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Live: $25,000 WPT World Championship
Upcoming: $100,000 WPT Super High Roller
| Earnings | $138,853 |
| Cashes | 4 |
| Final Tables | 1 |
| Titles | 0 |
| Tournaments Played | 33 |
Ranking
5th
Payout
$66,532
Points
500
Day 1-A
68,200
Day 2
168,500
Day 3
459,000
Day 4
1,315,000
Day 5
5th
Level 25: 15,000-30,000, 5,000 ante
By BJ Nemeth
During the dinner break, Tony Dunst (standing) and Daniel Buzton (seated) spent some time out in the parking lot enjoying the nice weather. This is a nice photo to begin the recap, though we'll revisit it later to see it in the context of the Day 4 action.
Will Failla (right) started Day 4 as the chipleader with 1.36 million, and in the first level increased it to 1.7 million. And he wasn't afraid to use his chips, as seen in this pic where he four-bet Matt Marafioti (left) before the flop.
Marafioti would eventually fold, and Failla had such a large lead at this point that he could've doubled up the fourth-biggest stack in the field and still had the chip lead.
David Tuthill (right) reraised preflop against Darren Elias (foreground, left), and then bet the flop and the turn on a board of 9
3
3
59. Elias check-called the flop and turn, and then moved all in on the river, covering Tuthill.
Tuthill tanked for more than five minutes before he called, and Elias showed 10
9 to win the pot with the top full house, nines full of threes. Tuthill mucked his cards as he was eliminated in 14th place, and Elias moved into a tie for the chip lead with Will Failla.
With the board showing A432 on the turn, Robert LeBeau had check-raised the flop against James Calderaro (pictured), and then moved all in on the turn. Calderaro insta-called with 55 for a five-high straight, and LeBeau was drawing dead to a straight on the board with AQ (pair of aces). The river card was the 4, and Calderaro won the pot to eliminate LeBeau in 12th place.
Shawn Cunix (left) check-raised all in after a flop of 1066 against Daniel Buzgon (right). Buzgon tanked for several minutes before he folded, giving Cunix the pot.
This is a different perspective on the same hand between Daniel Buzgon (foreground, left) and Shawn Cunix (foreground, right). There were three WPT cameras recording the action as Cunix put his tournament life at risk.
Will Failla (left) says, "I gotta show one bluff every tournament." This is that bluff.
Byron Kaverman min-raised to 32,000, Failla reraised from the button to 70,000, and Tony Dunst (right) cold four-bet from the small blind to 155,000. Kaverman folded, and Failla called. The flop came K44, Dunst bet 130,000, Failla raised to 270,000, and Dunst folded, asking if Failla was bluffing in that spot..
As Failla took the pot, he turned over 109 to show his ten-high bluff.
Shortly after Tony Dunst (left) was bluffed by Will Failla, Dunst check-raised all in after a flop of 1098 against Shawn Cunix (standing, far right). Cunix insta-called with J10 for top pair with an open-ended straight draw, while Dunst turned over K7 for the lower open-ended straight draw.
The turn was great for Dunst -- the 6 gave him a ten-high straight with a club flush draw. But the Q on the river gave Cunix a higher queen-high straight -- and the pot.
This double-up propelled Cunix above average in chips, and his momentum didn't stop. Cunix kept accumulating chips after the dinner break to eventually take the lead.
WPT Anchor Marianela Pereyra (left) -- filling in for Kimberly Lansing who is on maternity leave -- stops by the tournament area and tells Will Failla (right) that if he makes the WPT Final Table, he should wear a nice button-down shirt. (Failla is not known as the sharpest dresser on the World Poker Tour.)
Marianela offers to go shopping and select a nice shirt for him to wear, and James Calderaro tells her that if she picks the shirt, he'll pay for it. (Marianela insta-called that offer.)
Failla had one demand -- he refused to wear long pants and would only wear shorts. Marianela agreed, saying that while he was sitting at the poker table, nobody would see his legs anyway.
A few minutes before the dinner break, Tony Dunst (standing, left) moved all in preflop with 22, and Daniel Buzgon (right, in black) moved all in over the top with 1010. Dunst figured his tournament was over, but the board came 7543A, giving Dunst a runner-runner five-high straight to win the pot and double up -- crippling Buzgon down to 12 big blinds in the process.
Remember this photo from earlier? Well, it takes on additional meaning now that you know Tony Dunst (center) levied a bad beat against Daniel Buzgon (left) leading into the dinner break.
But bad beats are part of poker, and there were no hard feelings between these two as they discussed the tournament and enjoyed the nice weather outside. (That's Tony's suit jacket hanging from the nearby tree.)
Peter Campo was eliminated in 11th place about 45 minutes after the dinner break, and the final 10 players combined to a single table. In seat order, clockwise from the dealer: (1) Matt Marafioti, (2) Amelio Amato, (3) James Calderaro, (4) Daniel Buzgon, (5) Will Failla, (6) Tony Dunst, (7) Shawn Cunix, (8) Blake Purvis, (9) Darren Elias, and (10) Byron Kaverman.
Blake Purvis (left) lost a big pot in the 16th hand at the final table -- his two pair was lower than James Calderaro's two pair. That hand left Purvis crippled down to less than two big blinds, and he got it all in with 65 in Hand #17 against the AA of Darren Elias (right). The best hand held up, and Purvis was eliminated in 10th place.
With nine players remaining, Matt Marafioti (pictured) moved all in after Shawn Cunix checked on a flop of A92. But Cunix insta-called with 22 for a set of deuces, and Marafioti was drawing thin with AQ (pair of aces). The turn was the 9, the river was the 7, and Marafioti was eliminated in ninth place.
Marafioti was not pleased with the way he busted, and he quietly put his head down while waiting for paperwork at the payout table.
In Hand #46, with eight players left, Will Failla moved all in with A9, and Byron Kaverman called from the big blind with KJ. The flop belonged to Kaverman as it came K107, though the 8 on the turn gave Failla an open-ended straight draw to go with his ace.
The river card was the A, and Failla was stunned by his good fortune to double up, softly saying, "How did I hit that f---ing card?"
Once he clinched an eighth-place or higher finish, Will Failla (right) officially passed Joe Serock (left) in the WPT Player of the Year standings. Serock stopped by during one of the breaks to check out the tournament and chat with Failla.
But Failla hasn't locked up anything yet. He isn't even guaranteed the lead after this tournament -- if Failla fails to reach the top four here, Daniel Buzgon could take the POY points lead with a victory.
In Hand #81, Will Failla (seated, center) four-bet all in preflop with AQ against the 99 of Tony Dunst (standing, right). The dealer quickly put out a flop of K43, and was about to put out the turn when Failla stopped him and asked him to slow down. Failla said, "I'm feeling a queen."
You can probably sense where this is going ...
The turn card was -- the Q.
Will Failla (seated, center) paired his queen and pumped his fist as he took the lead over the pocket nines of Tony Dunst (standing, right). The A on the river gave Failla the pot with two pair to double up in chips.
In Hand #88, Byron Kaverman (pictured) moved all in under the gun with AK, and he was racing against the JJ of James Calderaro. The board came Q10644, and Calderaro won the pot with his pocket jacks. Kaverman was the unfortunate TV Bubble Boy, finishing seventh. Kaverman gave an exit interview to the WPT cameras while the six WPT Final Tablists received their instructions in the background.
The six final tablists -- James Calderaro, Daniel Buzgon, Will Failla, Tony Dunst, Shawn Cunix, and Darren Elias -- fill out their WPT bio sheets, which are used by Mike Sexton and Vince Van Patten to provide additional color commentary.
It's already a big story that Will Failla (left) has retaken the lead in the WPT Player of the Year race, but he is also trying to become the first player since Season III to win two WPT titles in the same season. (Failla won the WPT Legends of Poker back at the beginning of the season in August.)
Tony Dunst (right) will be appearing at his first WPT Final Table -- as a player. Dunst is normally the lead commentator for the WPT Live Stream, but he obviously can't be in the booth if he's at the table. This time, the WPT's Raw Deal Analyst will be analyzed by others that can see his hole cards -- Darryll Fish and James Dempsey will be filling in for Dunst in the live commentator's booth.
Here are the official chip counts and seating positions for the WPT Final Table:
Seat 1. James Calderaro - 2,110,000 (70 BBs)
Seat 2. Daniel Buzgon - 570,000 (19 BBs)
Seat 3. Will Failla - 1,535,000 (51 BBs)
Seat 4. Tony Dunst - 1,315,000 (43 BBs)
Seat 5. Shawn Cunix - 2,770,000 (92 BBs)
Seat 6. Darren Elias - 1,280,000 (42 BBs)
The WPT Final Table begins tomorrow (Wednesday) at 4:00 pm ET, and the WPT Live Stream will be broadcast on a 30-minute delay with hole cards and commentary by Darryll Fish and James Dempsey.
As always, we will also be providing full hand-for-hand updates here in the WPT Live Updates, with every check, bet, call, raise, and fold, along with chip counts updated after every hand.
Level 25: 15,000-30,000, 5,000 ante
Sorted In: Featured Blog, ClubWPT Player of the Day, Jessica Welman, James Dempsey, Tony Dunst, Season X, bestbet JacksonvilleLevel 25: 15,000-30,000, 5,000 ante
The WPT Final Table is set, and action will resume tomorrow (Wednesday) at 4:00 pm ET. Don't forget to check out the WPT Live Stream -- with hole cards and commentary by Darryll Fish and James Dempsey. (The WPT Live Stream shows the action on a 30-minute delay.)
Here are the official seating assignments and chip counts:
Seat 1. James Calderaro - 2,110,000 (70 BBs)
Seat 2. Daniel Buzgon - 570,000 (19 BBs)
Seat 3. Will Failla - 1,535,000 (51 BBs)
Seat 4. Tony Dunst - 1,315,000 (43 BBs)
Seat 5. Shawn Cunix - 2,770,000 (92 BBs)
Seat 6. Darren Elias - 1,280,000 (42 BBs)
Stay tuned for a photo recap of the Day 4 action to be posted later tonight, and a Final Table Preview episode of the Jess & BJ Show to be posted tomorrow.
Level 24: 12,000-24,000, 4,000 ante
Hand #81 - Will Failla raises to 50,000 from the cutoff and Tony Dunst reraises to 110,000 on the button. Failla announces he is all-in for an additional 620,000 and Dunst calls.
Failla holds AQ and he is racing with Dunst's 99. The K43 flop is no help to Failla and he stops the dealer before he can peel off the turn.
"Slow down," Failla says, stretching out his hand to stop the dealer's action. He then adds, "I'm feeling a queen."
The dealer does in fact bring a queen, as the turn comes Q to give Failla the advantage in the hand. The river A improves Failla to two pair and he takes the pot to double up.
Will Failla -1,510,000 (63 BBs)
Tony Dunst - 1,310,000 (55 BBs)
Level 23: 10,000-20,000, 3,000 ante
Hand #3 - Will Failla (center, in green) raises to 45,000 from middle position and Tony Dunst (standing) moves all-in for 500,000. Darren Elias (foreground, right) is on the button and calls. Failla folds.
Elias turns over AK and he is racing with Dunst's 77. Dunst's sevens hold as the board runs out Q84J2 and he takes the pot to double up.
Tony Dunst - 1,050,000 (53 BBs)
Darren Elias - 1,560,000 (78 BBs)
Level 23: 10,000-20,000, 3,000 ante
Hand #1 - Tony Dunst raises to 40,000 from the cutoff and Shawn Cunix calls on the button. The flop comes Q43 and Dunst bets 60,000. Cunix calls.
The turn brings the Q and Dunst bets 100,000. Again, Cunix calls. The river 10 puts four clubs on board and both players check.
Dunst turns over KK, but Cunix got him on the river as his 88 rivers a flush to take the pot.
Shawn Cunix - 1,080,000 (52 BBs)
Tony Dunst - 505,000 (25 BBs)
Level 23: 10,000-20,000, 3,000 ante
In one of the last hands before the dinner break, Tony Dunst (center) was all in preflop with pocket deuces against the pocket tens of Daniel Buzgon (left). Dunst caught a five-high straight to double up and knock Buzgon down to just 12 big blinds.
During the dinner break, Dunst and Buzgon were relaxing out in the parking lot -- with Dunst's jacket hanging on a nearby tree -- enjoying the nice weather as they discussed the tournament. No hard feelings on the bad beat here.
Level 22: 8,000-16,000, 2,000 ante
Photo: Tony Dunst (left) thought his tournament was over -- until the river card levied a bad beat against Daniel Buzgon (right, in black).
Will Failla raises from middle position to 35,000, Tony Dunst moves all in from the cutoff for 324,000, and Daniel Buzgon moves all in over the top from the small blind for 528,000. Failla folds.
Dunst shows 22, but he'll need to improve to survive against Buzgon's 1010.
The board comes 7543A, and Dunst catches a runner-runner five-high straight to win the pot and double up in chips.
Tony Dunst - 711,000 (44 BBs)
Daniel Buzgon - 204,000 (12 BBs)
Level 22: 8,000-16,000, 2,000 ante
Action folds to Tony Dunst in the small blind and he raises to 36,000. Shawn Cunix is in the big blind and calls. The flop comes 1098 and Dunst checks. Cunix bets 90,000 and Dunst takes about ten seconds before announcing he is all-in, having Cunix's 358,000-chip stack covered.
Cunix calls immediately with J10 for top pair with an open-ended straight draw. Dunst shows K7 for an inferior straight draw.
The turn brings the 6, giving Dunst his straight as well as a club flush draw. Cunix catches up with the Q on the river though, making a better straight to double up.
Cunix rises in there and yells out,"Yes!' His celebration might cause him problems as the night goes on though.
Cunix recently separated his sould and is wearing a sling and a brace while at the table. As soon as he let out his yell, he starts rubbing his shoulder and wincing in pain.
"That might've re-separated the shoulder," Cunix tells the table. "I'm not kidding."
Shawn Cunix - 790,000 (49 BBs)
Tony Dunst - 325,000 (20 BBs)
Level 22: 8,000-16,000, 2,000 ante
Photo: Will Failla (left) checks his chip stack after Tony Dunst (right) bet the flop.
Byron Kaverman min-raises from middle position to 32,000, Will Failla reraises from the button to 70,000, and Tony Dunst cold four-bets from the small blind to 155,000. Kaverman folds, and Failla calls.
As the dealer brings in the chips, Dunst asks, "Will, you started the hand with about one-point-three?" (1.3 million) Failla says, "Around there, yeah."
The flop comes K44, Dunst bets 130,000, and Failla thinks for a while before raising to 270,000. Dunst folds, and Failla takes the pot.
Will Failla - 1,650,000 (103 BBs)
Tony Dunst - 775,000 (48 BBs)
Will holds his cards like he's thinking about showing them, and Dunst says, "Were you bluffing there, Will? You gonna show?"
Failla shows 109 for a ten-high bluff, no draws. Dunst says, "I thought that might be the case." Failla says, "I gotta show one bluff every tournament."
