HyperX Esports Arena, Las Vegas, hosted the $3,500 buy-in World Poker Tour (WPT) Seminole Hard Rock Poker Shutdown event after a six-week break. The six final players made their way from a total of 2,010 entries.

All eyes were on Darren Elias as he was looking to secure his fifth WPT title. Chino Rheem, Brian Altman, Eric Afriat, Anthony Zinno, Carlos Mortensen, and Gus Hanses follow Elias with three titles in the WPT title race.

The final six players were Marcos Exerkotter, Darren Ellias, Andrew Barfield, Veit Vo, and Mark Davis. Davis, who had the second-highest chip count, ruined all the plans of Elias and claimed the title for a top prize of $1,000,300. Davis’s previous live tournament earnings were around $730,167, with his prior career-best of $334,678, which he received after securing the WPT Circuit Harrah’s Cherokee Main event title in February.

Final Table Result and Prizes

Final Table Action

The elimination started with Michael Laufer, whose pocket threes were not enough against the ace-nine of Davis. Laufer finished in sixth place with a prize of $215,000. Andrew Barfield was short-stacked, and Hand #34 decided his fate when he went for all in with his pocket seven against the King-Queen of Viet Vo. Vo had to leave the table six hands later when his top pair of aces failed against Elias’s ace-seven (Diamonds). The running diamonds provided a flush to Elias, and Viet Vo cashed $370,000 for his fourth position.

Hand # 53 turned out to be the end of play for Marcos Exerkotter. Darren Elias raised to 1,000,000, and Exterkotter moved all in. Elias called with 7 (Hearts), 7 (Diamonds), and Exterkotter turned over A (Diamonds) 4(Spades). The flop showed J (Spades), 9 (Hearts), 3 (Clubs), 6 (Spades), and 2 (Hearts). Elias won the pot with his pocket sevens. Exterkotter finished in third place for a prize of $490,000. The chip count at this stage was 63.7 million for Elias, while Davis had 37.75 million chips.

Heads-up Play

The heads-up match was interesting as the lead shifted back and forth and continued for almost 100 hands. Mark Davis moved for 2,000,000, and Darren Elias replied with a check. The flop showed Q (Clubs), 8 (Spades), and 5 (Clubs), to which Elias checked, and Davis bet 2,600,000. Elias called, and the turn card was 10 (Hearts). Elias moved all-in for 9,300,000, and Davis decided to call with 8 (Hearts) and 5 (Hearts). Next, the 9 (Diamonds) and 7 (Spades) favored Elias, who needed improvement to stay alive in the game. The river card showed 7 (Hearts), and Davis won the pot. Darren Elias did not make it to his fifth WPT title and finished runner up, which earned him a prize of $660,000. His lifetime earnings have now increased to more than $10.5 million.

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