James ‘Wayne’ Leonard Wins 2024 CPPT bestbet Jacksonville Mystery Bounty Main Event

After a back-and-forth heads-up match, James ‘Wayne’ Leonard emerged victorious within the 2024 Card Player Poker Tour bestbet Jacksonville $1,700 buy-in no-limit maintain’em most important occasion. The longtime Jacksonville resident, now primarily based out of Tampa, defeated a subject of 440 entries to earn a career-best event rating of $87,820.

“It could have been him, it could have been me,” mentioned Leonard of his closing showdown towards Gourg Khanchat. “I’ve been in that situation three or four times in my career, and to get it one time… I’ll remember this for the rest of my life.”

Leonard, who is thought to many as ‘The Irishman’, has undoubtedly had a number of shut calls at this very venue. He’s beforehand completed third in a $400 RunGood Poker Series occasion earlier this 12 months, second in a $360 buy-in throughout the 2019 Summer Series, and had one other runner-up displaying in a $1,500 buy-in throughout the 2022 Summer Heater. Now, he lastly broke by for a marquee victory on the massive stage.

“bestbet is just amazing,” mentioned Leonard when requested about his years of expertise enjoying at bestbet Jacksonville. “I remember when they opened it and it was just such a relief to get this kind of a poker room in Jacksonville… I mean, it’s top-notch. You get the best food, get the best service. Everybody here treats you with respect. They know your name and they really, really appreciate the players.”

This newest rating elevated Leonard’s lifetime event earnings to $375,081. While he’s a dentist by commerce, he has been enjoying poker for greater than 25 years.

“In the last three years, I’ve really put time into [poker] and have been working really, really hard for this win. I’m fortunate to have video of myself that I can watch, kind of take away some of my tendencies, see what I do, and correct those actions and really, and kind of work on it myself.”

Leonard was awarded 720 Card Player Player of the Year factors for the win. This was his fourth final-table end of the 12 months. With 1,043 whole factors, he’s now sitting inside the highest 500 within the 2024 POY race standings introduced by Global Poker.

In addition to the highest prize, Leonard additionally secured $29,500 in bounty payouts from his 5 knockouts made throughout the bounty portion of this event. He picked the third-largest bounty that was up for grabs, a $20,000 payout, together with a $5,000 bounty, two $2,000 bounties, and one $500 payout.

This occasion had a complete prize pool of $662,200, with $220,000 put aside for the bounties. Those have been all awarded from day 2 on, with the 55 gamers that cashed on this occasion incomes a bounty for every knockout they secured. Runner-up Khanchat drew the highest bounty of $50,000. The payouts ranged from that prime bounty all the way down to $500.

The massive one has been pulled!

Gourg Khanchat has drawn the $50,000 bounty within the 2024 Card Player Poker Tour @bestbet_jax $1,700 thriller bounty most important occasion. Congrats to Gourg pic.twitter.com/uvG54lKmaP

— Card Player: The Poker Authority (@CardPlayerMedia) August 25, 2024

The closing day of this occasion started with simply 5 gamers remaining, with Khanchat within the lead and Leonard in second chip place. Nikhil Sunku)!Nikhil Sunku was the primary to fall, together with his quick stack stepping into with Okay5 towards a dominating OkayQ for Anthony Pathman. Sunku was unable to return from behind and was eradicated in ninth place ($8,780.)

Yi Chi Li quickly adopted Zunku to the rail. The bestbet Jacksonville common received all-in with A-j trailing the A-Okay of Thad McNulty and located no assistance on a queen-high runout. Li earned $11,135 because the eighth-place finisher.

Juan Tellez’s run got here to an finish when his J-10 suited was outrun by the J-9 suited of Khanchat, who had been roughly on hearth since drawing the $50,000 bounty again on day 2. Both gamers had flush attracts going into the river, however Khanchats’ membership got here in on the top to eradicate Tellez in seventh place ($14,280).

Longtime poker business member Johnny Pham misplaced an enormous chunk of his stack in a conflict with Khchat throughout six-handed play. He managed a couple of double ups, however was quickly all-in and in danger once more with Okay6 trailing the ten10 of Pathman. Pham failed to attach with the board and was knocked out in sixth place ($18,525).

This was McNulty’s third CPPT bestbet Jacksonville most important occasion closing desk displaying, having completed fourth within the 2019 operating and ninth in 2023. This time round he positioned fifth for $24,295. The rating elevated the Jacksonville mainstay’s lifetime event earnings to $653,542.

McNulty was despatched packing when he received all-in with J9 on a ten44J board. He was trailing the OkayJ, and the three on the top was of no assist. With that, the sphere was narrowed to 4 contenders.

Alex Kimpel positioned fourth on this identical occasion in 2023. Incredibly, that was his ending place this 12 months as properly. Kimpel received all-in with A4 main the 76 of Khanchat, however the J7243 runout gave Khanchat a pair of sevens and the elimination. Kimpel secured $32,220 for the newest leg of his back-to-back closing tables on this event.

The subsequent knockout hand started with Pathman shifting all-in for 510,000 from the button with 85. Khanchat three-bet to 1,050,000 from the small blind, solely to have Leonard come excessive with a four-bet shove for five,445,000 out of the massive blind. Khanchat went into the tank earlier than laying down his A5. Leonard revealed the QQ.

The AOkay8 flop gave Pathman a pair some hope, however the 2 flip and seven introduced no extra assist. Pathman earned $43,190 because the third-place finisher, his largest rating but on the circuit.

Heads-up play started with Leonard holding 7,105,000 to Khanchat’s 5,980,000. Khanchat was capable of shut the hole after which overtake the lead within the early going. He had prolonged his benefit to roughly 3:1 when the following massive conflict arose. All of the chips went in preflop with Leonar’s QJ trailing the AJ of Khanchat. The board got here down 109874 and Leonard flopped a straight to double again to roughly even.

Leonard then stretched out a lead of his personal when a really related scenario performed out. Khanchat was all-in with Okay10 in tough form towards the OkayQ. This time Khanchat spiked broadway on the flip to double again in entrance.

Eventually, Leonard was capable of retake the lead for the ultimate time. In the final hand, Khanchat raised to 480,000 from the button with A3 and Leonard three-bet shoved with A5 out of the massive blind. Khanchat referred to as all in for five,430,000.

The AQ456 runout gave Leonard aces and fives for the win. Khanchat earned $58,530 because the runner-up. This was the second time he has completed on this place in a $1,700 thriller bounty occasion at bestbet Jacksonville. He beforehand did so throughout the 2023 World Poker Tour cease. He now has $107,861 in profession event earnings after this newest deep run.

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

Here is a take a look at the complete checklist of bounty payouts awarded:

$50,000 – Gourg Khanchat
$25,000 – Kennie Garison
$20,000 – James Leonard
$10,000 – Gourg Khanchat
$10,000 – Bryan Bennett
$10,000 – Johnny Pham
$10,000 – Dickie Malone
$5,000 – Thad McNulty (x2)
$5,000 – James Leonard
$5,000 – Gourg Khanchat
$5,000 – Bryan Bennett
$5,000 – Kennie Garrison
$5,000 – Anthony Pathman
$5,000 – Alex Kimpel
$2,000 – Bryan Bennett (x2)
$2,000 – James Leonard (x2)
$2,000 – Kennie Garrison
$2,000 – John Connors
$2,000 – Nikhil Sunka
$2,000 – Tommy Doyle
$2,000 – Christian Johnson
$2,000 – Kelly Joe Andrews
$2,000 – Jessica Cai
$1,000 – Johnny Pham (x2)
$1,000 – John Connors (x2)
$1,000 – Kyle Terrel
$1,000 – Juan Tellez
$1,000 – Kennie Garrison
$1,000 – Yi Chi Li
$1,000 – Ken Brosnahan
$1,000 – Jose Reyes
$1,000 – Anthony Pathman (x2)
$1,000 – Jared Reinstein
$500 + Draw 1 – Jose Reyes
$500 + Draw 1 – Joshua Adcock
$500 – John Connors (x2)
$500 – Thad McNulty (x2)
$500 – Gourg Khanchat (x2)
$500 – Anthony Pathman (x3)
$500 – James Leonard
$500 – Yi Chi Li
$500 – Johnny Pham
$500 – Jose Reyes
$500 – Danny Clarkson
$500 – Renee Bacherman
$500 – Dante Cianfarra
$500 – Nicholas Chong
$500 – Joshua Adcock