Albert Knafo Wins 2021 World Poker Tour DeepStacks Venetian For $532,395

The 2021 WPTDeepStacks Venetian $2,400 buy-in no-limit maintain’em occasion drew a area of 1,512 whole entries, blowing away the $2 million assure to create a last prize pool of $3,288,600. In the top, the lion’s share of that cash was awarded to Albert Knafo, who earned $532,395 because the champion of this occasion.

The 38-year-old was born in Netanya, Israel however has referred to as Los Angeles residence for the previous six years. This was his first main dwell match title and the most important rating of his profession. His earlier high money got here within the current Mid-States Poker Tour Venetian $1,100 buy-in occasion held in June. Knafo completed third in that occasion for $177,695.

Knafo’s current victory noticed him safe 1,080 Card Player Player of the Year factors. He had beforehand earned 800 for his MSPT final-table exhibiting. As a results of these two huge scores at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas, Knafo now sits in twenty fifth place within the 2021 POY race standings, that are sponsored by Global Poker.

The last day of this occasion started with 29 gamers remaining and Shawn Daniels within the lead. Knafo sat in seventh chip place when playing cards acquired within the air. The two survived to the ultimate desk of 9, alongside four-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner Eli Elezra. Belgian poker professional Thomas Boivin ran pocket eights into the pocket kings of Austin Srur to hit the rail in ninth place ($54,280). Marc Bernal adopted shortly after when his pocket kings had been unable to carry up in opposition to the A-J of Steven Sarmiento. Bernal was awarded $72,350 because the eighth-place finisher.

Shawn Daniels’ run on this occasion concluded when his flopped queen-high flush draw clashed with a set of threes for Srur. Daniels made his flush on the flip, however Srur improved to quads on the river to ship the start-of-day chief residence with $91,865.

Eli Elezra was the following to fall. He acquired all-in with AOkay and was racing in opposition to the pocket tens of Sarmiento. Neither participant improved by the river and Elezra was eradicated in sixth place ($112,235).

Knafo earned his first knockout of the ultimate desk when his A9 bested the Okay10 of James Gilbert in a preflop all-in confrontation. Gilbert was unable to come back from behind and settled for $139,180 because the fifth-place finisher.

The area was narrowed to a few when Doug Lada’s pocket sevens misplaced a are to Sarmiento’s AQ. Sarmiento made journey aces by the river to bust Lada in fourth place ($185,275).

Austin Srur’s stack dwindled to the purpose that he was left with simply extra then seven huge blinds at first of his last hand. He shoved with Okay-J and acquired a name from Kanfo’s Okay-Q. Knafo made a flush with a single coronary heart in his hand and 4 on the board to eradicate Srur in third place ($249,375).

Heads-up play started with Sarmiento holding 28,050,000 to Knafo’s 17,350,000. The two traded the lead a number of occasions, however had been practically even when the ultimate hand started. Knafo, who had his opponent lined by just some huge blinds, three-bet Sarmiento’s open elevate to 4.2 million. Sarmiento four-bet to 10 million and Knafo referred to as. The flop got here down Q96 and Knafo moved all in. Sarmiento snap-called and confirmed QQ for high set. Knafo held J10 for an open-ended straight draw. The 2 on the flip modified nothing, however the 8 on the river gae Knafo a queen-high straight to safe the pot and the title. Sarmiento was awarded $383,595 because the runner-up finisher.

Here is a take a look at the payouts and POY factors awarded on the last desk:

Photo credit score: WPT / Enrique Malfavon/