Adrien Allain Claims the 2011 World Poker Tour Amneville Title

November 07, 2011

Chad Holloway PR & Media Manager

The 2011 World Poker Tour Amneville concluded on Sunday after five days of intense play. Six players returned for the final table with Scott Baumstein leading the way with 3.91 million in chips, 1.3 million more than his closest competitor. Nonetheless, the chip advantage did not help Baumstein, who was eliminated in fourth place. The day belonged to 25-year-old Adrien Allain, who topped a field of 379 to win €310,633.

Allain first rose to poker prominence in 2009 when he won $391,580 for a first-place finish in the Asian Poker Tour Macau. He also notched two cashes at the 2011 World Series of Poker Europe, including a final table appearance in the €2,500 Six-Max No-Limit Hold’em event.

According to the WPT Live Update Team, it took two and one-third hours before the first elimination, which came when Arnaud Trouer moved all-in for 780,000. Allain responded by moving all-in from the small blind, isolating his opponent in the process.

Showdown
Trouer: A♦Q♣
Allain: A♥J♥

Allain was way behind, but the K♠J♦J♠ flop hit Allain in a big way, and the K♣ turn left his opponent drawing to a chop. The 9♦ river was inconsequential, and Allain took down the pot, eliminating Trouer in sixth place for €47,700.

The next elimination came when Thibaud Guenegou opened for 110,000 under the gun. Baumstein called from late position, and Michel Konieczny moved all-in from the big blind for 800,000. Guenegou got out of the way and Baumstein made the call.

Showdown
Konieczny: A♠10♠
Baumstein: Q♠Q♣

The board ran out 10♦J♥9♥3♣2♦ and Konieczny was dispatched in fifth place, taking home €60,196.

Even with that win, Baumstein’s luck soon came to an end. For the first time since dominating the tournament on Day 2, Baumstein began to see the cards turn against him. He was all-in preflop from the button with 7♣7♥ and up against Jordan Quin in the big blind with K♣J♣. Although Baumstein was ahead, the Q♣9♠5♣ flop made his opponent the favorite with overs and respective straight and flush draws. When the dealer burned and turned the 10♣, the flush was completed and Baumstein was out the door in fourth place for €80,640.

Guenegou was the next to go when he shoved all-in for 1.35 million after Allain opened for 160,000. The latter made the call and saw his A♣Q♥ dominate Guenegou's A♥7♦. The Q♠5♣4♥ flop was bad news for Guenegou, and the 2♠ turn and 10♣ river sent him to the rail in third place (€113,580).

Heads-up play began with the final two players relatively close in chips; however, Allain’s final table experience helped him take a commanding lead. It began when Allain opened for 220,000, Quin three-bet to 460,000, and Allain made the call, leading to the K♦Q♦9♣ flop. Action checked to the 9♦ turn. Quin led out for 950,000, Allain moved all-in, and Quin made the call.

Showdown
Quin: A♣9♠
Allain: 6♦5♦

The 9♦ was an action card, to say the least, because it gave Quin trips but provided Allain with the superior flush. The latter need to dodge the board pairing on the river, which is exactly what he did as the 6♠ peeled off. Allain doubled on the hand to 9,370,000, and Quin was left with just 2,000,000.

In the final hand of the tournament, Quin moved all-in for his last 1.5 million with K♥9♦ and was called by Allain who tabled 10♠10♦. The board ran out Q♦8♠4♣4♠9♠, and Quin finished in second place for €170,365.