Despite only needing 22 eliminations to get through the day, Day 3 of the World Poker Tour (WPT) bestbet Jacksonville Fall Poker Scramble Main Event was a long one, lasting over 14 hours. The six-handed final table was determined, though, and Noah Schwartz will take a gigantic chip lead into Tuesday’s play. With 6.255 million chips, Schwartz has over 43 percent of the chips in play and has positioned himself as the one to beat for the $402,970 first prize.
Schwartz made the most significant additions to his chip stack in the last few hands of the night. On hand 61 of the 66 hands in total for the day, Hans Winzeler, the chip leader at the time, raised pre-flop to 80,000. Brian Senie called and Schwartz three-bet from the button all the way up to 285,000. At that, Winzeler moved all-in, leading to a fold from Senie and a call from Schwartz. It was the right call by Schwartz, as his A-K dominated Winzeler’s A-Q. A King flopped, all but ending the hand right there and giving Schwartz the double-up to 4.64 million chips.
Schwartz grabbed about 300,000 more chips two hands later and then on the final hand of the night, eliminated Shon Mekyten on the final table bubble. Senie raised pre-flop from the button to 80,000 and both Mekyten and Schwartz called. On the flop of A♣-2♣-2♦, Mekyten checked, Schwartz bet 100,000, Senie folded, and Mekyten called. After the turn of T♣, Mekyen checked again, Schwartz bet 215,000, and Mekyten check-raised all-in for 935,000. Schwartz made the easy call with K♣-6♣, giving him the nut flush, while Mekyten showed A♦-T♥ for top two pair. The 5♣ on the river clinched the hand for Schwartz and Mekyten was gone in 7th place.
Schwartz is looking for his first World Poker Tour title. He has come close on more than one occasion, the latest coming in February when he placed 4th in the WPT L.A. Poker Classic Championship Event for $355,750. He finished 18th in the WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open earlier that month, as well. Previous deep runs in WPT championship events include 18th place in the 2011 WPT Seminole Hard Rock Showdown, 3rd in the 2010 WPT Festa al Lago, and 4th in the 2008 WPT Borgata Winter Open. He has won over $2.5 in his live tournament career.
Also at the final table is Lee Markholt, who has extended his WPT cash record to 23 cashes. He is the only one at the final table with a WPT title, taking down the 2008 World Poker Challenge in Reno.
The WPT bestbet Jacksonville Fall Poker Scramble Main Event final table will begin at 2:00pm ET and can be watched via live stream on WPT.com
2012 WPT bestbet Jacksonville Fall Poker Scramble Main Event – Final Table Chip Counts
1. Noah Schwartz – 6,255,000
2. Hans Winzeler – 1,965,000
3. Brian Senie – 1,865,000
4. Lee Markholt – 1,720,000
5. Ryan Hartmann – 1,400,000
6. Byron Kaverman – 1,075,000