PartyPoker WPT CSC Champion Interview with Amir Babakhani

Level 34: 125,000-250,000, 25,000 ante

Amir Babakhani Wins the PartyPoker WPT Canadian Spring Championship

Level 34: 125,000-250,000, 25,000 ante

By Ryan Lucchesi

The World Poker Tour title was up for grabs when cards got into the air for the final table of the PartyPoker WPT Canadian Spring Championship at the Playground Poker Club in Montreal. There were 735 players that entered the $3,300 CAD main event, and after four days of poker the final six emerged. All the big names in the tournament had been cleared out of the way for the collection of Canadian players, including final table bubble boy Christian Harder, who finished in seventh place after taking 30th place at the initial WPT Montreal stop back in November.

The player who busted a lot of those big names during the final stages of the tournament was Amir Babakhani. The man became a wrecking ball at the final table, taking out all but one of his opponents en route to his first WPT title. His previous career earnings before tonight were less than $20,000, but now he holds a top prize worth $442,248. He also holds the WPT Champions Cup, a $25,500 seat in the WPT World Championship, and a champion’s belt from Playground Poker Club.

Here is a look at the final table when cards got into the air:

Seat 1: Barry Kruger – 4,770,000
Seat 2: Tao Liang – 3,870,000
Seat 3: Jonathan Bardier – 1,470,000
Seat 4: Amir Babakhani – 6,635,000
Seat 5: Jason Duval – 4,155,000
Seat 6: Martin Leblanc – 1,140,000

Three different players doubled up on short stacks to start the final table, which made it 5 p.m. before the first elimination took place. On Hand 56 Jonathan Bardier completed the small blind and Amir raised to 300,000 from the big blind. Amir called with AQ and Bardier flipped over AJ. The board was dealt Q8386 and Bardier was knocked out of the tournament in sixth place ($81,767).

Martin Leblanc was the next to fall a short time later on Hand 78. Bobby Liang raised from the cutoff to 250,000 and Amir reraised to 700,000 on the button. Leblanc moved all in from the big blind for 880,000. Amir called with AQ and Leblanc held A6. The board was dealt J108Q4 and Amir took out his second player in a row at the final table. Leblanc was out in fifth, good for $102,251.

Jason Duval then managed to double and he took out the next player as well. On Hand 96 Duval raised to 300,000 from the button and Bobby Liang moved all in from the big blind. Duval called with A9 and Liang held A2. The board was dealt 843QK and Liang busted from the tournament in fourth place ($136,700).

Barry Kruger then doubled up thru Amir to prolong three-handed play, but on Hand 123 the battle for third place ended. Amir raised to 400,000 from the button and Duval shoved on the small blind for 1.7 million. Amir called and flipped over A4, while Duval held Q9. The board was dealt J103J3 and Duval was out of the tournament in third place ($199,029).

At the start of heads-up play the chip counts had Amir ahead with a 2.4-to-1 chip advantage, holding 15,575,000 over the 6,475,000 of Kruger. The final match started out slow with the two players feeling each other out while Kruger’s stack started to dwindle. He was down to 2.1 million the first time he moved all in. Kruger then made quads to stay alive, and he doubled up once more to grow his stack to 8.6 million on the very next hand.

The third time he moved all in was not the charm though. On Hand 145 Amir raised to 625,000 and Kruger called. The flop was dealt 553 and Kruger checked. Babakhani bet 600,000 and Kruger tanked a while before calling. Kruger checked the 2 on the turn and Babakhani bet 1.3 million. Kruger tanked and then moved all in for just over 3 million. Amir called with 85 and Kruger flipped over 54. The river brought the Q and the tournament was over. Kruger was eliminated in second place, good for ($272,555). Amir was then crowned the champion, after as dominant a final run in a WPT tournament as we have seen in some time.

Final Table Results:

1: Amir Babakhani - $442,248
2: Barry Kruger - $272,555
3: Jason Duval - $199,029
4: Bobby Liang - $136,700
5: Martin Leblanc - $102,251
6: Jonathan Bardier - $81,767

The next tournament for the World Poker Tour is the final stop on the Season XI schedule, the WPT World Championship at Bellagio in Las Vegas. This $25,500 no-limit hold’em main event will run from May 18-24, and the Super High Roller event will run from May 21-23.  

Hand #145: Amir Babakhani Wins! ($442,248)

Level 34: 125,000-250,000, 25,000 ante

Amir Babakhani raises to 625,000, and Barry Kruger calls. The flop comes 553, Kruger checks, Babakhani bets 600,000, and Kruger tanks for a while before he calls.

The turn is the 2, Kruger checks, Babakhani bets 1,300,000, and Kruger tanks for a while before he moves all in for a little more than 3 million.

Babakhani snap-calls with 85 for trip fives. Kruger turns over 54 for trip fives with a lower kicker, and he will need an ace, six, four, three, or a two to stay alive.

The river is the Q, and Amir Babakhani wins the pot -- and the tournament -- with trip fives and an eight kicker.

Barry Kruger finishes as the runner-up, earning $272,555.

Amir Babakhani wins the PartyPoker WPT Canadian Spring Championship, earning $442,248, a WPT Champions Trophy, and a boxing-style champions belt from the Playground Poker Club. The prize money includes Babakhani's $25,500 entry into the season-ending WPT World Championship, which will be held later this month in Las Vegas.

1st:  Amir Babakhani  -  $442,248
2nd:  Barry Kruger  -  $272,555
3rd:  Jason Duval  -  $199,029
4th:  Bobby Liang  -  $136,700
5th:  Martin Leblanc  -  $102,251
6th:  Jonathan Bardier  -  $81,767

Hand #144: Amir Babakhani

Level 34: 125,000-250,000, 25,000 ante

Barry Kruger folds, giving Amir Babakhani a walk.

Hand #143: Amir Babakhani

Level 34: 125,000-250,000, 25,000 ante

Amir Babakhani raises to 950,000, and Barry Kruger folds.

Level 34 Begins

Level 34: 125,000-250,000, 25,000 ante

Level 33 comes to an end, and Level 34 begins with increased blinds of 125,000-250,000 and a 25,000 ante. Play continues without a break.

Hand #142: Barry Kruger Doubles Thru Amir Babakhani

Level 33: 100,000-200,000, 25,000 ante

Barry Kruger raises to 500,000, and Amir Babakhani calls. The flop comes 1082, Babakhani checks, Kruger bets 850,000, and Babakhani moves all in.

Kruger calls all in with J10 for a pair of tens, but Babakhani turns over 108 for two pair, tens and eights. Kruger will need to improve to stay alive.

The turn is the 2, and the river is -- the J!

Barry Kruger rivers a higher two pair to win the pot and double up in chips.

Barry Kruger  -  8,600,000
Amir Babakhani  -  13,450,000

Hand #141: Barry Kruger Doubles Thru Amir Babakhani

Level 33: 100,000-200,000, 25,000 ante

Amir Babakhani raises to 500,000, Barry Kruger moves all in for 2,125,000, and Babakhani calls with J9. Kruger turns over 1010, and he'll need it to hold to stay alive.

The board comes Q109102, and Kruger wins the pot with quad tens to double up in chips.

Barry Kruger  -  4,300,000  (21 bb)
Amir Babakhani  -  17,750,000  (88 bb)

Hand #140: Amir Babakhani Nears 20 Million

Level 33: 100,000-200,000, 25,000 ante

Barry Kruger limps for 200,000, and Amir Babakhani checks his option. Both players check to the turn on a board of 10527, Babakhani bets 500,000, and Kruger calls.

The river is the 5, Babakhani bets 1,000,000, and Kruger tanks for a long time before he calls. Babakhani shows 65 to win the pot with trip fives, and Kruger mucks.

Barry Kruger  -  2,100,000
Amir Babakhani  -  19,950,000

Hand #139: Amir Babakhani

Level 33: 100,000-200,000, 25,000 ante

Amir Babakhani raises to 600,000, and Barry Kruger folds.