Nick Yunis Claims Victory
Chilean poker pro Nick Yunis won the World Poker Tour (WPT) bestbet Scramble Championship, earning $310,079. He defeated Yunkyu Song in a thrilling heads-up battle.
Afriat’s Early Dominance Fades
The $5,000 buy-in tournament ended Tuesday evening. Eric Afriat, who started with a large chip lead, aimed for his fourth WPT title. This would have tied him with Darren Elias for the record. However, his chip advantage quickly disappeared. After hours of play, Afriat finished in third place, winning $165,000.
Afriat’s Bluff Backfires
Afriat’s elimination came after a significant hand. He had top pair and a missed flush draw. Yunis made a bold bluff with queen-high, and Afriat’s stack dwindled. This bluff helped Yunis seize control of the tournament.
WPT bestbet Scramble Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nick Yunis | $310,079 |
| 2 | Yunkyu Song | $252,059 |
| 3 | Eric Afriat | $165,000 |
| 4 | Joe Jordan | $123,000 |
| 5 | Nick Funaro | $93,000 |
| 6 | Dion Jagroo | $71,000 |
Final Table Recap
The final table began with six players, each holding at least 21 big blinds. After two hours, Dion Jagroo was the first player eliminated. He moved all in with a gutshot straight draw and lost to Afriat’s pocket jacks, finishing in sixth place for $71,000.
Nick Funaro’s Bluff Costs Him
Nick Funaro, starting second in chips, became the next victim. He bluffed with a weak hand and lost his entire stack. Yunis made the correct call, sending Funaro to the rail in fifth place for $93,000.
Joe Jordan Falls Short
Joe Jordan lost a 60/40 coin flip to Yunis and finished in fourth place for $123,000.
Three-Handed Play Shifts Momentum
With three players remaining, Afriat held nearly half the chips. But Yunkyu Song, fresh off his WPT Prime Playground victory in Montreal, won a large pot against Afriat. Yunis then took over the chip lead and never looked back.
Heads-Up Battle and Final Hand
The heads-up match started with Yunis in the lead, but Song fought back. He doubled up and regained some momentum. However, Song’s luck ran out when he bluffed away a portion of his stack. Down to 11 big blinds, Song pushed all-in with Q♠ 5♠, but Yunis called with Q♦ 3♦. A 3♠ hit the river, ending the tournament.
Yunis Secures Major Victory
Yunis won $310,079 and earned seats into the WPT World Championship and the ClubWPT Gold $5 Million Invitational Freeroll at Wynn Las Vegas. This is Yunis’s largest live tournament cash, bringing his total earnings to over $2.7 million.
Upcoming WPT Events
The World Poker Tour has two more Main Tour events this year. First, the WPT Seminole Rock ‘N’ Roll Poker Open Championship in Hollywood, Florida, starts Nov. 29. Then, the WPT World Championship in Las Vegas begins Dec. 14.