The final six remaining players of the WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Main Event are now thinking of Vegas and the...Luxor.
There were 16 players who came into the day at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino and Hotel with hopes of punching their ticket to the Vegas final table and their name in the coveted spot on the Mike Sexton Cup. One by one, ten of them fell to the fate the cards held, some in a more disgusting fashion than others.
At the end of the day, after just over six hours of Day 4 play, Bin Weng bagged a massive stack of 46,050,000 for the commanding chip lead.
Final table chip counts
Seat | Player | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
1 | Mitch Garshofsky | 18,550,000 | 62 big blinds |
2 | David Mazareulov | 13,350,000 | 45 big blinds |
3 | Rafael Farah Jarufe | 4,275,000 | 14 big blinds |
4 | Sridhar Sangannagari | 19,100,000 | 64 big blinds |
5 | Bin Weng | 46,050,000 | 154 big blinds |
6 | Naing Thu | 13,250,000 | 44 big blinds |
Weng bagged more than double his closest competitor. Playing professionally for the last four years, 2023 has already been the hottest year he's ever had. Weng won "The Return" Championship Event at the Borgata in January for $1 million and a WSOP Circuit Ring in Las Vegas in February for over $227,000.
"I started playing professionally in 2019 and quickly made a few final tables," shared Weng. "I think I was overconfident in myself in 2021 and 2022. I didn't do too well in the second half of 2022, so I skipped a few series and did a lot of study. I won at Borgata, so maybe my study is working."
I think that's an understatement, especially as he finds himself at another final table, this one with a WPT title on the line.
Just after bagging, his opponent on his right, Sridhar Sangannagari, had a question for the Tournament Director. "Is there a redraw?" The answer was a disappointing no for Sangannagari, as players will close out the tournament in their same seats when they head to Vegas next month. I asked Sangannagari, "How much would you pay to move to Weng's left instead?" He answered quickly, "Well over $100,000." That's representative of how aggressive he was playing and how hot he was running at the final table.
Many other big names were eliminated early. Always a favorite during any deep run, Andrew Moreno saw his pocket kings run down by the ace-queen of Rafael Farah Jarufe for about 100 big blinds.
On the Vegas table bubble, Isaac Kempton turned two pair against Bin Weng and got all the chips in the middle. But, true to how the rest of Weng's day went, Weng drilled a better two pair on the river to close out the night.
Remaining payouts and Vegas schedule
With six pay spots left, here's what's still up for grabs.
Place | Prize |
1 | $1,128,250* |
2 | $745,000 |
3 | $550,000 |
4 | $413,000 |
5 | $312,000 |
6 | $238,000 |
The final table will be in Vegas on May 25th at the Luxor and live-streamed for free by the World Poker Tour.
Until then, congratulations to the final six as they await that big day knowing they have $238,000 locked up with well over $1 million awaiting the champion.
All photos courtesy of the World Poker Tour.