ShareScott Eskenazi has added his name to the illustrious string of WPT Champions by taking down the WPT Rolling Thunder Main Event at California’s Thunder Valley Casino resort, the win worth $361,660 and his name on the Mike Sexton Cup.
The $3500 buy-in tournament attracted a record-breaking field of 590 entries, making the prizepool $1,888,000 and leading Ben Erwin, Director of Poker Operations at Thunder Valley, to comment: “It was an incredible, record-setting festival from start to finish...the draw for the main event was something we have never seen before.”
By the time they reached the final table of six, 61-year-old rec player Eskenazi sat 5th in chips, the lead held by Alejandro Jauregui, followed by WPT commentator Tony Dunst.
Dunst, however, would be first to depart, a brutal hand sending the players in opposite directions...
Dunst: K♣ Q♣
Eskenazi: A♦ 2♦
Board: 3♦ 4♣ 5♥ 10♣ Kâ™
Paredes fell in 5th spot after losing a race to Jauregui, then Eskenazi was back in the spotlight as he felled Albert Tapia, the Californian leaving with a lifetime best $128,000 cash.
Jauregui’s quest for a WPT title ended when he took a chance with an open-ended straight draw on the turn, Joseph insta-calling with top pair and dodging the outs on the river.
Heads-up was a ding-dong battle between the two players who started the day with the smallest stacks, but something had to give and in the end it was Eskenazi who emerged with the victory...
Eskenazi: Aâ™ Kâ™
Joseph: A♣ 2♣
Board: 7♦ 9♠7♥ 4♣ 3♣
Final Results
| 1 | Scott Eskenazi | $361,660 |
| 2 | Jeremy Joseph | $234,000 |
| 3 | Alejandro Jauregui | $172,000 |
| 4 | Albert Tapia | $128,000 |
| 5 | Victor Paredes | $97,000 |
| 6 | Tony Dunst | $73,400 |
61-year-old Eskenazi, from Mercer Island, Washington, not only bagged the $361,660 top prize and a trophy created by world-renowned artist David Arsham, but also wins a seat in the WPT® World Championship.
In addition, he will have his name engraved on the Mike Sexton WPT Champions Cup, alongside the likes of Daniel Negreanu, Chance Kornuth and Ryan Riess.
“Feels awesome. It was great. It was an educational experience. I’m still a rec player, but I learned a lot,” he said afterwards, adding: “They were all tough players, especially Jeremy Joseph. He’s a great player. We battled for a long time.”
WPT CEO Adam Pliska said of the event: “We are elated with the tremendous success at Thunder Valley Casino, breaking WPT and venue records in multiple categories. Congratulations to Scott for his crowning achievement in our largest WPT Rolling Thunder event in history.”
