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The World Poker Tour (WPT) Bay 101 Shooting Star Championship returned to the schedule for the first time since 2017. The $5,300 buy-in tournament attracted 672 entries – including 75 Shooting Star bounties each worth $2,500 – and offered up a $3,225600 prize pool.
The tournament is currently on hiatus until December, which is when the final table of six will head to Las Vegas to play to a winner at a televised final table during the WPT World Championship. Kharlin Sued leads the pack, but poker pro Chance Kornuth, the last Shooting Star bounty remaining, is still in contention. The eventual winner will walk away with a $480,700 top prize.
Leading up to the final table – which also includes Matthew Widdoes, Danny Wong, Daniel Maor, and Alfie Poetra – there were some remarkable hands captured by the WPT Live Reporting Team. Below is a look at five of the more interesting ones.
Before we get into those, check out this video of PokerNews’ Chad Holloway doing a “card break” of a vintage deck of Shooting Star bounties from the 2006 WPT event.
Aces Cracked for Hellmuth III
On Day 1a, the blinds were 300/600/600 when three players each put in 1,300 before Phillip Hellmuth III, the son of poker Hall of Famer Phil Hellmuth, three-bet to 7,000 from the cutoff. Noah Schwartz, a Shooting Star bounty, then four-bet to 19,000 from the button, and the other three players folded. Hellmuth III proceeded to five-bet jam for 115,900, and Schwartz hit the tank before making the call.
Phillip Hellmuth III: A♥A♦
Noah Schwartz: K♠K♥
It was a cooler for Schwartz, and things looked dire on the 10♠9♥8♦ flop as well as the 6♦ turn. However, Schwartz got lucky when the K♣ spiked on the river to send Hellmuth III to the rail in brutal fashion.
Kabrhel Silenced By Ritchie
On Day 1b, it was Level 8 (600/1,200/1,200) with around 30,000 in the pot and a flop of 8♥4♥2♦ when Shooting Star Martin Kabrhel found himself all in for 48,000, Steven Ritchie for 55,400, and both players being covered by Brock Wilson.
Martin Kabrhel: A♦8♦
Steven Ritchie: 6♥5♥
Brock Wilson: Q♥Q♣
The 7♦ turn gave Ritchie a straight, but Kabrhel picked up a diamond flush draw. Unfortunately for the fast talker, the A♠ river was no help and he was sent to the rail while Ritchie more than doubled up in the hand.
Shooting Stars Collide
On Day 2, it was Level 15 (3,000/6,000/6,000) when Shooting Star Nikki Limo found herself all in from the big blind and at risk against Matt Salsberg, who was also a Shooting Star bounty.
Nikki Limo: J♠J♣
Matt Salsberg: A♥Q♣
It was a classic flip and Limo was looking to hold to stay alive. Unfortunately for her, that was easier said than done as the Q♠Q♥6♥ flop hit Salsberg big time. Neither the 4♦ turn nor 7♣ river helped Limo, and she had to hand over her $2,500 bounty as well as an autographed t-shirt (see lead photo).
Kornuth vs. Rigby for 10% of the Chips in Play
On Day 3, it was Level 20 (10,000/20,000/20,000) when a monstrous pot took place, one worth 10% of the chips in play.
It began when Shooting Star Chance Kornuth raised to 40,000 under the gun and then called when fellow Shooting Star Nick Ribgy of “Dirty Diaper” fame three-bet to 110,000 from the button. When the flop came down A♣9♦8♦, Kornuth checked and Rigby continued for 85,000. Kornuth responded with a check-raise to 320,000 and Rigby called to see the 4♣.
Both players checked and the 10♠ completed the board on the river. Kornuth thought for a bit before moving all in for 1,205,000 and Rigby hit the tank before calling to create a 3.32 million pot. Kornuth showed the 7♥6♥ for a straight, and it was good as Rigby had looked him up with the A♠J♣.
Justin Young Ousted in 9th Place
On Day 4, just nine players remained in Level 24 (25,000/50,000/50,000) when Shooting Star Justin Young raised to 125,000 from the cutoff only to have Chance Kornuth three-bet jam from the big blind. Young burned through four Time Chips before calling off for 940,000 only to discover bad news.
Justin Young: K♦Q♥
Chance Kornuth: A♣Q♠
Young was dominated but did get a little help as the Q♣J♣10♥ flop gave him an open-ended straight draw. Unfortunately for him, the 5♦ turn and 6♥ river were both bricks to send him out in ninth place for $47,000 while Kornuth collected the $2,500 bounty.
*Images courtesy of the WPT.
PR & Media Manager
