Mike Linster Wins the 2013 WPT Jacksonville bestbet Open for $321,521

April 30, 2013

Chad Holloway PR & Media Manager

The 2013 World Poker Tour bestbet Open concluded on Tuesday as the final six players of a 351-player field returned to Jacksonville, Florida, for the fourth and final day of action. It took eight levels of play, and after an exciting heads-up match, Mike Linster emerged victorious to capture the $321,521 first-place prize and a $25,000 seat into the WPT Championship.

2013 WPT bestbet Open Final Table Results

Place	Player	Prize
1st	Mike Linster	$321,521
2nd	David Bell	$175,712
3rd	Danny Schechter	$115,311
4th	Pete Chwala	$79,619
5th	Pete Tinnesz	$58,754
6th	David Diaz	$46,673

Action recommenced in Level 26 (20,000/40,000/5,000), and it took just eight hands at the final table for the first elimination to occur. According to the WPT Live Updates Team, it happened when a short-stacked David Diaz, who was at his second final table of Season XI, moved all in for 435,000 from middle position, and Danny Schechter called from the button. Both blinds folded, and the cards were turned up.

Diaz: Q♠10♦
Schechter: K♥K♠

It was a bad spot for Diaz, and by the turn he was drawing dead as the board ran out an uneventful A♣8♥7♦3♥Q♣. Diaz was eliminated in sixth place for $46,673.

On Hand #31, which happened in Level 27 (25,000/50,000/5,000), David Bell opened for 110,000 from the button only to have Pete Tinnesz three-bet to 225,000 from the small blind. Bell made the call and then fired out 450,000 after Tinnesz checked the 8♥6♥5♠ flop. Tinnesz responded with a check-raise all in for 835,000, and Bell called with the 8♣6♣ for two pair. Tinnesz revealed the A♠Q♣ and was in big trouble. The 4♣ turn actually left him drawing to a chop, but after the 2♠ was run out on the river, he was sent packing in fifth place for $58,754.

The next elimination came in the same level on Hand #53 when Schechter opened to 105,000 from the button and Linster three-bet to 255,000 from the small blind. A short-stacked Pete Chwala then four-bet all in for 510,000 from the big, and only Linster called.

Linster: A♣Q♥
Chwala: K♥J♦

Chwala wasn’t ahead but held two live cards. Unfortunately, he found no help as the board ran out 10♣4♥2♦6♦4♣, and he finished in fourth place and took home $79,619.

Three-handed play lasted just 15 hands and came to an end in Level 28 (30,000/60,000/10,000). On Hand #68, Bell opened for 150,000 on the button and was met by a three-bet to 405,000 from Schechter in the small blind. Bell responded by moving all in, and Schechter snap-called for his stack with the K♦K♠. Much to his dismay, Bell rolled over the A♠A♦. It was a big-time cooler, and Schechter found no reprieve as the board ran out Q♦7♦5♠J♦8♣. Schechter, who began the final table as chip leader, had to settle for third place for $115,311.

Heads-up play began with Bell holding a slight chip lead over Linster, and not surprisingly it turned out to be a back-and-forth affair. Early on Bell pulled out to a 9-1 chip lead, but a couple of fortuitous doubles saw Linster battle back to even. The two continued to trade blows for well over 100 hands, and on Hand #180 it all came to an end. It happened in Level 33 (100,000/200,000/25,000) when Bell min-raised to 400,000 and then moved all in for 3.775 million after Linster had three-bet to 1 million. A call was made and Bell was in trouble.

Bell: 8♦6♦
Linster: A♥Q♦

Bell was drawing live, but the J♠5♥2♣ flop didn’t provide him much. The 4♦ gave him a gut-shot straight draw, but the 10♦ river blanked and he was eliminated from the tournament in second place for $175,712. Meanwhile, Linster clinched victory and secured the $321,521 top prize.

Check out Linster’s post-victory interview: