The televised final table is set for the Season XVI WPT L.A. Poker Classic $10,000 Championship from Commerce Casino. On Thursday, six players will return to action from the field of 493 to battle for the $1 million top prize and the right to be called a World Poker Tour champion. Leading the way is Toby Lewis (pictured) with a stack of 5.39 million. Dennis Blieden is in second place with 4.125 million, and then there’s a big gap on the leaderboard before Marc Macdonnell’s 1.695 million shows up.
Lewis is having himself quite the beginning of 2018. In January, he took to the felt at the 2018 Aussie Millions festival in Melbourne, Australia. When he was done there, Lewis had recorded three cashes. One of those was a triumphant victory in the record Aussie Millions Main Event that earned him $1.178 million. Now, as the chip leader heading into the spectacular Season XVI WPT L.A. Poker Classic Championship, Lewis has a solid chance to win his second seven-figure score in just over one month’s time.
The final six players are all guaranteed $186,235, with a $1 million top prize up for the taking. Included in the top prize is a $15,000 seat into the season-ending WPT Tournament of Champions, plus the winner will take home a luxurious Hublot Big Bang Steel watch and a $5,000 membership to JetSmarter.
Wednesday’s Day 5 saw 13 players return to action. First to go was reigning Hublot WPT Player of the Year Ben Zamani, who was making his second WPT Main Tour cash of the season. He fell at the hands of Macdonnell and took home $57,300 in prize money.
Blieden entered the day as the chip leader, but Anthony Zinno scored a big double up through him to take the top spot not too long after Zamani busted. Zinno would lose the chip lead over the next couple of rotations around the table, though, as Blieden seized it back.
WPT Champions Club member Zachary Smiley busted in 12th and Garrett Greer was eliminated in 11th. Like Zamani, both players were busted by Macdonnell.
It was then Lloyd Mandel out in 10th and Aaron Kaiser out in ninth.
Zinno ended up falling in eighth place, as Blieden returned the favor from earlier when Zinno doubled through him by knocking out the three-time WPT champion. Zinno scored a $112,180 prize and left the door wide open for a brand new member to the WPT Champions Club.
The final elimination of Day 5 was Greg Paryani. Lewis did the deed with bottom set on the 
flop. Paryani had top two pair and couldn’t come from behind. Paryani earned a $143,740 and Lewis locked up the final table chip lead.
The final table will commence at 4 p.m. PT on Thursday from Commerce Casino. Action will be reported on right here on WPT.com, and there will be a live stream available from PokerGO.com.
Photography by Joe Giron / PokerPhotoArchive.com
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