Q-3 after a 3 hit the river.
Champion’s Legacy
The win marks the biggest cash of Nick Yunis’ career, bringing his total live tournament earnings to over $2.7 million. Along with the prize money, Yunis secured entries into the upcoming WPT World Championship and the ClubWPT Gold $5 Million Invitational Freeroll at Wynn Las Vegas next month.
What’s Next on the WPT?
The WPT has two Main Tour stops remaining this year:
• $3,500 WPT Seminole Rock ‘N’ Roll Poker Open Championship in Hollywood, Florida, starting November 29.
• $10,400 WPT World Championship in Las Vegas, kicking off December 14.
These events promise even more high-stakes action as the poker world gears up for the year-end finale.
Source: https://www.pokernews.com/news/2024/11/wpt-bestbet-scramble-final-table-recap-47389.htm
