‘WPT WPO Championship’
Level 32 (75,000/150,000/25,000)
Total Entries: 1,171
Players Remaining: 5
Average Stack: 7,020,000
Between sips of water, Yevgeniy Timoshenko gives a quick fist pump after flopping a straight to double through chip leader Rafael Yaraliyev.
While the first portion of coverage was dedicated to Joe McKeehen and the growing stack of Rafael Yaraliyev, the last few minutes of action have been all about the short stacks. First Yevgeniy Timoshenko stayed alive with a straight on board, after being more or less turned dead and then Chris Leong doubled through McKeehen to cut down the WSOP Main Event champ.
Not to be outdone, or out stacked, Timoshenko followed Leong’s double up with a double of his own. That double came through chip leader Rafael Yaraliyev, as he couldn’t dismiss the 2009 WPT World Champion on his second attempt, as Timoshenko flopped a straight to move himself over 4,000,000.
That hand was picked dup with Joe McKeehen opening to 300,000 from under the gun and after two folds, Timoshenko moved all-in for 1,795,000. After some thought, Yaraliyev announced himself “all-in” as well and McKeehen quickly folded to see the flip for Timoshenko’s tournament life.
The short stack held {Jh}{10h} and was up against the chip leader’s {8d}{8s}. That flip was more or less over after the {Ac}{Kh}{Qs} flop, with Timoshenko hitting broadway. That double was confirmed after the {7d} fell on the turn and while the {7s} completed the board, Timoshenko cut down his stack and started what he hopes to be a move up the leaderboard.
He’s still the shortest stack at the final table but with McKeehen, Liam He and Timoshenko all near 5,000,000 we could see some tight, tactical play over the next few orbits. That’s because the pay jumps from fifth to third are relatively small, meaning that this final table might be a “race to third”, as one, unnamed spectator pointed out a few minutes ago.
‘WPT WPO Championship’
Level 32 (75,000/150,000/25,000)
Total Entries: 1,171
Players Remaining: 5
Average Stack: 7,020,000
Chris Leong (New York, NY)
After Yevgeniy Timoshenko avoided elimination, the short stacks at this final table were still the 2009 WPT World Champion and Chris Leong. The former took a break from the action but Leong was involved and was able to find a double up through Joe McKeehen.
The New Yorker three-bet shoved from the big blind for just over 3,100,000 after McKeehen opened the button to 300,000, with McKeehen snap calling to try to score the knockout. He was in a good position to, as Leong had just three immediate outs with {Ac}{5s} to McKeehen’s {8s}{8c}.
One of those outs came on the {Ad}{9h}{7s} flop, turning the tables on the WSOP Main Event champ, as he was the one now looking for two outs on either the turn or river. They didn’t come for him though, as the {As} gave Leong trips on the turn and the {6c} river confirmed his double up.
When the dust settled, McKeehen all of a sudden found himself below the 5,000,000 chip mark, working the second shortest stack aside from Timoshenko. Leong is just over that threshold meaning that all eyes are likely going to be on Yevgeniy Timoshenko over the next few orbits as he gets closer and closer to the dreaded ten big blind mark.
‘WPT WPO Championship’
Level 32 (75,000/150,000/25,000)
Total Entries: 1,171
Players Remaining: 5
Average Stack: 7,020,000
Yevgeniy Timoshenko, middle, just rivered a straight to keep himself alive but he’ll need a double to get back into contention. He’s still under 2,000,000, the shortest stack at this final table by a decent margin.
We mentioned that moving into Level 32, the short stacks would have to make a move and Yevgeniy Timoshenko likely had to make that move sooner, rather than later. He did and he was looked up by chip leader Rafael Yaraliyev in a blind versus blind encounter.
Timoshenko moved his 1,930,000 chip stack in from the small blind and Yaraliyev more or less snap called from the big, turning over {4h}{4c}. The 2009 WPT World Champion tabled {Kc}{Qc} and it was a flip for Timoshenko’s tournament life.
Timoshenko didn’t get any help on the {8h}{7c}{5h} flop and after the {4s} spiked on the turn, giving Yaraliyev a set, it looked like the short stack was about to hit the rail in 5th place. That was, until the {6h} completed the board and put a straight in front of both players, resulting in a chopped pot.
When the river fell, a collective groan could be heard from the audience, a group that is primarily full of Yaraliyev supporters. Some banter was also heard from the Chris Leong support group, as the other short stack at this final table wouldn’t hate to make the next pay jump without having to find a double himself.
Supports aside, players took back their respective stacks and even though he is still alive, Timoshenko is creeping towards the danger zone. He’s still playing under 2,000,000 and Yaraliyev doesn’t have any of those problems, as he’s still over 16,500,000.
‘WPT WPO Championship’
Level 32 (75,000/150,000/25,000)
Total Entries: 1,171
Players Remaining: 5
Average Stack: 7,020,000
After the elimination of Matthew Wantman, Rafael Yaraliyev has continued to climb and extend his advantage at the top of the leaderboard. He’s now playing over 16,000,000 heading into Level 32.
We’ve officially played through two levels at this WPT WPO Championship final table and, through those two hours of play, we’ve seen some big changes to the leaderboard. After peaking early, Chris Leong has fallen off the pace and Liam He has as well after his run-in with Joe McKeehen.
Yevgeniy Timoshenko has been relatively quiet but that silence has seen him trending down, as opposed to up, which we saw occur during yesterday’s Day 4 session. As it stands, it looks like this final table may be shaping out to be a two horse race, as McKeehen and Rafael Yaraliyev seem to be the only players that have been able to find their footing thus far.
Even the shorter stacks are still, relatively, deep but with the blinds and antes going up, the trio of Timoshenko, Leong and He will likely have to be more involved over the next few orbits.
A complete list of the remaining chip counts is provided below:
- Chris Leong – 3,265,000
- Yevgeniy Timoshenko – 2,885,000
- Rafael Yaraliyev – 16,545,000
- Joe McKeehen – 10,035,000
- Liam He – 3,280,000
‘WPT WPO Championship’
Level 31 (60,000/120,000/20,000)
Total Entries: 1,171
Players Remaining: 5
Average Stack: 7,020,000
Liam He just lost a sizable portion of his stack to Joe McKeehen, calling a 1,350,000 bet on the river only to be shown the nut flush. He is now playing under 4,000,000 and is the low man on the final table totem pole.
We apologies if our early WPT WPO Championship final table coverage has centered around one player, Joe McKeehen, but we can only report what the table gives us. So far, it’s given us more and more McKeehen, as he just shot himself up and over the 9,000,000 chip mark in a huge pot against Liam He.
McKeehen completed the small blind and He checked his option in the big to see the {Ac}{5c}{3h} flop. McKeehen bets one big blind, 120,000 and He raises to 275,000. The out of position McKeehen calls and then check-calls 425,000 after the {6c} falls on the turn.
The {8c} puts four to a flush and completes the board, while bringing a 1,350,000 chip bet from the WSOP Main Event champ. He quickly calls and is shown {Kc}{9d}, with McKeehen holding the nut flush to take down the biggest pot we’ve seen thus far at this final table.
When the dust settled, He was cut down to just shy of 4,000,000, his lowest standing today, while McKeehen increases his lead on the rest of this five-handed field.
‘WPT WPO Championship’
Level 31 (60,000/120,000/20,000)
Total Entries: 1,171
Players Remaining: 5
Average Stack: 7,020,000
Matthew Wantman (Stoneham, MA)
While play at this six-handed final table started off slow, it’s picked up through the first half hour of Level 31. That recent action has seen a few bigger pots be contested and now, has this field down to five, as Matthew Wantman just hit the rail in 6th place.
That hand was picked up on the third hand back from break, with Rafael Yaraliyev opening to 285,000 from the cutoff. Action folded to Wantman, who three-bet to 700,000 from the big blind and after some thought, Yaraliyev pushed his stack forward to put Wantman to a decision for his remaining 3,400,000.
The 2015 Winter Poker Open trophy winner snap called and turned over {Qh}{Qd}. He’d need to hold against Yaraliyev’s {Ad}{Kd}, as he was flipping for his tournament life. That flip went the big stack’s way on the {As}{8s}{7c} flop and after the {6s} fell on the turn, Wantman was down to just one card.
Before the river fell, Nick Palma, who was sweating Wantman from the rail, shouted, “Come on Buck, you did it yesterday.” Today is a new day though and Wantman couldn’t spike the two outer, instead watching the {8d} fall on the river and officially eliminate him from this WPT WPO Championship final table.
He’ll make just under $167,000 as the first player gone from today’s Day 5 lineup and when the dust settled, Rafael Yaraliyev was playing just over 13,500,000.
‘WPT WPO Championship’
Level 31 (60,000/120,000/20,000)
Total Entries: 1,171
Players Remaining: 6
Average Stack: 5,855,000
The first level and a half has been good to Joe McKeehen, as he now enters the first break of the day near near the top of the leaderboard.
In our last update of Level 30, we mentioned how reigning WSOP Main Event champion Joe McKeehen was starting to get involved and that seems like it was just a precursor for our next update. McKeehen is now near the top of the leaderboard, after a big pocket pair won him a decent pot against Rafael Yaraliyev at the start of the new level.
That action was picked up with Yaraliyev opening to 240,000 from the cutoff and, on the button, McKeehen three-bet to 650,000. The big stack called and after the {As}{8d}{2s} flop was checked through, the {6d} fell and Yaraliyev bet 550,000.
McKeehen called and then both players checked the {4d} river, with McKeehen tabling {Kh}{Kd}. That was good to best Yaraliyev’s {9d}{9c} and when the dust settled, the WSOP Main Event champ was within touching distance of the final table chip leader.
Shortly after the hand, the players took an impromptu 15 minute break and play will resume shortly, with just over 45 minutes remaining in Level 31. A complete update of the counts is provided below:
- Matt Wantman – 4,025,000
- Chris Leong – 5,545,000
- Yevgeniy Timoshenko – 5,165,000
- Rafael Yaraliyev – 8,670,000
- Joe McKeehen – 7,400,000
- Liam He – 5,205,000
‘WPT WPO Championship’
Level 30 (50,000/100,000/15,000)
Total Entries: 1,171
Players Remaining: 6
Average Stack: 5,855,000
Joe McKeehen (North Wales, PA)
While Chris Leong was one of the more active players at the start of this final table, the reigning WSOP Main Event champion has been the catalyst heading into the final few minutes of Level 30. The first pot he won was picked up pre flop, with McKeehen opening to 200,000 from the button.
Liam He, who was in the small blind, three-bet to 550,000 and after the big blind folded, McKeehen called to see the {9h}{8s}{6h} flop. He then check-folded to McKeehen’s 450,000 chip bet, marking the first victory for the Pennsylvania native at this WPT WPO Championship final table.
The next hand was one of the first to actually get to a river, as chip leader Rafael Yaraliyev opened to 225,000 from the small blind and McKeehen called to see the flop. That flop got checked through, with the same taps of the table occurring on the turn to bring both players to a river of {Kd}{3d}{2d}{3s}{5h}.
The chip leader then bet 225,000 and McKeehen threw in a single chip for a call. He didn’t need to cut out the amount because the pot was heading his way, as Yaraliyev was playing ten-high with {10d}{7c}. McKeehen turned over {8h}{8c}, good enough to take the pot and move himself over the 6,000,000 chip mark.
Despite the small loss, Yaraliyev is up and over the 10,000,000 mark, still controlling nearly 30% of the total chips in play.
‘WPT WPO Championship’
Level 30 (50,000/100,000/15,000)*
Total Entries: 1,171
Players Remaining: 6
Average Stack: 5,855,000
Chris Leong started this final table as the short stack but over the first few hands, he’s won a couple of small pots to move himself near 5,000,000.
The only thing guaranteed at a WPT final table is tension but the second closest guarantee is that the pace of play will be slow from the start. Both of those trends are playing out through the first portion of Level 30, as the last half hour has been tightly contested, with small victories making up most of the action.
The interesting dynamic coming into this final table was the everyone was relatively deep, with Chris Leong coming in with the shortest stack, still working 40 big blinds. That is plenty of room to maneuver with this structure and Leong has been maneuvering throughout the first few hands.
He won the first hand off the deck and a few hands later, won one of the first pots to actually make it past a flop against Matthew Wantman. It was a relatively uneventful pot, with Wantman opening to 225,000 from the button and Leong, in the small blind, three-betting to 550,000.
Wantman called and after both players checked the {5s}{5h}{2c} flop, Leong bet 525,000 after the {7c} fell on the turn. Wantman tank folded and Leong took in the small pot, one that moved him dangerously close to the 5,000,000 mark.
It’s a small victory but psychologically, it’s likely huge, as Leong came into this final table as the short stack and has come out of the gates quickly. We’ll see if that trend can continue, as this final table tightly plays through Level 30.
It should be noted that because this event switches to a WPT structure at the final table, the ante for this level has increased to 15,000. It should also be noted that once this level completes, levels will be 60 minutes in length until the start of heads up play.
‘WPT WPO Championship’
Level 30 (50,000/100,000/10,000) (55:56 remaining)
Total Entries: 1,171
Players Remaining: 6
Average Stack: 5,855,000
The WPT WPO Championship Final Table with, from left to right, Chris Leong, Matthew Wantman, Yevgeniy Timoshenko, Liam He, Rafael Yaraliyev and Joe McKeehen.
Usually, the opening announcements to any WPT final table have a similar excitement to the Super Bowl, but today is slightly different. That’s because this WPT event will not be televised, meaning that we are on the Borgata’s normal live streaming set.
While there won’t be any television cameras or post production features on this broadcast, the entire final table, with cards up coverage, will be live streamed. That stream can be found here and will be commentated by the WPT’s Tony Dunst, partypoker’s Jamie Kerstetter, Kane Kalas and the defending champion of this event, Aaron Mermelstein.
The players are now in their seats, the WPT production staff is ready, which means we are also, as we are officially underway here at the WPT WPO Championship final table.
Players will resume play with just over 55 minutes remaining in Level 30 and as a reminder, the seating assignments and chip counts of the players at this final table are listed below:
They are listed in seat order, along with chip counts below:
- Matt Wantman – 5,545,000
- Chris Leong – 4,230,000
- Yevgeniy Timoshenko – 6,555,000
- Rafael Yaraliyev – 9,945,000
- Joe McKeehen – 4,825,000
- Liam He – 4,910,000
The remaining WPT BPO Championship payouts are also listed below:
- $816,246
- $487,288
- $297,995
- $249,267
- $206,160
- $166,803