Daniel Brits Wins WPT Emperors Palace Poker Classic for $132,128
Season XII of the World Poker Tour continued on Monday with the conclusion of the Emperors Palace Poker Classic at The Palace of Dreams in Johannesburg, South Africa. After four days of play, Daniel Brits defeated Eugene du Plessis to capture the $132,128 first-place prize and etch his name on the WPT Champions’ Cup.
WPT Emperors Palace Poker Classic Results
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Daniel Brits | $132,128 |
| 2nd | Eugene du Plessis | $92,708 |
| 3rd | Rob Fenner | $59,634 |
| 4th | Dominik Nitsche | $44,136 |
| 5th | Wesley Wiegand | $33,130 |
| 6th | Ronit Chamani | $26,504 |
According to the WPT live blog, action recommenced at Level 25 (15,000/30,000/5,000) and it didn’t take long for the first elimination to occur. It happened when Rob Fenner moved all in under the gun for his last 355,000. Ronit Chamani then moved all in for 375,000 from the small blind, and Wesley Wiegand called from the big to put them both at risk.
Fenner: A♣10♠
Wiegand: A♦K♦
Chamani: A♥J♥
Since all three players shared an ace, it all came down to the kicker. Fenner was in last place in that department, but the 10♣5♣3♦ flop changed all that. Fenner found a ten to take the lead, and things only got better when the 3♣ turn delivered him a flush draw. The Q♣ river gave him the flush and allowed him to triple to 1 million in chips. Meanwhile, Wiegand was left with just 75,000 while Chamani was eliminated in sixth place for $26,504.
On the very next hand, Brits opened for 65,000 from the cutoff and Wiegand committed his last chips from the small blind. Fenner called from the big, Brits put in the extra 10,000, and then both active players checked the A♥10♦5♠ flop. When the dealer burned and turned the 9♦, Fenner check-called a bet of 110,000 and then check-folded to a bet of 210,000 on the 7♣ river. Brits tabled the A♦K♠ and won the pot after Wiegand mucked his hand. Wiegand took home $33,130 for his fifth-place finish.
In Season XI, German pro Dominik Nitsche won the Emperors Palace Poker Classic, and amazingly he was back at the final table. Unfortunately he wouldn’t be able to repeat. Nitsche fell when he moved all in from the cutoff for 405,000 and Brits called from the button.
Brits: A♠Q♦
Nitsche: A♦J♦
According to the PokerNews Odds Calculator, Brits was a huge 67.62% favorite while Nitsche would survive 26.77% of the time. The K♦J♣8♣ flop was kind to Nitsche as it paired his jack and made him a 71.81% favorite, but then the 10♣ spiked on the turn. Brits made a Broadway straight and became a 93.18% favorite to scoop. Nitsche was drawing dead to win outright, but he would chop 6.82% of the time if a queen came on the river. Unfortunately for him, that didn’t happen as the K♣ blanked. The defending champion hit the rail in fourth place and earned $44,316 for his performance.
The next elimination didn’t occur until Level 27 (25,000/50,000/5,000) when Fenner limped from the small blind and du Plessis checked his option from the big. Fenner led out for 50,000 on the Q♥7♣4♥ flop, du Plessis raised to 140,000, and Fenner three-bet to 400,000. Du Plessis then moved all in holding the 6♥7♥ and Fenner wasted little time in calling off with the 10♥9♥. Both players had flopped a flush draw, and while du Plessis’ was inferior, he was ahead with a pair of sevens. Neither the 3♠ turn nor K♣ river changed a thing, and Fenner was bounced in third place for $59,634.
Brits took a slight chip lead into heads-up play, which turned out to be a three-hour affair. In what would be the final hand of the tournament, which took place in Level 31 (60,000/120,000/20,000), du Plessis opened for 200,000 and Brits called, which brought about a Q♦7♠2♦ flop. Brits checked, du Plessis bet, and Brits woke up with an all-in check-raise. Du Plessis called off and the cards were tabled.
du Plessis: J♦7♦
Brits: Q♠8♦
Du Plessis had flopped middle pair and a flush draw, but he needed to improve as Brits held top pair. The 9♣ turn was of no consequence, and neither was the Q♣ river. Brits’ hand held up and du Plessis had to settle for second place and a $92,708 consolation prize.
Congratulations to Daniel Brits, winner of the WPT Emperors Palace Poker Classic.
Season XII of the WPT will continue with the WPT bestbet Jacksonville Fall Poker Scramble from November 15-19. PokerNews will be bringing you daily recaps of that event.
*Photos courtesy of the WPT Blog.
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