The final table is set at the Bellagio for today’s continuation of the 2022 World Poker Tour Five Diamond World Poker Classic — or, at least, the “almost” final table. Seven players remain in contention for the over $1 million prize, with the first elimination on Sunday establishing the six-man WPT final table. When the men return to the Bellagio on Sunday, Albert Calderon will be in the lead, but Brian Kim, who led both Day 2 and Day 3, will be close behind.
Tale of Two Unique Days
The 30 participants who returned on Saturday to select the final table were undoubtedly willing to bet. Kim and Mike Vanier finished Day 2 and Day 3 tied for first place, but they would take opposite paths through the Saturday play. One would not even be there when the tournament’s final TWO tables were established.
Vanier’s initial aggressiveness ultimately proved to be his undoing. In one of the early hands, he would duel Chad Eveslage, attempting to bluff Eveslage with an A-8-7-8-A board. With around 200K in the pot between the two players, Vanier shot another 100K and Eveslage eyed him up. Vanier displayed a full bluff with J-10, while Eveslage won the pot with pocket nines.
The news for Vanier did not improve as the day progressed. On a K-6-5-2-10 board, he doubled up Steve Buckner when Buckner had a higher two pair, Kings up with fives, than Vanier’s sixes up with fives. Moments later, they engaged in a hand that effectively terminated Vanier’s reign.
Vanier check-called a 125K wager from Buckner on a J-9-4 rainbow flop to see a second Jack fall on the turn. Vanier checked once again, and Buckner pushed him to the test by going all-in for around 800,000 in chips. Using his Extension Chips and the WPT Action Clock, Vanier hesitated about his decision while Buckner taunted him by stating, “I can bluff…you saw me bluff the other player.”
Vanier made the final decision, cranking up K-J for trip Jacks. Again, Buckner had the upper hand, with A-J for trip Jacks and a superior kicker, leaving Vanier in need of a King to rescue him. The river was cruel, however, by handing a superfluous Ace to Buckner, the full house, and the hand; once the chips were tallied, Vanier was left with just 210K in chips, and he was eliminated in 21st place shortly afterwards.
Kim, however, remained solid throughout the day and accumulated chips constantly. He eliminated Oddie Dardon from the WPT Champions Cup in ninth position and joined the final table with only Albert Calderon and Buckner ahead of him. However, Kim’s performance, about which much has been remarked over the last several days, paled in contrast to that of one other guy.
From the Shack to the Mansion
Michael Gathy began the day with a respectable stack of 670,000 chips, but his fortunes would soon deteriorate — at least temporarily.
Gathy’s stack had shrunk to three large blinds with three active tables, and he was in grave trouble. However, the path to redemption started with a double via Dardon and a second double through Vanier to return to 320k in chips. Another double at Dardon’s cost would restore Gathy to his starting stack for the day.
Gathy was energised by his comeback after fighting back off the felt, whilst others would have thought they had done enough. After completing a straight on the river against Eveslage, Gathy was in contention after a second double-up, this time via Buckner. He had the lead when nine-handed play started and rode that stack to be one of the seven players remaining for Sunday’s action.
- Albert Calderon, 8.395 million
- Brian Kim, 6.51 million
- Michael Gathy, 5.695 million
- Steve Buckner, 3.575 million
- Chad Eveslage, $2,48,000,000
- Zach Donovan, 940,000
- David Kim, 805,000
The WPT Five Diamond World Poker Classic Main Event continues today at 12:00 (Pacific) with the distribution of the lion’s share of the prize fund. The next player eliminated will get a respectable $166,000 for his five days of effort, but the final winner will receive $1,042,300, a seat in the 2022 WPT World Championship in December, and the privilege of being immortalized on the Mike Sexton WPT Champions’ Cup.
Source: www.pokernewsdaily.com
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