Chance Kornuth Leads The WPT Gardens Poker Championship Final Table; Qing Liu Looks to Go Back-to-Back

Photo:  Chipleader Chance Kornuth

At long last, it’s time for the WPT Gardens Poker Championship Final Table!

Originally scheduled for late March in 2020, the global pandemic delayed the final table for nearly a year, but the wait is finally over for the six final tablists.

Chance Kornuth begins the final table as chipleader, seeking that elusive WPT title to add to his decorated poker résumé. Sitting fifth in chips in Qing Liu, who won WPT at Venetian last night and has the unique opportunity to win WPT titles in back-to-back days.

The button is on Chance Kornuth and there is a dead small blind. There is 34:18 remaining in Level 23 (15,000-25,000 and a 25,000-big blind ante). Here is the final table lineup, followed by the payouts they’ll be playing for:

Seat 1.  Straton Wilhelm  –  435,000  (17 bb)
Seat 2.  Markus Gonsalves  –  2,370,000  (95 bb)
Seat 3.  Qing Liu  –  795,000  (32 bb)
Seat 4.  Tuan Phan  –  2,070,000  (83 bb)
Seat 5.  Jonathan Cohen  –  1,615,000  (65 bb)
Seat 6.  Chance Kornuth  –  2,995,000  (120 bb)

1st:  $554,495*
2nd:  $359,650
3rd:  $263,090
4th:  $195,085
5th:  $146,655
6th:  $111,795

The winner also will receive a Hublot Big Bang Steel Watch and a set of Baccarat Crystal.

This WPT Final Table will be held in the PokerGo Studio in Las Vegas, Nevada, and the action begins today at 4:00 pm PST. The action will be filmed to appear on TV, but there will be no live stream. As usual, you’ll be able to find hand-for-hand updates right here at WPT.com.

Which of these six players will have their name etched onto the Mike Sexton WPT Champions Cup? Stay tuned to WPT.com to find out.

* First place usually includes the $15,000 seat into the WPT Tournament of Champions. However, due to the pandemic, the TOC will not take place this year. As such, the winner will receive the $15,000 as part of the first place amount in cash.

Photography by Joe Giron / PokerPhotoArchive