Austin Scott Takes Down WSOP Event #26

Oklahoma’s Austin ‘Gabe’ Scott has won event #26 for $361,797 and a gold bracelet at the World Series of Poker (WSOP) in Las Vegas.

The 23-year-old pro battled back from a huge chip disadvantage late in the $3,000 buy-in Pot-Limit Omaha tournament to beat a fearsome final table line-up that had more than a few outstanding players, including Belarussian Vadzim Kursevich (third for $158,530), Germany’s Huykeim Nguyen (fifth for $83,180), two-time bracelet winner Russ ‘Dutch’ Boyd (eighth for $35,038) and Swede Thomas Pettersson (ninth for $26,966).

However, it all came down to Scott’s clash with New York’s Brett Richey for the title, with the latter collecting $223,492 as the runner-up. Scott obviously enjoys this event as he finished in eighth place last year for $40,748, but he certainly improved on that display wit his first gold bracelet in the series.

Vadzim Kursevich Exits in Third

The day started with Kursevich as chip leader at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino, with the Belarus pro staying ahead for the majority of the final day, before a massive clash with Scott when play was four-handed.

Kursevich and Scott were all-in for 3,700,000 chips on a 9♦ 5♣ 4♣ 10♠ board, with the former holding 10♦ 9♠ 9♥ 5♥ for trip nines and latter showing K♠ 10♣ 10♦ 8♦ for trip tens. The 5♠ river completed the board to hand Scott a huge chip lead.

With Nebraska’s Scott Stanko exiting the final table in fourth place for $114,037, it all came down to Kursevich, Scott and Richey – and it was the European who fell short of the heads-up clash when crashing out in third place for $158,530.

Champion Holds On To Huge Chip Lead

On the button, Richey folded and small blind Scott raised the pot, making it 120,000. Big blind Kursevich called all-in and showed K♥ J♠ 9♣ 3♥, while Scott tabled A♥ Q♥ 5♣ 4♠. The A♣ 5♠ 2♦ flop gave Scott two pair, aces and fives, while the 7♣ turn and 4♦ river kept him ahead to send Kursevich to the rail.

Scott started his heads-up encounter with Richey way ahead on 4,241,000 chips to 1,060,000 and, while the latter fought hard, he just couldn’t overcome that 4 to 1 disadvantage.

The final hand saw Richey shove all-in on the turn while holding K♣ Q♦ 7♦ 2♣ on a board of 8♦ 6♣ 2♠ Q♠. His two pair, queens and deuces, were facing Scott’s 10♠ 7♠ 6♠ 4♦, with the 5♦ river giving Scott a straight for the title, cash and gold bracelet.

WSOP 2012 Event #26 Top 10 Payouts

1. Austin Scott (USA) – $361,797 Norman OK

2. Brett Richey (USA) – $223,492

3. Vadzim Kursevich (Belarus) – $158,530

4. Scott Stanko (USA) – $114,037

5. Huykhiem Nguyen (Germany) – $83,180

6. Tom Chambers (USA) – $61,521

7. Romik Vartzar (USA) – $46,117

8. Dutch Boyd (USA) – $35,038

9. Thomas Pettersson (Sweden) – $26,966

10. Jon Hoellein (USA) – $21,016