The World Series of Poker always produces at least one ‘chip and a chair’ glory story and last night Caleb Furth joined the list, turning just over one big blind into $620,696 and WSOP gold.
A field of 757 converged on Event #5: $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha and that meant a $3,482,200 prizepool, with six 6-figure paydays up top. The 114 paid spots included some very well-known names:
- Phil Hellmuth (103rd for $9,960)
- Shaun Deeb (55th for $12,903)
- Mike Matusow (50th for $12,903)
- Nick Schulman (24th for $20,070)
- Ryan Riess (11th for $37,089)
Kabrhel Causing Chaos
There was plenty of drama along the way, not all involving big showdown, coolers and bad beats. Czech pro Martin Kabrhel had the clock called on him more than 20 times throughout the event.
Despite, or perhaps because of his excessive time-wasting and ability to wind up almost everyone he meets, Kabrhel found himself on a deep run, looking for his 4th WSOP gold bracelet.
He took out Lawrence Brandt in 8th spot, his typically obnoxious behaviour seeing him comment on Brandt’s imminent departure as early as the flop …
Lawrence Brandt: A♥ K♥ J♠ 4♦
Martin Kabrhel: K♣ Q♣ Q♦ J♥
Flop: J♣ 8♠ 6♦
Unfortunately, he was right, the board bricking…
Turn: 9♠
River: 2♠
When the toxic Czech pro was eventually eliminated in 3rd spot, his conqueror Furth told him: “It was not nice playing with you, goodbye, Martin.”
“I was quite upset with him during the final table while he was wasting everyone’s time and defying the floor.”
Furth told reporters afterwards: “I think that he acts in a way to upset other people, hoping to get under their skin. It did work on me briefly. I was quite upset with him during the final table while he was wasting everyone’s time and defying the floor.”
Heads-up for the bracelet
Kabrhel’s exit left Furth facing long-time chip leader, Fabian Riebau-Schmithals, heads-up for the bracelet and a share of more than $1million.
Two big hands decided the fate of the title, trip deuces holding up against aces up on the river, and then the final hand…
Riebau-Schmithals: A♠ 9♣ 6♠ 2♦
Furth: 8♠ 6♥ 6♣ 4♥
A limp-check took them to the flop…
Flop: 8♣ 3♦ 5♠
Riebau-Schmithals check-called…
Turn: 2♠
..and then called off a 4-bet shove only to miss his river draws…
River: J♣
Final table results
1 | Caleb Furth | USA | $620,696 |
2 | Fabian Riebau-Schmithals | Germany | $413,762 |
3 | Martin Kabrhel | Czech Rep. | $288,775 |
4 | Matthew Cosentino | USA | $204,808 |
5 | Mark Aridgides | USA | $147,647 |
6 | Noel Rodriguez | USA | $108,221 |
7 | Jeremy Trojand | Germany | $80,673 |
8 | Lawrence Brandt | USA | $61,179 |
Of his spin-up from just over 1 big blind to the win, Furth told PokerNews: “Yeah, at that point, pressure was off. We had ten left so I was sure that I was going to be the next one out, so I was willing to gamble – I did. Doubled up back to average… an unbelievable journey. I’m elated.”
