WPT VII – Michael Watson Wins The Bellagio Cup IV

Michael Watson didn't give up his chip lead on the final table of the $15,000 WPT Championship and won his first WPT title. An ace on the river helped him to finish off David Benyamine on rank 2.

River, River..

Gabriel Thaler was the first victim of the star-studded table. With pocket tens, he pushed all-in on the flop of . Watson called with and hit a further heart on the river. John Phan was the next person to join the rail, also falling victim to the river. Short-stacked, he pushed all-in pre-flop and found a caller in David Benyamine. The Frenchman hit his flush on the river and thus took the two-time bracelet winner Phan out of the tournament.

Watson eliminates Perry and Staudenmaier

After a raise from Mike Watson, Ralph Perry pushed all-in. Perry held . Watson called, showed and was thus a 64% favourite. Neither of them hit the flop. The turn was also a blank. The river brought the ace and Perry was out of the tourney.

Luke Staudenmaier pushed all-in pre-flop. Both Benyamine and Watson called. The flop came with . Benyamine checked, Watson bet. Benyamine folded and showed Q-4. Watson flipped over , Staudenmaier held . Turn and river changed nothing anymore and the two heads-up opponents had been determined.

Heads-up

Benyamine took a respectable lead into the finale of the last two. He held about 11.5M chips, Watson had about 8.5M
at his disposal. It took about an hour before the first preliminary decision fell.

...River

Benyamine covered Watson and pushed all-in pre-flop. Watson called. Benyamine held , Watson . Coin flip. The flop came with and made Benyamine the favourite with 75%. The
on the turn made things even clearer – 86% for Benyamine. Watson needed a king or an ace. And that's exactly what he got on the river which brought the and made Watson the clear chip leader. Benyamine had fallen down to barely 2.5M.

The Decision

A bit later, the decision fell. Sitting on the button, Watson pushed all-in, and Benyamine called. Watson held , Benyamine . Benyamine dominated Watson and was ahead as a 75% favourite. But the flop came with and eradicated Benyamine's lead. Only a king could have helped him now – a 14% chance to get it. Turn and river changed nothing anymore. Watson was the winner.

WPT VII - Bellagio Cup IV $15,000 No-Limit Hold'em Championship
Rank	Name	Prize money
1	Mike Watson	$1,673,770
2	David Benyamine	$840,295
3	Luke Staudenmaier	$452,465
4	Ralph Perry	$290,900
5	John Phan	$193,915
6	Gabriel Thaler	$129,275