2015 partypoker WPT Canadian Spring Championship

Main Event
Day: 5
Event Info

2015 partypoker WPT Canadian Spring Championship

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
22
Prize
237,390 CAD
Event Info
Buy-in
3,200 CAD
Prize Pool
1,148,480 CAD
Entries
370
Level Info
Level
33
Blinds
100,000 / 200,000
Ante
25,000

Sheraz Nasir Wins 2015 partypoker WPT Canadian Spring Championship ($237,390 CAD)!

Level 33 : 100,000/200,000, 25,000 ante
Sheraz Nasir
Sheraz Nasir

Edmonton, Alberta accountant Sheraz Nasir took down the 2015 partypoker World Poker Tour Canadian Spring Championship at Playground Poker Club just outside of Montreal, Quebec, Wednesday, earning $237,390.

Nasir came into the final day of the first event on the WPT Season XIV schedule trailing only chip leader Trevor Delaney and holding a ton of motivation. He had already bested the 10th-place finish he posted at WPT Montreal back here at Playground this past November, but today was all about making a real mark on the WPT and the City of Montreal.

In just the first hand of six-handed play, two-time 2014 WPT runner-up and 2014 WPT Johannesburg champ Dylan Wilkerson went broke, losing a race with nines to Levi Stevens' {A-Clubs}{J-Spades}.

Lu Zhang then began picking up steam pulling into what looked like a dead heat with Delaney before he suddenly blew up, shoving with sixes after the river on a king-high board. Zhang had aces and made the call to bust him fifth and take a stranglehold on the event.

In fact, Zhang appeared primed to take a 4-1 chip lead on the rest of the table three-handed when she went all in on a king-high flop against Nasir holding pocket aces and he made the call with top pair of kings. But Nasir spiked another king on the river to double and the dynamic changed dramatically.

Zhang fought back to go into heads-up play almost even with Nasir, busting Gary Lucci fourth after winning a classic race with the {A-Spades}{Q-Spades} against the {J-Diamonds}{J-Hearts} and dumping Levi Stevens in third in dominating fashion.

During the final duel, the lead flip-flopped several times over the three-hour match, but Nasir managed to ensure Zhang, who generally goes by her English name Chanel, would not become the first female champion of an open event on the main tour of the WPT, when he picked off her ace-high shove on a jack-high board with two sixes holding just the {2-Spades}{2-Hearts}.

With that, the $237,390 CAD first-place prize, a customized Playground Poker Club WPT Championship Belt, trophy, and a seat in the WPT Season XIV World Championship belonged to Nasir as he had bested a field of 370 entries over five days to earn the victory.

It has been a fabulous week of poker at the 2015 partypoker WPT Canadian Spring Championship and Playground Poker Club were top notch hosts throughout.

Check out what Nasir had to say about the big win in the video interview with PokerNews' Caitlyn Howe below.

And with that, thePokerNews Live Reporting team bids you all adieu, au revoir and bonne chance from Montreal!

Tags: Gary LucciLevi StevensLu ZhangmontrealSheraz NasirTrevor Delaneywpt

Lu Zhang Eliminated in 2nd Place ($166,402 CAD)

Level 33 : 100,000/200,000, 25,000 ante
Lu Zhang
Lu Zhang

Sheraz Nasir had moved into the lead again when Lu Zhang raised to 525,000.

He called and the flop came {J-Diamonds}{6-Spades}{3-Spades}. Both players checked to the {6-Hearts} turn where Nasir bet 500,000 and Zhang pushed all in.

Nasir called with just {2-Spades}{2-Diamonds} but it was good as Zhang held {A-Spades}{2-Clubs} for ace high. The river came the {7-Diamonds} and with this final pot Nasir took down the 2015 partypoker WPT Canadian Spring Championship.

Player Chips Progress
Lu Zhang
Lu Zhang
Busted

Tags: Lu ZhangSheraz Nasir

Nasir Takes Control

Level 31 : 60,000/120,000, 20,000 ante
Sheraz Nasir
Sheraz Nasir

Lu Zhang made it 260,000 and Sheraz Nasir raised it up to 650,000.

Zhang called and the flop came {K-Diamonds}{9-Spades}{9-Clubs}. They both checked and the turn came the {2-Clubs}. Nasir led out for 600,000, Zhang raised to 1,350,000, and Nasir shipped it in, putting Zhang to a decision for her tournament life.

She folded and Nasir now has a 2:1 chip lead.

Player Chips Progress
Sheraz Nasir ca
Sheraz Nasir
WPT 1X Winner
7,475,000 855,000
Lu Zhang
Lu Zhang
3,610,000 -855,000

Nasir Extends His Lead

Level 28 : 30,000/60,000, 10,000 ante
Sheraz Nasir
Sheraz Nasir

Sheraz Nasir made it 155,000 and Lu Zhang called.

The flop fell {9-Clubs}{5-Hearts}{2-Clubs} and after a Zhang check, Nasir bet 160,000. Zhang fired back with a check-raise to 375,000 and Nasir flat called.

The turn was the {2-Hearts} and Zhang bet 575,000. Nasir called and the river came the {9-Diamonds}.

Zhang bet 1,010,000 and Nasir snap-called with {A-Diamonds}{K-Diamonds}, playing the two pair on the board with his ace kicker. Zhang did not show.

Player Chips Progress
Sheraz Nasir ca
Sheraz Nasir
WPT 1X Winner
7,895,000 2,070,000
Lu Zhang
Lu Zhang
3,190,000 -2,070,000

Tags: Lu ZhangSheraz Nasir

PokerNews Podcast Episode #280: EPT Grand Final

Level 28 : 30,000/60,000, 10,000 ante

Donnie Peters and Remko Rinkema talk all things EPT Grand Final. Topics include Erik Seidel's big win in the €100,000 Super High Roller, Dzmitry Urbanovich's insane run, and Scott Seiver's excellence.

You can subscribe to the entire iBus Media Network on iTunes here, or you can access the RSS feed here. The PokerNews family of podcasts is now available on Stitcher.

Tags: Donnie PetersDzmitry UrbanovichEPTErik SeidelPokerNews PodcastRemko RinkemaScott Seiver

Levi Stevens Eliminated in 3rd Place ($106,820 CAD)

Level 28 : 30,000/60,000, 10,000 ante
Levi Stevens
Levi Stevens

Levi Stevens shoved again, but this time Lu Zhang called.

Zhang: {K-Clubs}{10-Diamonds}
Stevens: {K-Spades}{3-Hearts}

Stevens was dominated and would need serious help to survive, but found none from the {Q-Spades}{10-Spades}{4-Clubs}{5-Hearts}{9-Spades} board.

As Stevens hit the rail third, Zhang and Sheraz Nasir enter heads-up play with very similar stack sizes.

Player Chips Progress
Sheraz Nasir ca
Sheraz Nasir
WPT 1X Winner
5,825,000 -45,000
Lu Zhang
Lu Zhang
5,260,000 1,200,000
Levi Stevens
Levi Stevens
Busted

Tags: Levi StevensLu ZhangSheraz Nasir

Gary Lucci Eliminated in 4th Place ($79,130 CAD)

Level 27 : 25,000/50,000, 5,000 ante
Gary Lucci
Gary Lucci

Gary Lucci opened for 125,000 and Lu Zhang piled it in from the big blind.

Lucci called all in for his tournament life holding {J-Hearts}{J-Diamonds}. Zhang had two overs in the form of {A-Spades}{Q-Spades} and took the lead in the classic race when the {Q-Diamonds}{6-Clubs}{2-Clubs} flop fell.

Lucci needed help to survive, but found none on the {5-Clubs} turn or {8-Diamonds} river.

Player Chips Progress
Sheraz Nasir ca
Sheraz Nasir
WPT 1X Winner
5,490,000 340,000
Lu Zhang
Lu Zhang
4,680,000 1,335,000
Levi Stevens
Levi Stevens
915,000 -235,000
Gary Lucci ca
Gary Lucci
Busted

Miracle River Saves Nasir

Level 26 : 20,000/40,000, 5,000 ante
Sheraz Nasir
Sheraz Nasir

Sheraz Nasir is the new chipleader after cracking Lu Zhang's aces with a miracle river card.

Levi Stevens made it 100,000 and Gary Lucci and Nasir called before Zhang three-bet to 425,000.

Only Nasir called and they went heads-up to a {K-Clubs}{7-Hearts}{3-Hearts} flop. Nasir checked, Zhang led for 350,000 and Nasir check-raised to one million chips.

Zhang respoded by shipping it in and Nasir called all in for his tournament life holding {K-Diamonds}{J-Spades} for top pair. But Zhang had {a-Spades}{a-Hearts} once again and looked to be running away with this thing as the {6-Spades} turn fell.

Then suddenly, the crowd gasped as the dealer burned and turned over the {K-Spades} river, giving Nasir trip kings, the pot, and the chip lead.

With that, Level 26 ended and the players headed off on a 10-minute break.

Player Chips Progress
Sheraz Nasir ca
Sheraz Nasir
WPT 1X Winner
5,490,000 2,245,000
Lu Zhang
Lu Zhang
2,235,000 -2,550,000

Tags: Lu ZhangSheraz Nasir

Trevor Delaney Eliminated in 5th Place ($59,340 CAD)

Level 25 : 15,000/30,000, 5,000 ante
Trevor Delaney
Trevor Delaney

Lu Zhang is now the massive chipleader and Trevor Delaney is out after a huge hand between the two leaders played out moments ago.

Delaney made it 85,000 under the gun and Zhang bumped it up to 185,000 on the button. The flop came {3-Spades}{4-Hearts}{9-Diamonds} and Delaney bet 135,000. Zhang called.

The turn card was the {5-Clubs} bringing another Delaney bet of 230,000. Zhang raised to 730,000 and Delaney called.

The river came the {K-Hearts} and the fireworks started with a 395,000-chip Delaney bet. Zhang fired back, making it 1,020,000 and Delaney shipped it in.

Zhang tanked, stood out of her chair and eventually made the call with {A-Hearts}{A-Clubs}. Delaney could only show {6-Spades}{6-Clubs} and is out fifth.

Player Chips Progress
Lu Zhang
Lu Zhang
5,940,000 2,945,000
Trevor Delaney ca
Trevor Delaney
Busted

Tags: Trevor DelaneyLu Zhang

Neck And Neck For The Lead

Level 25 : 15,000/30,000, 5,000 ante
Lu Zhang
Lu Zhang

Lu Zhang has moved slightly ahead of Trevor Delaney for the lead now after taking a chunk out of Gary Lucci's stack and a few chips from Delaney.

Lucci made it 80,000 under the gun and Delaney and Zhang both called.

The flop fell {A-Diamonds}{Q-Diamonds}{5-Clubs} and after a Zhang check, Lucci made it 150,000. Delaney folded and Zhang flatted.

The turn came the {2-Hearts} and Zhang took the lead, betting 150,000. Lucci gave up and Zhang is now just under three million, right there with Delaney.

Player Chips Progress
Lu Zhang
Lu Zhang
2,995,000 405,000
Trevor Delaney ca
Trevor Delaney
2,935,000 -190,000
Gary Lucci ca
Gary Lucci
585,000 -385,000

Tags: Gary LucciLu ZhangTrevor Delaney