|
Live: $25,500 WPT World Championship
Live: $100,000 WPT Super High Roller
| Earnings | $483,031 |
| Cashes | 1 |
| Final Tables | 1 |
| Titles | 0 |
| Tournaments Played | 2 |
Est. Current Chipcount
Est. Average Chipcount
15,090,000
Current Chipleader
-
Day 3
586,000
Day 4
1,250,000
Day 5
1,615,000
Day 6
3rd
Level 30: 50,000-100,000, 10,000 ante
By Diana Cox
Ravi Raghavan went from the short-stack to the only stack and won his first career WPT Title just before midnight Dec. 9, 2012 at the WPT Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic.
Raghavan outlasted a final table which included Antonio Esfandiari, who won this event in Season IX, Andrew Lichtenberger who final tabled this event in Season X and WPT Champions Club member Shawn Buchanan.
Raghavan began the day as the short stack and doubled up twice early on to rocket to the top of the chip counts and never slowed down.
With the elimination of Thomas Winters as the third place finisher, the heads-up battle between Raghavan and Buchanan began. Things came to an end when Buchanan pushed all-in for just over two million with K
7
and Raghavan, who had about a 4-1 chiplead, called with 7
7
.
Supporters of both players rose to their feet and the dealer peeled off J99 giving Buchanan the chance to double up. Greg Mueller, who finished 13th in this tournament, shouted for an eight from the crowd, and the 8 opened on the turn. But no more help for Buchanan was to be found when the 4 fell on the river and ended his chances at a second WPT title.
First to exit the final table was Jeremy Kottler. Kottler was down to his last 720,000 and moved all-in from the small blind after a 115,000 raise by Winters from middle position. Winters asked for an exact count before making the call to put Kottler at risk. Winters was in possession of pocket sevens, 77, and Kottler had been dealt the Ace and King of diamonds. Kottler's hand failed to improve after a flop of 853 but the 2 on the turn gave him additional outs. However, Kottler's tournament came to an end when the 9 fell on the river and Winters' sevens held.
Andrew Lichtenberger, who finished fourth here last season, was eliminated as the fifth place finisher when he shoved his last 395,000 from the small blind with A9 . Raghavan called from the big blind with Q4. Raghavan picked up a pair of fours after the flop of J84. His fours held went the board completed 2 K and Lichtenberger's tournament came to an end one place shy of his Season X finish.
With a massive rail on site to support him, Esfandiari fell short of becoming the first player in WPT history to win the same event twice. Esfandiari became the fourth place finisher when he ran his AK in Raghavan's AA.
Esfandiari raised to 200,000 from the small blind and Raghavan re-raised to 490,000 from the big blind. Esfandiari four-bet all-in and Raghavan snap-called.
"Damn," Esfandiari said as Raghavan flipped over his aces.
The board ran out J94106 and Esfandiari and his supporters left the room.
Two hands later Winters, who was seated at his first WPT final table and made his first WPT cash, was home as the third place finisher. Buchanan raised to 240,000 from the small blind and Winters three-bet to 700,000 from the big blind. Buchanan responded by moving all-in for just over three million and Winters called all-in. Buchanan flipped over 1010 and Winters was behind with A7. The dealer fanned 63285 and Winters never saw the needed cards to stay alive.
WPT Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic final table results:
1. Ravi Raghavan - $1,268,571
2. Shawn Buchanan - $746,502
3. Thomas Winters - $483,031
4. Antonio Esfandiari - $329,339
5. Andrew Lichtenberger - $234,197
6. Jeremy Kottler - $187,845
Level 30: 50,000-100,000, 10,000 ante
Shawn Buchanan raises from the small blind to 240,000, Thomas Winters (pictured above) reraises from the big blind to 700,000, and Buchanan pauses for a moment before moving all in.
Winters quickly calls with A7, but he'll need to improve to stay alive against Buchanan's 1010.
The board comes 63285, and Shawn Buchanan wins the pot with his pocket tens to eliminate Thomas Winters in third place.
Seat 4. Ravi Raghavan - 9,330,000
Seat 5. Shawn Buchanan - 5,770,000
Seat 6. Thomas Winters - Out in 3rd Place ($483,031)
There will be a short break for the Money Presentation with the Royal Flush Girls before heads-up play begins.
Level 29: 40,000-80,000, 10,000 ante
Action folds to Thomas Winters Winters (pictured) in the small blind, and as he thinks, Esfandiari tells him "There's no shame in quitting, Tommy." Esfandiari says a few more things to try to get Winters to fold ("You get a fresh start with the button on the next hand!"), but Winters raises to 190,000. Esfandiari looks at his cards and says, "I guess I'll have to teach you the hard way," and he calls from the big blind.
The flop comes 852, Winters checks, Esfandiari bets 210,000, and Winters thinks for nearly a minute before he calls.
The turn card is the A, Winters bets 600,000, and Esfandiari says, "That's pretty sick" before he asks Winters how many chips he has behind. Winters says 635,000. Esfandiari asks, "Did you like that turn card?" Winters doesn't answer.
Esfandiari thinks for more than a minute and says, "Why'd you bet so much, Tommy?" Winters says nothing.
After about three minutes, Esfandiari moves all in, and Winters calls with A7 for a pair of aces. Esfandiari turns over 87 for a pair of eights with a dominated kicker, and he says, "I'm in pretty bad shape here."
The river card is the J, and Winters wins the pot with his pair of aces to double up in chips.
Seat 1. Antonio Esfandiari - 3,745,000
Seat 4. Ravi Raghavan - 4,925,000
Seat 5. Shawn Buchanan - 3,140,000
Seat 6. Thomas Winters - 3,290,000
After the hand, Esfandiari says, "I was just thinking, anything but an ace there. And then BAM! Why do they hurt me? Why did you hurt me, Tommy?"
Level 27: 25,000-50,000, 5,000 ante
Thomas Winters raises from middle position to 115,000, Jeremy Kottler Kottler (pictured above) moves all in from the small blind for 720,000, and Winters asks for an exact count and thinks for a bit.
Winters calls with 77, and Kottler turns over AK. It's a race situation, and Kottler will need to improve to stay alive.
The board comes 85329, and Kottler turns a gutshot straight draw but improves no further. Thomas Winters wins the pot with his pocket sevens to eliminate Jeremy Kottler in sixth place.
Seat 1. Antonio Esfandiari - 4,310,000
Seat 2. Andrew Lichtenberger - 2,570,000
Seat 3. Jeremy Kottler - Out in the 6th Place ($187,845)
Seat 4. Ravi Raghavan - 1,740,000
Seat 5. Shawn Buchanan - 4,235,000
Seat 6. Thomas Winters - 2,240,000
Level 24: 12,000-24,000, 4,000 ante
Here are the updated chip counts and seating positions for the final 10 players:
Seat 1. Antonio Esfandiari - 3,200,000 (133 bb)
Seat 2. Andrew Lichtenberger - 2,250,000 (93 bb)
Seat 3. Jonathan Aguiar - 1,150,000 (47 bb)
Seat 4. Jeremy Kottler - 1,575,000 (65 bb)
Seat 5. Theo Tran - 990,000 (41 bb)
Seat 6. Ravi Raghavan - 1,035,000 (43 bb)
Seat 7. Jason Somerville - 735,000 (30 bb)
Seat 8. Arthur Morris - 585,000 (24 bb)
Seat 9. Shawn Buchanan - 1,985,000 (82 bb)
Seat 10. Thomas Winters - 1,695,000 (70 bb)
Level 23: 10,000-20,000, 3,000 ante
Shawn Buchanan raises under the gun, Thomas Winters reraises from the cutoff, and Buchanan calls. The flop comes 643, Buchanan checks, Winters bets 195,000, and Buchanan tanks for a while before he calls.
The turn card is the 9, Buchanan checks, and Winters moves all in for 872,000. Buchanan asks for an exact count and tanks for several minutes. Winters laughs and says, "I'll tell you what I had when I win the tournament." Buchanan is confused for a moment, but Somerville clarifies the deal he struck earlier -- if Winters wins the tournament, he'll tell Buchanan what his hand was here.
Buchanan tanks for several minutes before he folds, and Winters takes the pot.
Thomas Winters - 1,540,000 (77 bb)
Shawn Buchanan - 1,560,000 (78 bb)
After the hand, Somerville smiles and says, "You're two-for-two at punishing the young kids." Winters replies, "Yeah, but I'm getting an ulcer."
Level 23: 10,000-20,000, 3,000 ante
After a flop of 762, Andrew Lichtenberger checks the small blind, Jason Somerville bets 80,000 under the gun, and Thomas Winters (pictured) moves all in from the cutoff for 845,000. Lichtenberger quickly folds, and Somerville asks for a count.
Somerville goes into the tank and says, "This could be considered a slowroll if it was against anybody else. But not you." Somerville thinks for a while and asks Winters, "If I fold, will you show?" Winters remains motionless and says nothing. Somerville says, "I'll owe you one, and show you my cards on another hand." Winters still says nothing.
Somerville thinks a while longer and says, "How about the old I-show-you-show? Can we do that deal?" No reaction.
After more than three minutes, Somerville folds his cards, and he tells Winters, "Show me an eight. Please!" Winters mucks his cards without showing.
Thomas Winters - 1,240,000 (62 bb)
Jason Somerville - 1,275,000 (63 bb)
After the hand, Somerville asks, "If you win the tournament, can I find you and will you tell me what you had?" Winters agrees. Somerville smiles and says, "Okay, I am now rooting for you to win."
Level 22: 8,000-16,000, 2,000 ante
Thomas Winters raises to 40,000 from the hijack seat and Andrew Lichtenberger calls from the small blind. The dealer fans 987 and both players check. The turn is the 7 and Winters check-raises Lichtenberger bet of 52,000 to 118,000. Lichtenberger calls and the two see the 10 on the river. Both check and show their hands.
Lichtenberger was sitting on two Queens, QQ for two pair, but Winters had turned trip sevens with A7.
Thomas Winters - 840,000 (52 bb)
Andrew Lichtenberger - 1,495,000 (93 bb)
Level 21: 6,000-12,000, 2,000 ante
Greg "FBT" Mueller raises from the button to 31,000, Thomas Winters reraises from the big blind to 66,000, and Mueller reraises to 141,000. Winters folds, and Mueller takes the pot.
The next hand, Mueller raises from the cutoff, and Winters calls from the small blind. The flop comes 952, Winters checks, Mueller bets 45,000, and Winters calls. The turn is the J, Winters checks, Mueller bets 75,000, and Winters calls.
The river is the A, and Winters quickly bets 100,000. Mueller says, "Wow," thinks for a moment, and calls.
Winters shows 77 for a pair of sevens, but Mueller turns over QQ for a pair of queens to win the pot.
Greg Mueller - 745,000 (62 bb)
Thomas Winters - 760,000 (63 bb)
As he's stacking the pot, Mueller tells Winters it was a tough spot, since Mueller had been so aggressive the hand before, it was hard to put him on such a strong hand here.
Level 19: 4,000-8,000, 1,000 ante
Frank Rusnak raises 16,000 from the button, Thomas Winters re-raises to 49,000 from the small blind and Andy Bloch four-bets all-in for less than 200,000. Rusnak folds and Winters calls.
Bloch immediately flips over 1010 but Winters is ahead with QQ. The dealer fans 7525K and Bloch makes his exit.
Thomas Winters - 1,190,000 (148 bb)
Andy Bloch - Out in 30th Place ($26,835)
