Hands of the Week from WPT Prime: Big Slick Does Trick for VanKeuren; Himmelbrand Kicks Out Hastings

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Dec 16, 2024 3 min read

The World Poker Tour (WPT) World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas is going strong. While the $10,400 WPT World Championship is happening now, several other tournaments on the schedule are in the books.

That includes the $1,100 buy-in WPT Prime Championship attracted a massive field of 9,670 runners (down slightly from the 10,512 entries the year before), and after four grueling days of play, it was Zak VanKeuren defeating Jim Casement in heads-up play to win the tournament for $1,162,350.

While PokerNews was not providing live updates from that event, the WPT was on the floor capturing the action. Here's a look at five big hands as reported by the WPT Live Reporting Team.

Himmelbrand Sends Hastings Out the Door

On Day 2 in Level 18 (6,000/12,000/12,000), Greg Himmelbrand raised to 25,000 and Brian Hastings defended his big blind to see a flop of Q♠6♠6♣. Hastings checked, Himmelbrand continued for 22,000, and Hastings woke up with a check-raise to 60,000.

Himmelbrand put in the chips and then called when Hastings moved all in for 162,000 on the 10♥ turn. Hastings tabled the Q♣9♦ but he had a kicker problem as Himmelbrand rolled over the Q♦J♦.

The 7♦ was no help to Hastings and he was sent out the door.

Leah Sets Up Radu

One level later with the blinds at 10,000/15,000/15,000, a preflop raising war resulted in Brett Radu getting his stack of 220,000 all in and at risk against Canadian pro Mike Leah.

Brett Radu: K♦K♠
Mike Leah: 10♠10♦

Radu held the better pocket pair and was primed to double, especially when the flop fell a lackluster 5♥J♦4♦. However, this is Mike Leah we're talking about, a bracelet winner with more than $8.8 million in lifetime earnings according to The Hendon Mob. That said, the 10♥ spiked on the turn to give Leah a set, and after the 2♥ was run out on the river, Radu took his leave from the tournament.

The Ladies Love Rich Alsup

Much later in the tournament in Level 34 (250,000/500,000/500,000), Nico Betbese raised to 1 million from under the gun and then called after Minnesota's Rich Alsup, a MSPT Hall of Famer, moved all in for 4.9 million from middle position.

Rich Alsup: Q♥Q♦
Nico Betbese: A♣K♥

It was a classic flip and Alsup was just looking to hold for his tournament life. That's just what he did too when the board ran out a lowly 7♥4♦2♥3♦4♣. That double helped Alsup make a deep run finishing the tournament in 17th place for $52,000.

Calenzo Straightened Out in 3rd Place

On Day 4 of the tournament, it was down to the final three players in Level 42 (1,500,000/3,000,000/3,00,000) when Jim Casement moved all in from the button for 65.7 million and Kevin Calenzo, who had about 25 million in the small blind, used a time extension before calling off.

Kevin Calenzo: J♣10♣
Jim Casement: 4♦4♣

It was a big flip for a lot of money, but Calenzo came up empty on the 7♦6♥5♣ flop. To make matters worse, the 3♦ peeled off on the turn to give Casement a straight and leave Calenzo drawing dead to the river, which was the meaningless 9♥. While he came up on the wrong end of the flip, the long-time grinder had $560,000 in prize money to help soothe the pain.

Final Hand of the Tournament

Heads-up play began with VanKeuren holding 97 BB to Casement's 32 BB. The duo would battle for 14 hands before things came to a head in Level 43 (2,000,000/4,000,000/4,000,000) on what was Hand #141 of the final table.

That is when VanKeuren limped with the A♣K♥ and then called when Casement shoved all in for 69.4 million with the K♣J♠.

The K♦8♦4♠ flop paired both players, but VanKeuren's kicker had him way out in front. Neither the 5♥ turn nor Q♥ river helped Casement and he had to settle for second place and $759,890 in prize money. Meanwhile, VanKeuren was crowned champion to the tune of $1,162,350!

_{*Images courtesy of WPT.}

PR & Media Manager for PokerNews, Podcast host & 2013 WSOP Bracelet Winner.

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