Shawn Cunix Proves Good Deeds Don't Go Unrewarded

Level 30: 50,000-100,000, 10,000 ante

Photo: Will Failla (center left, in black) retook the WPT Player of the Year lead tonight, and joins in the celebration for WPT Jacksonville bestbet Open champion Shawn Cunix (center, in blue).

If you don’t think poker has a physical element to it, you probably didn’t see Shawn Cunix at the final table of the Jacksonville bestbet Open Main Event. The longtime recreational player had to play his second career final table with a broken collarbone, fighting the pain all afternoon.

Battling with some pain and discomfort was well worth it for Cunix though. The reason he sported a sling throughout the tournament was because he broke his collar bone saving his son from an oncoming four wheeler. Cunix isn’t exaggerating when he says he saved his son’s life.

If Cunix is any indication, good deeds do get rewarded. Cunix has always taught his children to be passionate about what they do and he was able to show his son and his other children that theory in practice as he played his way to his first WPT title and a more than $400,000 payday.

When the final table began, Cunix was chip leader and he spent the early goings of the final table building his stack even bigger while the rest of his opponents struggled. As he chipped up to more than 4 million, everyone else save for James Calderaro dropped below a million chips.

These short stacks meant most players at the table were getting pretty desperate for a double up. Daniel Buzgon and Tony Dunst managed to find doubles early, but Will Failla was not so fortunate. He took a stand against Shawn Cunix on a 1097 flop holding QJ for an open-ended straight draw and a flush draw against Cunix’s J10 for top pair. Failla failed to catch and he was out in sixth, but did get a nice consolation prize as he regained the lead in the Season X WPT Player of the Year race with his second final table appearance of the season.

Tony Dunst got a bit of a consolation prize as well as the Raw Deal correspondent and WPT Live Strea Host managed to log the best finish of a WPT personality in a WPT Main Event. He amanged to get one spot higher than Mike Sexton did at Bay 101 back in Season IX, but exited in fifth place when he shoved the button with K3 only to run into Darren Elias A9.

Buzgon failed to improve upon his third place showing at the Borgata Poker Open earlier this season, but he did manage to improve his standing in the WPT POY race with his fourth place finish. Buzgon’s pair of final table appearance pushed him to third in the ranks with 1,750 point.

Once play got three-handed, Cunix started to lose momentum and it looked as though his shot at the title might be in jeopardy. He went from top of the counts to short stack after he made two pair and paid off Elias’ flush in a big pot early in three-handed play. Then it looked like Cunix might end up the third place finisher when he got in a preflop raising ware against Elias that resulted in them getting it all-in preflop with Elias holding AQ to Cunix’s J9. Cunix managed to river a flush to double up and then it was Elias who was the low man on the toem pole.

Things only got worse for Elias from there as a series of cold decks and frustrating beats whittled his stack down. The bad luck culminated in being on the wrong end of a coin flip against Calderaro and exiting in third place.

That left Cunix and Calderaro heads-up for the title—a spot both players were ecstatic to be in. The two celebrated their good fortune with a shot before play began and the tone of heads-up action was jovial and fast paced. The two battled back and forth with Cunix erasing Calderaro’s chip lead after just six hands of play. Eventually, Cunix began to pull and away and, after a while, Calderaro was in all-in or fold mode.

On the final hand of play, Cunix shoved with pocket threes and Calderaro called with J10. Cunix flopped a set and had to sweat a couple of backdoor draws for his opponent, but that was more than enough to give him the hand, the match, and his first WPT title.
As he was presented with his trophy and snapped photos with friends, fans, and the WPT crew, Cunix could not hide his emotion.

A few weeks ago, Cunix’s life could’ve taken a disastrous turn Instead, he is one of the happiest men in Jacksonville tonight with great friends, an amazing family, and a WPT title that validates his passion for the game.

Here are the final table results for the Jacksonville bestbet Open:

1st: Shawn Cunix - $400,600 (includes $25,500 WPT World Championship seat)
2nd: James Calderaro - $236,560
3rd: Darren Elias - $147,850
4th: Daniel Buzgon - $94,624
5th: Tony Dunst - $66,532
6th: Will Failla - $54,704

Hand #48: Tony Dunst Eliminated in 5th Place ($66,532)

Level 26: 20,000-40,000, 5,000 ante

Tony Dunst moves all in from the button for 515,000, and Darren Elias Elias calls from the big blind with A9. Dunst turns over K3, and he'll need to improve to stay alive.

The board comes 1065Q2, and Elias wins the pot with ace high to eliminate Tony Dunst in fifth place.

Seat 1.  James Calderaro  -  2,020,000  (50 BBs)
Seat 2.  Daniel Buzgon  -  835,000  (20 BBs)
Seat 4.  Tony Dunst  -  Out in 5th Place ($66,532)
Seat 5.  Shawn Cunix  -  5,195,000  (129 BBs)
Seat 6.  Darren Elias  -  1,530,000  (38 BBs)

Hand #24: Daniel Buzgon Doubles Thru Tony Dunst

Level 25: 15,000-30,000, 5,000 ante

Daniel Buzgon moves all in from middle position for 285,000, and Tony Dunst moves all in over the top from the button for 1,100,000. The blinds fold.

Buzgon shows AQ, and he'll need it to hold to stay alive against Dunst's KJ.

The board comes 109343, and Daniel Buzgon wins the pot with ace high to double up in chips.

Seat 1.  James Calderaro  -  2,780,000
Seat 2.  Daniel Buzgon  -  645,000
Seat 3.  Will Failla  -  540,000
Seat 4.  Tony Dunst  -  815,000
Seat 5.  Shawn Cunix  -  3,910,000
Seat 6.  Darren Elias  -  890,000

WPT Jacksonville bestbet Open, Day 4 Recap

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 93359. 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 109 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.

ClubWPT Player of the Day - James Dempsey

Level 25: 15,000-30,000, 5,000 ante

WPT Final Table: Official Seating & Chip Counts

Level 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.

Hand #81: Will Failla Doubles Thru Tony Dunst

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)

 

Hand #3: Tony Dunst Doubles Thru Darren Elias

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)

Hand #1: Let's Start With a Bang

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) 

What Happens on the Felt, Stays on the Felt

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.