The six-handed final table of the World Poker Tour (WPT) L.A. Poker Classic was determined Wednesday evening, with Toby Lewis finishing the day as the chip leader. It is really a two man show going into Thursday’s action, as Lewis has 5.390 million chips and Dennis Blieden has 4.125 million. None of the other four players have more than 1.7 million chips. Everyone is guaranteed at least $186,235 at this point, but they all have their sights set on the $1 million first prize.
The two chip leaders could have been in reversed positions had it not been for the final two hands of the night. On the penultimate hand, according to the WPT.com hand history, Blieden raised pre-flop to 60,000 chips. Lewis called, Greg Paryani called, and Marc Macdonnell called. The four saw a flop of K-7-7 and all checked to bring on the turn of K. It checked to Blieden, who bet 105,000. Only Macdonnell made the call. The river card was a 2 and Macdonnell checked to Blieden, who bet 400,000. Macdonnell tanked, using two time extension chips in the process, and then finally decided to look Blieden up.
It was a great call by Macdonnell, as Blieden had just T-2, which meant he was playing the two pair on the board and using his Ten as a kicker. Macdonnell had 8-8, giving him a better two pair.
On the next hand, which would be the last one of the night, Lewis limped pre-flop for 30,000, Paryani called, and Blieden checked in the big blind. The flop was Q-9-8 and Blieden checked, Lewis bet 65,000, Paryani raised to 180,000, and Blieden got out of the way. Lewis then went over the top all-in and Paryani called all-in for 780,000 chips.
Lewis had Q-9 for top two pair, but was behind Paryani’s set of 8’s. The turn was a King and the river was an Ace, though, giving Lewis a runner-runner straight and eliminating Paryani in seventh place on the edge of the televised final table.
This is Toby Lewis’ third World Poker Tour final table. He previous finished sixth in the 2013 WPT L.A. Poker Classic Main Event and fourth in the 2014 partypoker WPT Merit Classic North Cyprus Main Event. He is coming off a massive victory in January’s Aussie Millions Main Event, where he won $1,178,513. Lewis also has a European Poker Tour title and nearly $4.4 million in live tournament earnings.
This is also the third WPT final table for Derek Wolters, who is currently fourth in chips with 1.520 million.
The WPT L.A. Poker Classic televised final table will commence at 4:00pm PST Thursday. The live stream will be on a 30-minute delay and will begin, accordingly, at 4:30pm.
2018 World Poker Tour L.A. Poker Classic Main Event – Final Table Chip Counts
1. Toby Lewis – 5,390,000
2. Dennis Blieden – 4,125,000
3. Marc Macdonnell – 1,695,000
4. Derek Wolters – 1,520,000
5. Peter Hengsakul – 1,065,000
6. Manuel Martinez – 985,000