Scott Seiver takes down WPT Championship

With more than $2m in tournament winnings, a WSOP bracelet and six long years in the game, it’s surprising that Scott Seiver is still a name many of you will have never heard of. Well, scratch that. This weekend the Las Vegas native bagged his first WPT title and the $1,618,334 first prize in a dramatic WPT Championship.

Before the first cards were even dealt, the $10,000 buy-in event was mired in controversy, as alleged cheat Ali Tekintamgac was allowed to take his seat. Pros reacted furiously to Tekintamgac’s presence, arguing that organisers should have banned him over his actions at Partouche Poker Tour late last year.

But once the anger had subsided, Seiver went on to record his second major victory since 2008’s WSOP $5k event after one of the toughest WPT final tables of this year.

Seiver found himself up against big names Justin Young and PCA Main Event winner Galen Hall, but it was three-time bracelet winner Farzad Bonyadi who almost pipped him to the $1,618,344 first prize.

Once Hall had bowed out in third place, Seiver held a commanding lead over Bonyadi, ending the competition 41 hands in. When a Ks on the turn gave both players a piece of a Tc-6d-2s-Qc board, Bonyadi check-raised all-in with Q-10 for two pair, only for Seiver to show J-9 for a wining straight.

The final table payouts were as follows:

1 Scott Seiver $1,618,344
2 Farzad Bonyadi $1,061,900
3 Galen Hall $589,355
4 Roger Teska $371,665
5 Tony Gargano $278,749
6 Justin Young $225,654