A couple of days ago, two records were set at the Bellagio Casino as players battled it out for the latest WPT title: the quickest final in WPT history and the brand’s largest first prize outside the Championship Finals. Whilst the final being completed in just 53 hands is of intrigue, it is the latter of the two records that grabbed my attention, as it proved that however poor the blind and clock structure is on these WPT finals, the players are still attracted in their masses like metal at a magnet convention.
Yes, with 664 players taking their seats at the 2007 Doyle Brunson Classic it was clear that even though the series was in its umpteenth series, interest in the game and the WPT had far from waned.
It always helps when the televised final is brimming with familiar faces, and although the line-up was a relatively unfamiliar one, producers were saved by the one and only (no, not Chesney Hawkes), David ‘Devilfish’ Ulliott, looking as cool as ever and eagerly vying for that second WPT title.
Lying in third place with 1.9 million in chips, Devilfish and his fellow short-stackers were a country mile behind the two leaders, Jordan Rich and Eugene Katchalov who held a massive 6.6 and 8.4 million respectively.
However, as we all know, poker is an unpredictable game, and after Ryan Daut departed in 6th, Jordan Rich became a surprise exit in 5th when he ran into Katchalov’s Pocket Rockets for a massive pot.Meanwhile, our plucky hero, Mr Devilfish, was hanging in there comfortably, surviving Ken Rosen’s loss in 4th to swim into the final three and a guaranteed payday of $674,500. However, that was exactly the figure he’d receive, as the Hullian became the next victim of Kathcalov when he ran A-T into the latter’s A-J. No help, and the Fish was a gonna.
Heads up, and Kathcalov held a ginormous 16.8 to 3.2 million chip advantage and with the wind in his sails, soon finished off his struggling opponent when all the chips moved in on a T-6-3 Flop, Kathcalov dominating his opponent with J-T vs. K-J. A Jack on the Turn and Kingless River meant we had our latest WPT Champion.
Congratulations to Eugene Kathcalov who not only wins $2,482,605 for his troubles, but also a $25,000 seat in the Grand Final.
1st Eugene Katchalov —- $2,482,605
2nd Ted Kearly —- $1,252,640
3rd David 'Devilfish' Ulliott -— $674,500
4th Ken Rosen —- $433,675
5th Jordan Rich -— $289,070
6th Ryan Daut —- $192,715
2nd Ted Kearly —- $1,252,640
3rd David 'Devilfish' Ulliott -— $674,500
4th Ken Rosen —- $433,675
5th Jordan Rich -— $289,070
6th Ryan Daut —- $192,715