The 2018 World Poker Tour (WPT) Japan, hosted at Bane Bagus, Shibuya, Tokyo, featured a total of six exciting poker tournaments, headlined by the JYP 30,000 (USD $270) buy-in Main Event.
The Main Event wrapped up successfully attracting a total of 322 entries. Outlasting the strong field in this event was Tokyo-based Shingo Endo who captured the Main Event title for $13,000 worth of WPT Passport credits, which can be used for any WPT Global event till December 2019.
This is the second time that WPT has hosted a poker tournament series in Japan. In 2017, Eiji Kimura won the inaugural main event. Given the fact that cash prizes are considered ‘forbidden’ in the country, WPT Japan winners receive exclusive packages applicable for the future WPT events.
The three starting flights for the Main Event took place on September 1, September 8 and September 9. Apart from the exciting top prize, there were attractive giveaways for the final table players. While the runner-up was awarded a WPT Passport credit worth $7,000, the 3rd and 4th place finishers took home credits valued at $3,000 each. The credits won by 5th and 6th place finishers were $2,000 each. The 7th to 9th place finishers earned $1,000 in WPT Passport credits.
For Endo, winning the title was a tough job, as he entered the nine-handed final table with the shortest stack. However, he maneuvered his way through the final table to claim victory.
“When I reached the final table I was the shortest stack and I was trying to struggle to get somebody and try to double up and I had a dominated hand but I lost and I was actually almost dead, but after that I was somehow lucky and tripled up then doubled up and doubled up again and I found myself as the chip leader and I made it through here,” Endo said, talking about his journey to the title.
Talking about his plans to use the Passport, he said, “I have never played overseas so I would like to go to Vegas and try my best. I hope the journey continues.”
Meanwhile, World Poker Tour (WPT) is now gearing up to host the WPT Korea at Paradise City from 21st -24th September where a huge Indian contingent is expected to be in attendance. WPT is also hosting the first of its kind, Global Teams Event, which will kick off tomorrow and feature more than a dozen global teams, including Team India that will have Adda52 Teams Pros Nikita Luther, Kunal Patni, and Goa Nut’s mentor Dhaval Mudgal. Team India will be led by Luther who recently became the first Indian female poker player to win a gold bracelet at the World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2018.
Blake Bohn Wins $1,100 Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) Main Event
The $1,100 Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) Main Event at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minnesota, drew 456 entries and created $440,820 in prizepool. Outlasting the huge field to claim the trophy and top prize of $94,776 was none other than Minnesota’s all-time money leader – Blake Bohn.
Blake Bohn holds $2,905,685 in total live earnings, which include a career-best live cash of $288,171, Bohn went head-to-head with Kou Vang to win the Main Event, along with his third title at the series.
Top 54 places were paid out in this event with a min-cash of $1,984. Some notables who made money included Shawn Bartness (12th for $6,612), Ronald Olson (14th for $5,290), Henry Mlekoday (17th for $4,408), Carl Carodenuto (21st for $4,011), Joe Maas (24th for $3,394), Dave Welch (26th for $2,953), and Jodene Jensen (31st for $2,380), Eric Alwin who finished 11th as the final table bubble boy.
After Rich Alsup going out in third place, the heads-up match began between Vang and Bohn, with the former having the chip lead. However, Bohn played his A-game and managed to take over the chip lead from Vang. On the final hand of the tournament, Vang was rammed his pocket nines into Bohn’s ace-queen. Bohn flopped an ace and took down the pot and coveted event from Vang.
With 4,400 and 3,900 points, Bohn and Vang have now moved into 2nd and 3rd place respectively in the MSPT Season 9 POY race, just behind Aaron Johnson, who holds 5,117 points.
Final Table Payouts (USD):
- Blake Bohn – $94,776
- Kou Vang – $58,238
- Rich Alsup – $41,966
- Ian Matakis – $31,739
- Jesse Allen – $23,804
- Dennis Stevermer – $18,074
- Dedric Henderson – $14,106
- Tyree Johnson – $11,021
- Mark Sandness – $8,376
- Bill Criego – $6,612