The field of the WPT bestbet Bounty Scramble Main Event was narrowed from 25 to the final six yesterday in Jacksonville and the final table is currently underway. It was almost a dead-heat to begin Tuesday’s action as Sam Panzica was the chip leader with 2.97 million chips and Richard Malone, Jr. was but a rounding error behind him with 2.95 million.
After the two chip leaders, there was a million chip gap to the third place Paul Balzano, who had 1.965 million. He was followed by former WPT title winner Tyler Patterson with 1.405 million. The two shortest stacks were Champions Club member Noah Schwartz with 1.095 million and Ankush Mandavia with 1.030 million chips. Whoever wins is going to have to navigate through one of the tougher WPT final tables of the year.
One of Sam Panzica’s most significant hands of the day, one that solidified him at the top of the leaderboard, was the rare huge hand that never went to showdown. He raised pre-flop to 90,000 and Tyler Patterson made the call from the big blind. On the flop of J-6-4, Patterson checked, Panzica bet 85,000, and Patterson called. With the 9 on the turn, Patterson once again check-called, this time for 165,000. Patterson checked again when a 5 was dealt on the river, prompting Panzica to go harder, for 325,000 chips. This time, Patterson released his hand and gave Panzica the pot.
Richard Malone, Jr. made his big move on the final hand of Day 3. T.K. Miles shoved all-in for 760,000 and Malone called with pocket Nines. Miles had A-J, so the race was on. The flop put Miles in the lead: A-T-4 gave him a pair of Aces, (counts on fingers…) better than Malone’s Nines. The 4 on the turn kept him in the lead, but Malone binked a third Nine on the river to win the hand and the massive pot. Miles was eliminated in seventh place, setting the final table for Tuesday.
One interesting story line of the final table is the presence of Tyler Patterson. Patterson won this same event last year and is thus gunning to become the first player in World Poker Tour history to defend a title. He is also the last bounty remaining in the tournament; if someone knocked him out, that player receives a $2,500 bonus plus an autographed bestbet bounty medallion.
2016 World Poker Tour bestbet Bounty Scramble – Final Table Chip Counts
1. Sam Panzica – 2,970,000
2. Richard Malone, Jr. – 2,950,000
3. Paul Balzano – 1,865,000
4. Tyler Patterson – 1,405,000
5. Noah Schwartz – 1,095,000
6. Ankush Mandavia – 1,030,000
