Navigating through a field of 1,041 players and generating a total prize pool of $4,788,600, Alsante defeated Punnat Punsri in a heads-up battle to claim the gold bracelet and a hefty sum of $785,486.
Alsante, whose best-recorded cash was smaller than the tournament's buy-in, pulled off the underdog story that exemplifies the democratic nature of poker. Given the right mix of skill, strategy, and perhaps a bit of luck, anyone with the buy-in can challenge and triumph over established professionals.
His journey serves as an inspiration to aspiring poker players everywhere, showcasing that with dedication and perseverance, one can indeed carve out a place among the elite in this highly competitive game.
Event #87: $5,000 8-Handed No-Limit Hold'em Final Table Results:
Place
Player
Country
Prize
1
Matthew Alsante
United States
$785,486
2
Punnat Punsri
Thailand
$523,648
3
Philip Wiszowaty
United States
$372,446
4
Oleg Vasylchenko
Ukraine
$268,407
5
Ramin Hajiyev
Azerbaijan
$196,024
6
Jon Vallinas
Spain
$145,107
7
Hirokazu Kobayashi
Japan
$108,895
8
Patrick Leonard
United Kingdom
$82,862
9
Ueberton De Aquino
Brazil
$62,945
Winner's Reaction
Alsante's approach to poker has evolved over the past decade, transitioning from occasional play to a more serious commitment to the game. Unlike most entrants in Event #87, Alsante did not play in the Main Event.
“This I liked because it was a smaller field, and those can be easier to navigate,” he told PokerNews.
Most onlookers were rooting for Punsri once the play got to heads-up, but that didn’t faze Alsante, nor did Punsri's nearly 16 million in tournament earnings. “I think it was fun, they were having fun, and I was dancing.”
Matthew Alsante
Looking ahead, Alsante plans to continue his poker journey. “I plan to play the $3,000 Mid-Stakes Championship next. After that, who knows?”
His recent success not only validates his skills but also provides the financial means to pursue more poker opportunities.
Day 2 Action
Although the 88 players who advanced to Day 2 in Event #87 missed out on the tension of the Main Event bubble in the parallel room, they secured a cash prize of at least $9,952 for their efforts.
Faraz Jaka
Over half the field was eliminated early in the day, leaving 39 players remaining after the first break. Notable names that made the money but did not advance far included Rainer Kempe in 76th place, Faraz Jaka in 75th, and Day 2 chip leader Felipe Boianovsky in 61st place.
$25K Fantasy Draft Sweats
Several $25K Fantasy players cashed in Event #87. Alex Foxen finished in 23rd place when Philip Wiszowaty’s ace-six outflopped Foxen’s ace-nine, and Foxen could not catch up on the turn or river.
Philip Wiszowaty
Artur Martirosian hit the rail in 18th place when his ace-king lost to Alsante's pocket nines.
Patrick Leonard made the final table but exited in 8th place when he ran his pocket kings into Alsante’s pocket aces.
Punsri entered the final table with the third shortest stack but picked up momentum as his final table mates hit the rail. Punsri used his experience in big money spots to apply pressure when the payouts elevated. He ultimately finished in second place for his efforts, those that had drafted Punsri were hoping for a win but the second place points should help.
Final Table Action:
It took nine levels to reduce the 88 returning players to a final table of nine, securing at least $62,945.
Punnat Punsri
Alsante was on fire to start the final table as he eliminated Leonard and Hirokazu Kobayashi. When play was four-handed, Alsante had a crucial double up for nearly 75% of the chips in play when a rivered ten gave him a straight, and Wiszowaty set of tens.
Heads-up play lasted for around an hour. The most crucial hand happened when the money went in on an ace-high flop with Alsante holding second pair to Punsri’s top pair. A seven on the turn flipped the script, giving Alsante two pair. A blank river card gave Alsante a commanding chip lead that led to his first breakout moment.
