The Thrilling Conclusion of the WPT Prime Playground Championship
On a momentous Friday night, the CAD $1,100 World Poker Tour (WPT) Prime Playground Championship concluded with an exhilarating finish. The tournament showcased a remarkable display of skill, strategy, and nerve as it attracted 1,587 competitors over four starting flights. Ultimately, it crowned Yunkyu Song as its champion, earning him a coveted CAD $241,620 first-place prize, along with a seat in the upcoming WPT World Championship at Wyn Las Vegas this December. PokerNews provided onsite coverage, delivering real-time updates and insights from the heart of the action.
Capturing the Action
The WPT Live Reporting Team — featuring stalwart reporters Liam Gannon, David Salituro, and Ryan Lashmar — meticulously documented the crucial moments that shaped this riveting tournament. Among these moments were five pivotal hands that stood out, showcasing the high-stakes drama typical of WPT events.
A Heroic Call by Vijayaratnam
During Day 2, amidst an intense Level 23, Senthuran Vijayaratnam delivered a hero call that proved instrumental in his tournament journey. With 34 players remaining, Timothy Rutherford min-raised from the cutoff, while Vijayaratnam defended his big blind. The flop revealed 10♦ 7♣ 4♥, prompting Vijayaratnam to check-call Rutherford’s bets on both the flop and a later 8♦ turn.
When the river showed 2♠, Vijayaratnam faced an 850,000 bet from Rutherford. He took a time extension, contemplating the hefty wager before eventually calling with a fourth pair – Q♦ 4♦. Unbeknownst to him, his instincts were solid; Rutherford was bluffing with A♥ J♣. This champion step fortified Vijayaratnam’s stack and propelled him to 111 big blinds, ultimately sending Rutherford home in 31st place.
The Cooler: Song vs. Gundela
As the tournament progressed to 30 players, tension escalated at Level 24. Yunkyu Song made a move with a 100,000 raise from the cutoff, only to face a formidable all-in from Srikanth Gundela for 705,000 from the button. After the blinds folded, Song swiftly called.
The showdown revealed the stakes: Gundela held pocket queens (Q♦ Q♠) while Song had pocket kings (K♠ K♣). The flop illustrated the high-stakes nature of poker: 10♠ 9♠ J♠ gave Gundela a straight flush draw but he was in a precarious position needing an 8 of spades to complete his dreams. The turn and river sealed Gundela’s fate as 10♦ and 10♥ presented no help, sending him out in 30th place with a payout of $6,287.
Kings Fall: Raymond Carter’s Set Up
As the tournament neared its climax on Day 3, with just 13 players remaining, Raymond Carter experienced a devastating blow. After an under-the-gun bet of 300,000, he faced a raise to 850,000 from Zeyu Huang. Carter decided to go all in for 3.6 million and Huang made the call.
The tension in the air was palpable as Carter revealed pocket kings and Huang flipped A♥ 9♥, a prospective flush draw. The flop delivered a K♠ assisting Carter, but a 3♥ on the river secured Huang a flush, propelling Carter to a 13th place finish with CAD $15,400.
Huang’s Disappearance
The final table witnessed a significant reduction of players as the stakes heightened. The hand that would ultimately eliminate Huang occurred during four-handed play. After Yunkyu Song faced a bet from Huang, the flop of Q♣ 6♠ 3♠ activated significant tension. Huang pushed all-in, but Song snap-called with a set of sixes. Huang departed in fourth place, earning CAD $85,000.
The Final Showdown: Rivest vs. Song
The spectacle culminated in a riveting heads-up between Kevin Rivest and Yunkyu Song. After Rivest’s raise to 1.5 million, Song escalated to 5.5 million. Rivest’s all-in return pushed him to 12.5 million, leading to a showdown of aces versus Song’s ace-jack.
In a dramatic turn of events, the flop opened with K♣ J♠ 5♦, which paired Song. Rivest’s hopes dwindled with an unhelpful 3♠ and 4♥ turn and river. Rivest concluded in second place, securing CAD $152,000, while Yunkyu Song claimed the championship.
Conclusion
The WPT Prime Playground Championship was a masterclass in high-stakes poker, showcasing exceptional skills and nail-biting moments that kept spectators and participants alike on the edge of their seats. As PokerNews prepares to cover more upcoming events, the poker community looks forward to the next round of high-stakes excitement. Whether through dramatic hands or triumphant victories, the spirit of competition ensures that poker remains as captivating as ever.
Photos courtesy of World Poker Tour (WPT) / Alicia Skillman
Written by: Chad Holloway, PR & Media Manager at PokerNews, podcast host, and 2013 WSOP Bracelet Winner.
