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 #40: Will Failla Eliminated in 6th Place ($54,704)

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

Shawn Cunix raises from middle position to 100,000, and Will Failla thinks for more than a minute before he calls from the big blind.

The flop comes 1097, Failla quickly moves all in for 265,000, and Cunix instacalls with J10 (top pair, jack-high flush draw, gutshot straight draw). Failla turns over QJ for a higher straight draw, a higher flush draw, but no pair.

The turn card is the A, and Failla needs a king, queen, eight, or any club to stay alive.

The river card is the 5, and Shawn Cunix Cunix wins the pot with a pair of tens to eliminate WPT Player of the Year points leader Will Failla in sixth place.

Seat 1.  James Calderaro  -  2,370,000  (59 BBs)
Seat 2.  Daniel Buzgon  -  935,000  (23 BBs)
Seat 3.  Will Failla  -  Out in 6th Place ($54,704)
Seat 4.  Tony Dunst  -  590,000  (14 BBs)
Seat 5.  Shawn Cunix  -  4,710,000  (117 BBs)
Seat 6.  Darren Elias  -  975,000  (24 BBs)

Hand #11: Shawn Cunix Takes a 1.4 Million Pot Against Will Failla

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

Will Failla raises from the button to 65,000, Shawn Cunix reraises from the big blind to 180,000, and Failla thinks for about 30 seconds before he calls.

The flop comes K92, Cunix bets 235,000, Failla thinks for a bit before he raises to 500,000, and chipleader Cunix immediately says, "All in."

Failla tanks for more than three minutes before he folds, and Shawn Cunix takes the biggest pot so far at this final table, worth 1.4 million.

Pot Size:  1,405,000

Seat 1.  James Calderaro  -  2,695,000  (89 BBs)
Seat 2.  Daniel Buzgon  -  365,000  (12 BBs)
Seat 3.  Will Failla  -  1,060,000  (35 BBs)
Seat 4.  Tony Dunst  -  880,000  (29 BBs)
Seat 5.  Shawn Cunix  -  3,755,000  (125 BBs)
Seat 6.  Darren Elias  -  825,000  (27 BBs)

Hand #4: Will Failla

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

Will Failla completes the small blind to 30,000, Tony Dunst raises from the big blind to 90,000, and Failla calls. The flop comes 962, Failla checks, Dunst bets 90,000, and Failla calls. The turn card is the 5, Failla checks, Dunst bets 215,000, and Failla check-raises to 500,000.

Dunst folds, and Will Failla takes the pot.

Pot Size:  810,000

Seat 1.  James Calderaro  -  2,180,000
Seat 2.  Daniel Buzgon  -  505,000
Seat 3.  Will Failla  -  1,910,000
Seat 4.  Tony Dunst  -  900,000
Seat 5.  Shawn Cunix  -  2,900,000
Seat 6.  Darren Elias  -  1,185,000

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.

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 #46: Will Failla Doubles Thru Byron Kaverman

Level 24: 12,000-24,000, 4,000 ante

Hand #46 - Will Failla moves all-in from middle position for his last 337,000 and action folds around to Byron Kaverman in the big blind. Kaverman thinks for quite a while.

Before Failla even sees Kaverman's hand, he flips over his A9 and says, "Please hold one time." Kaverman shows KJ and is behind, but very live.

The K107 flop pairs up Kaverman to put him out front, but Failla does pick up an open-ended straight draw with the 8 on the turn. The river brings the A and Failla makes a bigger pair to take the pot and double up.

Failla is astounded at his luck and stands, looks around, and asks, "How did I hit that f---ing card?"

Will Failla - 680,000 (28 BBs)
Byron Kaverman - 300,000 (13 BBs)

Will Failla Retakes the Lead for WPT Player of the Year

Level 24: 12,000-24,000, 4,000 ante

Will Failla has been leading the points race for WPT Player of the Year most of the season, since his victory last August in the WPT Legends of Poker. But Joe Serock passed him last week with back-to-back third-place finishes in domestic WPT events.

When Failla entered this tournament on Day 1, he looked into the WPT cameras and guaranteed that he would retake the lead for Player of the Year.

Guess what just happened?

With Matt Marafioti's elimination in ninth place, Will Failla has locked up at least an eighth-place finish, and retaken the lead in the WPT Player of the Year race.

There are two other players still alive who could pass Serock in the points race -- Daniel Buzgon and Darren Elias. Except now they are chasing Failla instead of Serock. And the longer Failla lasts, the harder it will be to catch him.

@WILLFAILA held the POY lead for 236 days. @floesknowshoes POY lead waseight days. @WILLFAILLA now back in front

— Statistical Monkey (@WPTStatMonkey) May 2, 2012

Marianela Wants Will Failla To Wear a Nice Shirt

Level 23: 10,000-20,000, 3,000 ante

WPT Anchor Marianela Pereyra (left) -- still filling in for Kimberly Lansing who is on maternity leave -- stops by the tournament area and decides that if Will Failla (right) makes this WPT Final Table, he should wear a nice button-down shirt. (Will Failla is not known as the sharpest dresser on the World Poker Tour.)

Of course, if Failla makes the final six, he will also have retaken the lead in the WPT Player of the Year race. (He needs an 8th or better finish to pass Joe Serock.) And Marianela thinks the points leader for the WPT Player of the Year should look the part.

Marianela tells him that she will find a nice shirt for him, and he just has to wear it. The most she can get out of Failla is a "Maybe." Marianela figures that means the chances are about 30% -- and she's willing to work with that.

Marianela says she will go shopping for Failla in the morning (if he makes the final table), and James Calderaro says that if she finds a nice shirt, he'll pay for it. Marianela snap-calls.

As Marianela and Calderaro are discussing this, Failla tells them that he has to be able to wear shorts -- it's a dealbreaker. Marianela concedes that point, saying that shorts won't be visible while he's sitting at the table anyway.

Failla repeats several times, "I have to wear shorts. I'm definitely wearing shorts." Daniel Buzgon laughs and says he's played against Failla for a couple years on the East Coast, and Failla always wears shorts -- even in the dead of winter at Foxwoods.

If Failla reaches the final six, we'll have to wait and see if he'll be wearing a nice button-down shirt. And what kind of shorts go with it.