Day 3 of the World Poker Tour (WPT) Montreal Main Event began with just 45 players – five tables-worth – remaining and when the night was wrapped, the final six players had been determined. It looks like it is going to be a tight race to the finish, as the two chip leaders, Sylvain Siebert and Jeff Gross, are separated by just 200,000 chips.
While Siebert has 8.85 million chips and Gross has 8.65 million, the next two competitors are not far behind. Jonathan Roy is the proud owner of 7.48 million chips, while Pascal Lefrancois has 6.065 million. That makes it a clear four horse race, but with 2.405 million and 1.605 million chips, respectively, Peter Kaemmerlen and Gavin Smith are just a big hand or two away from pulling back into contention.
The two men at the top of the leaderboard used a few large late pots to cement their spots in the top two. On the 28th hand of the unofficial final table (started with 10 players remaining), Gross raised pre-flop to 260,000 and Siebert called. They checked it all the way until the river, at which point Gross bet 305,000 on a board of 4♦-3♣-2♥-2♦-T♦. Siebert called, but mucked his hand when Gross showed A♠-T♣.
On the very next hand, Gross and Kaemmerlen got into a pre-flop raising war before Kaemmerlen called Gross’s 1.153 million chip four-bet. Gross moved all-in on the flop of K♣-6♦-4♦, forcing his opponent to fold.
Gross scooped another big one two hands later, eliminating Gabriel Fernandes in 9th place when he moved all-in for half a million chips.
Siebert got his previously lost chips back and then some two hands after that. He raised pre-flop to 340,000 and watched Martin Raus three-bet him to 850,000. Siebert shoved and Raus called, revealing A♣-K♦. Siebert showed J♥-J♦. The dealer laid down all low cards on the board, allowing the Jacks to hold up and eliminating Raus in 8th place.
We talked about Gross yesterday, as he was the end of the day chip leader, so let’s talk about Sylvain Siebert, as he is currently in first place. While Gross has a history of deep runs in live tournaments, the same cannot be said for Mr. Siebert. The Ontario resident has just one cash listed on his live tourney resume, achieved in October 2009 when he placed 6th in the C$1,000 No-Limit Hold’em event at the Great Blue Heron Casino stop on the Canadian Poker Tour. Already guaranteed at least $113,155, Siebert will be multiplying his career earnings many times over.
The six remaining players will be battling it out Tuesday for the C$754,162 first prize. Play will begin at 4:00pm ET and can be followed via live stream at WPT.com.
2012 WPT Montreal – Final Table Chip Counts
1. Sylvain Siebert – 8,850,000
2. Jeff Gross – 8,650,000
3. Jonathan Roy – 7,480,000
4. Pascal Lefrancois – 6,065,000
5. Peter Kaemmerlen – 2,405,000
6. Gavin Smith – 1,605,000