Canadian Jonathan Roy Wins Inaugural WPT Montreal
Level 37: 250,000-500,000, 50,000 ante
By Diana Cox
One of the largest World Poker Tour Main Events in the tour's 11-year history came to an end when all the chips in play were stacked in front of Jonathan Roy. Appropriately, for the WPT's first main event in Canada since 2008, the final table came down to two Canadians at WPT Montreal.
Roy outlasted a field a massive field of 1,173 players and walked away with $779,710 from the $3,387,930.00 prize pool.
At the front of of a packed house, Roy battled heads up with Pascal Lefrancois for a spot on the Champion's trophy, the prize money and the WPT silver belt.
The final hand came to down Lefrancois being forced all-in for less than one big blind after being severely crippled when he ran his 6
6
into Roy's K
Q
. With their stacks nearly even, Pascal raised to 1,000,000 from the button and Roy re-raised to 2,400,000. Pascal moved all-in and Roy called. The board ran out K
7
7
Q
J
and nearly all the chips were moved to Roy's end of the table.
On the next, and final hand of the night, Lefrancois was all-in for his last 500,000 after being dealt 8
3
. Roy had K
J
and the board ran out K
J
4
Q
9
to end the night.
Peter Kaemmerlen's final table appearance was extremely short lived as he was eliminated on the very first hand of the day.
From under the gun Kaemmerlen raised to 300,000 and Jeff Gross answered with a re-raise from the small blind to 1,260,000. Kaemmerlen decided it was time to push his final 2,400,000 to the middle of the table. The shove was enough to put Gross into the tank before he made the call.
When the two flipped their cards over Kaemmerlen was ahead with J
J
against Gross's A
10
and stayed ahead after a flop of 7
5
4
. The 9
on the turn was good for Kaemmerlen and he needed only to dodge an Ace in order to survive and double up. But an Ace, the A
, was turned over on the river to give Gross the best hand and send Kaemmerlen away.
After Kaemmerlen's exit, Sylvain Siebert, who began the day as the chip leader, became the fifth place finisher when he moved all in from the big blind with 6
6
. Roy called from the big blind with two black Queens. The dealer spread K
K
4
A
7
and Roy's Queens held to eliminate Siebert.
Following Siebert to the rail was Gavin Smith, who started the day with the short stack. Smith moved all-in from the small blind with A
5
and Roy called from the big blind with K
7
. The board is dealt 8
8
2
7
3
pairs Roy's seven on the turn to end Smith's tournament.
Smith's deep run marks his fifth WPT final table.
Gross's third place elimination set the stage for the heads-up match when he moved all-in from the button for 2,475,000. Roy called from the small blind with A
Q
and Gross found he was behind with K
Q
.The board ran out A
6
6
2
K
to give Roy two pair and remove Gross from the table.
Gross was quickly congratulated by his friend, Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps, who was on the rail.
WPT Montreal final table results:
1st: Jonathan Roy - $779,710
2nd: Pascal Lefrancois - $470,920
3rd: Jeff Gross - $317,450
4th: Gavin Smith - $211,745
5th: Sylvain Siebert - $146,360
6th: Peter Kaemmerlen - $113,155
Sorted In:
Jonathan Roy, Pascal Lefrancois, Featured Blog, Michael Phelps, Jeff Gross, Gavin Smith, Peter Kaemmerlen, Sylvain Siebert, Season XI, WPT Montreal, Playground Poker
12:42 AM, 11/28/12
Hand #182: Jonathan Roy Wins WPT Montreal Main Event
Level 37: 250,000-500,000, 50,000 ante
Pascal Lefrancois is all in preflop in order to post his blind and Jonathan Roy calls. The two final players in the tournament then flip over their cards:
Pascal: 8
3
Roy: K
J
K
J
4
Q
9
Pascal is eliminated on the hand and Roy wins the tournament. Lefrancois takes home $470,920 as the runner up and Roy gets the champion's share of $779,710, the WPT bracelet, and the WPT champion's belt.
1st: Jonathan Roy - $779,710
2nd: Pascal Lefrancois - $470,920
3rd: Jeff Gross - $317,450
4th: Gavin Smith - $211,745
5th: Sylvain Siebert - $146,360
6th: Peter Kaemmerlen - $113,155
Sorted In:
Jonathan Roy, Pascal Lefrancois, Season XI, WPT Montreal, Playground Poker
12:41 AM, 11/28/12
Hand #181: Jonathan Roy Doubles Up in a Huge Hand
Level 37: 250,000-500,000, 50,000 ante
Pascal Lefrancois raises to 1 million preflop and Jonathan Roy reraises to 2.4 million on the button. Pascal reraises all in and Roy calls with just 525,000 seperating the two player's stacks (Pascal has the slight lead). Their cards:
Pascal: 6
6
Roy: K
Q
Board: K
7
7
Q
J
Roy's friends and fans erupt into cheers at the conclusion of the hand as he doubles up and takes a nearly insurmountable chip lead. Roy is left with less than a big blind after the hand.
Sorted In:
Jonathan Roy, Pascal Lefrancois, Season XI, WPT Montreal, Playground Poker
12:37 AM, 11/28/12
Hand #180: Pascal Lefrancois
Level 37: 250,000-500,000, 50,000 ante
Jonathan Roy raises to 1 million preflop and Pascal Lefrancois calls on the button. The flop falls Q
9
6
and Pascal bets 1 million. Roy folds.
Sorted In:
Jonathan Roy, Pascal Lefrancois, Season XI, WPT Montreal, Playground Poker
12:32 AM, 11/28/12
Hand #179: Pascal Lefrancois
Level 37: 250,000-500,000, 50,000 ante
Pascal Lefrancois gets a walk on his big blind.
Sorted In:
Jonathan Roy, Pascal Lefrancois, Season XI, WPT Montreal, Playground Poker
12:30 AM, 11/28/12
Hand #178: Pascal Lefrancois
Level 37: 250,000-500,000, 50,000 ante
Pascal Lefrancois raises to 1 million preflop and Jonathan Roy folds on the button.
Sorted In:
Pascal Lefrancois, Jonathan Roy, Season XI, WPT Montreal, Playground Poker
12:28 AM, 11/28/12
Hand #177: Pascal Lefrancois
Level 37: 250,000-500,000, 50,000 ante
Pascal Lefrancois raises to 1 million preflop on the button and Jonathan Roy folds.
Sorted In:
Pascal Lefrancois, Jonathan Roy, Season XI, WPT Montreal, Playground Poker
12:23 AM, 11/28/12
Hand #176: Pascal Lefrancois
Level 37: 250,000-500,000, 50,000 ante
Jonathan Roy raises to 1 million on the button and Pascal Lefrancois calls. The flop rolls out K
8
5
and Pascal checks. Roy bets 1 million and Pascall calls.
The turn falls 9
and both players check. The 5
follows on the river and Roy folds after Pascal bets 850,000.
Sorted In:
Pascal Lefrancois, Jonathan Roy, Season XI, WPT Montreal, Playground Poker
12:22 AM, 11/28/12
Hand #175: Pascal Lefrancois
Level 37: 250,000-500,000, 50,000 ante
Jonathan Roy completes his blind and Pascal Lefrancois checks his option preflop. The flop is dealt K
6
2
andRoy checks. Pascal bets 1 million and Roy folds.
Sorted In:
Pascal Lefrancois, Jonathan Roy, Season XI, WPT Montreal, Playground Poker
12:19 AM, 11/28/12
Hand #174: Pascal Lefrancois
Level 37: 250,000-500,000, 50,000 ante
Jonathan Roy raises to 1 million on the button and Pascal Lefrancois calls. The flop falls Q
9
3
and both players check. The 3
falls on the turn and Lefrancois bets 1.25 million and Roy calls. The river brings the 10
and Pascal bets 2,550,000. Roy mucks.
Sorted In:
Pascal Lefrancois, Jonathan Roy, Season XI, WPT Montreal, Playground Poker
12:18 AM, 11/28/12