Vlad Darie Crowned 2016 partypoker WPT Vienna Champion
Romania has itself a World Poker Tour (WPT) champion after Vlad Darie topped a field of 234 players in the 2016 partypoker WPT Vienna Main Event, claiming the €170,800 first-place prize and a seat to the WPT World Championship.
Final table results
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vlad Darie | €170,800 |
| 2 | Zoltan Gal | €109,340 |
| 3 | Matthew Davenport | €70,800 |
| 4 | Dietrich Fast | €52,450 |
| 5 | Dominik Bosnjak | €39,360 |
| 6 | Georgios Zisimopoulos | €31,500 |
The action at the six-handed final table kicked off at 2:30 p.m. on March 20 with each player guaranteed at least €31,500. On the 28th hand of the final table, Darie raised to 60,000 at the 15,000/30,000/5,000 level with the 8♦8♠ and then called when Giorgios Zisiomopoulos three-bet all in for 632,000 with the K♥J♣. Darie’s hand held and the tournament was down to five players.
Dominik Bosnjak was eliminated on the very next hand to leave only four players in the hunt. Bosnjack limped for 30,000 from under the gun, Dietrich Fast raised to 70,000 from the cutoff seat, and Bosnjak pushed all in for 354,000. Fast called and showed the A♦Q♠, which was against Bosnjak’s 10♥10♠. After the five community cards fell A♥8♦9♠J♦5♦, it was game over for Bosnjak.
Another 27 hands played out before Zoltan Gal opened to 100,000 with the A♠K♥ and instantly called when Fast raised all in for 910,000 with what turned out to be the A♣10♣. The 3♣K♣3♥ flop gifted Fast a flush draw, but it failed to materialize as the turn and river fell J♠ and 6♥ to prevent Fast from winning what would have been his second WPT title.
Three-handed play only lasted 19 hands, ending with the exit of the United Kingdom's Matthew Davenport. The popular British pro lost all but four big blinds in a clash with Darie and he put them into the middle of the felt on the 75th hand of the final table while holding the A♥9♦ and was called by Gal and his 6♣5♦ and Darie with the 10♣9♣. A few seconds later and Darie's hand improved to a straight with the five community cards running out Q♠8♦7♦7♥6♥ to send Davenport to the rail.
Gal went into the heads-up battle with a lead of 4.17 million 2.335 million, but it was Darie who walked away with top honors. It took 78 hands of one-on-one poker to settle matters.
The final hand saw Darie set Gal all in with the K♥6♥ and Gal called off his short stack with the A♥2♥. A six on the flop of the 5♦6♣9♠8♥2♣ was more than enough to bust Gal and leave a delighted Darie to be crowned the 2016 partypoker WPT Vienna Main Event champion.
Next up for the WPT main tour is the partypoker WPT Canadian Spring Championship starting on May 1 at Playground Poker Club. Satellites for the CAD$3,500 buy-in tournament are available now at partypoker. Download partypoker via PokerNews, enter the bonus code “PNCOM” when making your first deposit, and receive a 100-percdnt bonus up to $500.
*Lead image courtesy of the WPT.
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