Frank Stepuchin Eliminated by Manig Loeser; POY Race Is Down to Four Players

May 28, 2019

Frank Stepuchin Frank Stepuchin
Photo:  WPT Gardens Poker Champion Frank Stepuchin will return on June 1st to play in the Baccarat Crystal WPT Tournament of Champions.

Chance Kornuth raises UTG+1, and Frank Stepuchin calls from the big blind. The flop comes Heart JDiamond 9Club 3, Stepuchin checks, Kornuth bets 5,000, and Stepuchin calls.

The turn card is the Spade K, Stepuchin checks, Kornuth bets 12,500, and Stepuchin folds, Kornuth takes the pot.

Chance Kornuth  –  415,000  (166 bb)
Frank Stepuchin  –  54,500  (22 bb)

The next hand, Stepuchin moves all in from the small blind for 54,500, and Manig Loeser thinks for a bit before he calls from the big blind, covering Stepuchin by just 1,000.

Stepuchin turns over Heart 9Diamond 9, and he needs his hand to hold to stay alive against Loeser’s Spade AHeart J.

The board comes Spade JSpade 10Diamond 3Spade 7Diamond 7 — Loeser pairs his jack on the flop, Stepuchin turns a gutshot straight draw, and the river card is a blank. Loeser wins the pot with two pair, jacks and sevens, to eliminate Stepuchin from the tournament.

Manig Loeser  –  112,500  (45 bb)
Frank Stepuchin  –  Eliminated

Stepuchin was one of the final contenders for the Hublot WPT Player of the Year title, but now that he fell short, there are only three players remaining who can catch POY points leader Erkut Yilmaz.

Photo:  Manig Loeser
Manig Loeser

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