World Poker Tour on FSN: Grand Prix de Paris Season X — Part III

March 26, 2012

Chad Holloway PR & Media Manager

On Sunday, Season X of the World Poker Tour continued on Fox Sports Network with the exciting conclusion of the Grand Prix de Paris from the Aviation Club de France in Paris. The €7,500 Main Event drew 312 players, creating a prize pool of €2,252,650. Sunday's episode resumed action with just four players remaining.

In Part I, Martin Jacobson was eliminated after his A♠J♦ failed to overcome Mikko Sundell's J♠J♥, making him the sixth-place finisher, good for €88,900.

In Part II, Sundell was sent packing after he committed his last 27,000 holding K♦6♦ after Byron Kaverman opened for 60,000 with A♥J♥. Frederic Magen and his 3♣7♣ came along for the ride from the big blind, and there were two active players to the 5♦5♣8♥ flop. Kaverman went to put out a bet, which prompted a snap fold from Magen. The board completed theJ♠ on the turn followed by the 2♣ river, and Sundell was eliminated in fifth place for €133,330.

Here’s how things stacked up at the start of this week’s episode:

WPT Grand Prix de Paris Final Table

Seat	Player	Chips
1	-EMPTY-
2	-EMPTY-
3	Matthew Waxman	4,750,000
4	Frederic Magen	1,590,000
5	Hugo Lemaire	1,855,000
6	Byron Kaverman	1,190,000

First Hand: With the blinds at 25,000/50,000 and a 5,000 ante, Matthew Waxman looked down at 2♠2♣ and opened for 105,000. Action folded to Byron Kaverman who moved all in for 1,185,000 total holding 3♠3♦. “You might have been able to induce this one if you wanted to,” Waxman told his opponent as he slid his cards to the muck.

Bryon Kaverman Eliminated in Fourth Place: Frederic Magen, who satellited into the event, opened for 250,000 from the button only to have Kaverman move all in from the big blind for 1,095,000. Magen made the call and the two were off to the races.

Showdown

Magen	A♥7♠
Kaverman	Q♥9♣

Both players remained stoic when the Q♦10♦K♥ flop gave Kaverman a pair of queens and a 73 percent chance of winning the hand. The calmness quickly dissipated when the J♥ peeled off on the turn, with Magen slapping the table in celebration while Kaverman, who was drawing to a chop, shifted in his chair. The 7♥ river was no help to Kaverman, who had come to the final table as the chip leader, and he was eliminated in fourth place for €155,550.

“It was a rough day. I just got some bad spots I guess,” Kaverman said in his post-elimination interview. “I played well. A little unlucky in the end I guess. He made a good call and got there. Matt’s a friend and I hope he takes it down.”

“You Got There on the Turn?”: Hugo Lemaire opened on the button for 110,000 holding Q♦8♦ and Matthew Waxman looked him up from the small blind with A♣2♣. The 2♠9♠Q♣ flop gave both players a pair, and Waxman checked his deuces. Lemaire, who was a 73 percent favorite with his top pair, then bet 80,000. Waxman called, and the A♥ peeled off on the turn. Waxman had been running hot the entire tournament, and that card was evidence of that.

Both players ended up checking before the 7♠ appeared on the river. Waxman checked once again, but Lemaire didn’t take the bait. “You got there on the turn?” he asked with a thick French accent. Indeed Waxman did, and all he could do was smile and shrug as he was pushed the pot.

On the Road: In this week’s edition of On the Road, the WPT’s new segment that features a behind-the-scenes look at the various tour stops. This week, Tony Dunst and Vince Van Patten invited the Royal Flush Girls on a two-hour yacht ride. The sights of Paris and plenty of drinks kept the party going as the sun set on the Eiffel Tower.

The Raw Deal: Tony Dunst took to his popular segment, The Raw Deal, to discuss the rise of having a helpful rail. He explained in this technological day and age, having people on the rail is more than just having moral support, often they are providing valuable insight. He then pointed out that Waxman couldn’t have a better gallery as both Jason Mercier and Phil Collins were railing him in the tournament.

Frederic Magen Eliminated in Third Place: With the blinds at 30,000/60,000 and a 10,000 ante, Frederic Magen opened for 160,000 from the button with K♠Q♠ only to have Waxman three-bet to 410,000 from the big blind with A♣K♣. Magen responded by moving all in for 2,440,000 total and Waxman snap-called.

Magen had a 30 percent chance of winning the pot, but that dropped to 17 percent on the {4s7♣3♥ flop. The J♣ turn meant that Magen needed a queen that wasn’t a club to stay alive, but it was not meant to be as the 6♦ came off. Magen was eliminated in third place and took home €211,100.

Heads-Up Action: “I feel good. It’s amazing to be here. I don’t have a lot of chips, but I believe in my chance,” Lemaire told Van Patten before the heads-up match. Indeed, Lemaire’s 1,435,000 stack was up against Waxman’s 7,950,000, so he had his work cut out for him if he hoped to win a WPT title.

In the first hand, Waxman picked up 9♥8♦ on the button and raised to 120,000. Lemaire held the meek 9♠2♦ and released his hand. First blood to Waxman.

In the next hand, Lemaire raised to 130,000 with Q♦8♥ and was called by Waxman, who was holding 9♣8♣. The 5♣3♣Q♥ flop was kind to both players, giving Waxman a flush draw and Lemaire top pair. Waxman checked and Lemaire responded by betting 115,000. Waxman then moved all in and Lemaire wasted little time in calling off for 1,225,000.

Lemaire had a 62 percent chance of winning the hand and putting himself in contention, and came a step closer to doing just that when the 6♥ appeared on the turn. Unfortunately for Lemaire, the 10♣ peeled off on the river to give Waxman the flush and the win. Lemaire was eliminated in second place and took home a €311,100 consolation prize.

The Aviation Club was eerily quiet, seemingly shocked that an American had come to this venue and captured the title. “Feels amazing. This is actually my third cash in the WPT and you know what they say, third time’s the charm,” Waxman said with a smile in his winner’s interview with Mike Sexton.

Tune in Next Week: On Sunday, April 1, FSN will air Part I of the WPT Borgata Open, so be sure to check your local listings. If by chance you miss it, check back next week for the latest recap of all the action right here on PokerNews.

Past Grand Prix de Paris Champions

Season	Player	Earnings
1*	Christer Johansson	€500,000
2	David Benyamine	€357,200
3	Surinder Sunar	€679,860
4	Roland de Wolfe	€479,680
5	Christian Grundtvig	€712,5
9	Theo Jorgensen	€633,902
10	Matthew Waxman	€518,750