WPT Jacksonville bestbet Open, Day 3 Recap

Level 20: 5,000-10,000, 1,000 ante

By BJ Nemeth



The money bubble burst on Day 3, though it happened so quickly there was no need for hand-for-hand play. In a twist, players who made the money were paid by having bills stapled to their foreheads.

No, not really.

At the end of the day, Will Failla once again organized a $100 pool where players bet on which card would be drawn with 10 minutes left to see how many more hands would be played. But when James Calderaro won, Failla was reluctant to pay off his $100, so he stuck it to his forehead until Calderaro came over from the other table to claim it.



Farid Jattin (pictured) entered the day with a big chip lead, but it looked like he was going to take a big hit in the first level when Jaspreet Panchhi got it all in with KK against Jattin's QQ. But a queen on the flop gave the pot to Jattin to push him to nearly a million in chips.



WPT Raw Deal Analyst Tony Dunst (center, standing) was all in early, but he had the best of it with QQ to the JJ of Andrew Touchette. The best hand held up, and Dunst doubled up to an above-average chip stack.

In addition to the WPT's Raw Deal segment, Dunst is also the lead commentator for the WPT Live Stream, which shows all the action at WPT Final Tables -- with hole cards -- on a 30-minute delay. Of course, Dunst can't be in the sequestered booth watching hole cards if he is also at the final table -- and Dunst is still alive with 16 players left.



James Dempsey (foreground, center) began the day near the chip lead, but took a few hits before he got it all in with KK. Unfortunately for Dempsey, Alan Percal had AA. The best hand held up, and Dempsey was crippled down to four big blinds with 38 players remaining -- and only 36 would get paid.

A few moments later, Brian Haas was eliminated at another table, and it was time to begin hand-for-hand play on the money bubble. But Dempsey's hand had already begun, and when he looked down to see 88, he moved all in. But he'd have to survive against Matthew Schulte's AQ.

Will Failla (foreground, right) came over to sweat the board with Dempsey, but Schulte paired his queen on a board of Q42109 to win the pot, and Dempsey became the unfortunate Bubble Boy before hand-for-hand play even began.



With the board showing AK8J9, Tony Dunst (left) bet 81,000 into Robert Gorodetsky, who tanked for a while before he called with KJ for two pair, kings and jacks. But Dunst turned over A9 for a higher two pair, aces and nines.

At this point, Gorodetsky was one of two remaining under-21 players in the field, along with Alan Percal. Whichever one lasted longer would receive a customized surfboard.



WPT Champions Club member and recent WSOP November Niner Matt Giannetti gave a brief interview to the WPT cameras during the second break. Giannetti was holding strong at this point, but would have a rough time after dinner, busting out in 22nd place.



Daniel Buzgon (pictured) was short-stacked after dinner, and moved all in for 99,000 (16 big blinds) after Fred Goldberg and Matt Giannetti entered the pot. Both players called, and when Goldberg bet 100,000 into a dry side pot after a flop of 875, it looked like Buzgon was in trouble.

Giannetti sensed that Goldberg had a big hand, so he folded JJ face up. He was right, because Goldberg turned over AA. Buzgon was in trouble with his 1010.

But the turn card was the 10, and Buzgon tripled up to 314,000 with a set of tens. Buzgon went on a rush after that, and in less than an hour he built his stack from 99,000 to 1,000,000.



Will Failla (left) clashed in a couple of big pots against start-of-day chipleader Farid Jattin (right). Failla won a very large pot earlier by check-raising all in on a board of Q9889, but Jattin won this one by five-betting all in preflop.



Matt Marafioti (top) studies Tony Dunst (foreground, right) during a hand in the final level of Day 3.



With the board showing 1073A on the turn, David Tuthill (right) three-bet all in against Darren Elias (foreground, left). Elias would call with A10 for top two pair, and Tuthill turned over A8 for top pair with a spade flush draw.

Elias was on the verge of contending for the lead with 1.1 million in chips, but the 4 on the river gave Tuthill his flush -- and a big double up.



When 19-year-old Alan Percal was eliminated in 21st place, Robert Gorodetsky (pictured) officially won the bonus under-21 prize -- this customized surfboard. Unfortunately, Gorodetsky was eliminated himself in the final minutes of the day, finishing 17th.



A smile like this can only mean one thing -- Will Failla is crazy. But he is also the chipleader with 16 players remaining, and if he finishes 8th or higher, he will also retake the lead in the WPT Player of the Year race. Failla is also trying to become the first player since Season III to win two WPT titles in the same season.


Here are the official chip counts for the final 16 players:

1.  Will Failla  -  1,360,000  (136 BBs)
2.  Peter Campo  -  1,269,000  (126 BBs)
3.  Daniel Buzgon  -  900,000  (90 BBs)
4.  Byron Kaverman  -  815,000  (81 BBs)
5.  David Tuthill  -  687,000  (68 BBs)
6.  Amelio Amato  -  666,000  (66 BBs)
7.  Farid Jattin  -  618,000  (61 BBs)
8.  Matt Marafioti  -  617,000  (61 BBs)
9.  Shawn Cunix  -  555,000  (55 BBs)
10.  Tony Dunst  -  459,000  (45 BBs)
11.  James Calderaro  -  423,000  (42 BBs)
12.  Blake Purvis  -  346,000  (34 BBs)
13.  Justin Conley  -  335,000  (33 BBs)
14.  Robert LeBeau  -  304,000  (30 BBs)
15.  Darren Elias  -  262,000  (26 BBs)
16.  Tony Parille  -  131,000 (13 BBs)

Day 4 begins tomorrow (Tuesday) at 2:00 pm ET. The field will play as many 90-minute levels as it takes to get down to six players for Wednesday's televised WPT Final Table.

Return to WPT.com for continuing live coverage, including hand-for-hand updates starting with the final ten players.

ClubWPT Player of the Day - Daniel Buzgon

Level 20: 5,000-10,000, 1,000 ante

Day 3 Ends with 16 Players and Will Failla Gunning For Glory

Level 19: 4,000-8,000, 1,000 ante

The final 16 players have bagged up their chips and Day 3 is in the books. Will Failla (pictured above) is in a very familiar position, as he finished the day as chip leader with 1,360,000. Peter Campo is not too far behind him with 1,269,000.

Those two players are the only ones in seven-figure territory, but there are plenty of other people to keep an eye on in the field, including WPT Player of the Year contenders Failla, Byron Kaverman, Daniel Buzgon, and Darren Elias and WPT Live Stream Host Tony Dunst.

The field will be back in action at 2 pm ET tomorrow to play down from 16 to the six who will make the televised final table. Here is a look at the top five from the end of the day:

1.  Will Failla  -  1,360,000  (136 BBs)
2.  Peter Campo  -  1,269,000  (126 BBs)
3.  Daniel Buzgon  -  900,000  (90 BBs)
4.  Byron Kaverman  -  815,000  (81 BBs)
5.  David Tuthill  -  687,000  (68 BBs)

Note:  Number of big blinds (BBs) were computed using tomorrow's opening blinds of 5,000-10,000 with a 1,000 ante.

Robert Gorodetsky Eliminated in 17th Place ($16,263)

Level 19: 4,000-8,000, 1,000 ante

Blake Purvis min-raises under the gun to 16,000, Robert Gorodetsky moves all in from the button for 125,000, and Purvis calls with AQ. Gorodetsky turns over 1010, and he'll need it to hold to stay alive.

The flop comes Q104, and Purvis pairs his queen as Gorodetsky flops a set of tens. Will Failla says, "That's an interesting flop."

The turn card is the K, giving Purvis a gutshot straight draw and Gorodetsky a heart flush draw. Failla says, "And that's an interesting turn."

The river card is -- the J! The entire table reacts as Purvis catches an ace-high straight on the river to eliminate Robert Gorodetsky in 17th place.

Blake Purvis  -  365,000
Robert Gorodetsky  -  Out in 17th Place ($16,263)


Photo: After his elimination as the last under-21 year old standing, Robert Gorodetsky was presented with this customized surfboard.

David Tuthill Doubles Thru Darren Elias

Level 19: 4,000-8,000, 1,000 ante

Photo: David Tuthill (right) has moved all in on the turn, and is waiting for Darren Elias (foreground, left) to call or fold.

Darren Elias and David Tuthill go heads-up to a flop of 1073.  Elias checks from the big blind, Tuthill bets 21,000 from middle position, and Elias calls.

The turn is the A and Elias checks again. Tuthill bets 34,000 and Elias check-raises to 96,000 total. Tuthill spends a couple of minutes thinking before he announces he is all-in for an additional 298,000.

Elias verifies the amount, then calls with A10 for top two pair. Tuthill holds A8 for top pair and the nut flush draw. 

The river brings the 4, completing Tuthill's flush and he takes the massive pot to double up.

David Tuthill  -  860,000  (108 BBs)
Darren Elias  -  285,000  (36 BBs)

Matt Marafioti vs. Robert Gorodetsky

Level 19: 4,000-8,000, 1,000 ante

Robert Gorodetsky raises from middle position to 18,000, and Matt Marafioti calls from the big blind.

Both players check to the turn on a board of 7752, Marafioti bets 22,000, Gorodetsky raises to 45,000, and Marafioti calls. The river card is the 9, Marafioti bets 24,000, and Gorodetsky raises to 94,000. Marafioti goes into the tank.

Marafioti asks, "How much you got behind there, Chief?" Marafioti guesses about 200,000, and Gorodetsky nods. Daniel Buzgon, who has a better angle, corrects the amount to 235,000.

Marafioti asks, "What do you want me to do?" Gorodetsky shrugs and says, "I don't know." Marafioti thinks a few moments longer, and then moves all in. 

Gorodetsky folds, and Marafioti takes the pot.

Matt Marafioti  -  630,000  (78 BBs)
Robert Gorodetsky  -  235,000  (29 BBs)

Daniel Buzgon Can't Get Action

Level 19: 4,000-8,000, 1,000 ante

Daniel Buzgon (left) raises to 17,000 from under the gun and Byron Kaverman (right) reraises to 47,000 from midde position. Buzgon calls and the two go heads-up to a flop of AKJ. Buzgon checks and Kaverman checks back.

The turn is the 2. Again, Buzgon checks and, again, Kaverman checks behind. The river is the 3 and Buzgon checks a third time.

Kaverman announces check, then tells Buzgon, "King-queen," implying he has second pair.

Buzgon slams the pile of chips he's been shuffling on the table and turns over JJ for a flopped set of jacks to take the pot.

Daniel Buzgon  -  940,000  (118 BBs)
Byron Kaverman  -  795,000  (99 BBs)

Farid Jattin Cold Four-Bets With a 6

Level 19: 4,000-8,000, 1,000 ante

Darren Elias raises from early position to 17,000, Peter Campo reraises from the cutoff to 41,000, and Farid Jattin cold four-bets it from the small blind to 96,000. 

Elias folds, and Campo folds A6 face up. Campo takes the pot, and he shows one card -- the 6 -- as he collects the chips. Campo says, "Maybe we had the same hand."

Farid Jattin  -  610,000  (76 BBs)
Darren Elias  -  760,000  (95 BBs)
Peter Campo  -  1,130,000  (141 BBs)

Matt Marafioti Picks Up Cowboys

Level 19: 4,000-8,000, 1,000 ante

Three players see a flop of KJ7. Blake Purvis is in the big blind and checks, Matt Marafioti checks from middle position, and Shawn Cunix bets 29,000 on the button. Purvis calls, then Marafioti check-raises for an additional 65,000.

Cunix folds and Purvis follows suit. As Marafioti rakes in teh pot, he turns over KK for top set.

Matt Marafioti - 290,000 (36 BBs)

Blake Purvis Chipping Up

Level 19: 4,000-8,000, 1,000 ante

Dan Buzgon raises to 17,000 from the hijack and Blake Purvis calls from the cutoff. The flop comes KJ4 and both players check. The turn is the Q and Buzgon bets 18,000. Purvis calls.

The river is the 5 and Buzgon bets 27,000. Purvis calls again. Buzgon turns over K7 for top pair, but Purvis has him bested with KJ for two pair.

Blake Purvis - 245,000 (31 BBs)
Dan Buzgon - 910,000 (114 BBs)