WPT Invitational Final Table Set
3rd March, 2008
Day two of the World Poker Tour Invitational at the Commerce Casino saw 111 players quickly reduced to only five.
The event uses short thirty minute rounds which force players into action. Poker pros and celebrities alike all started to depart very quickly and by the dinner break only 27 remained with poker pro Billy Baxter leading the chip count.
The last of the remaining celebrities, Tom McGowan, busted out in 14th place, being awarded $10,000 for his chosen charity. The chip leader at the beginning of the day, Shane Schleger, busted out in 13th with a A K hand losing out to a pair of sevens.
Play continued with players departing until they were down to only 7. Only one more need depart but in a bizarre twist Billy Baxter knocked out both Debby Perkins and Beverley Kruskol in the same hand. The two ladies shared sixth place and the sixth place prize money ($5,000).
Now, instead of the usual six, this year’s final table will only have five players. These are the final five and their chip counts:
Billy Baxter – 1,250,000
Ethan Ruby - 910,000
Justin Marchand - 815,000
Van Nguyen - 760,000
Elias Madias - 710,000
The payouts for the tournament are as follows:
1st - $100,000 and a $25,500 seat in the WPT Championship
2nd - $50,000
3rd - $20,000
4th - $15,000
5th - $10,000
The final table is set to be played tonight.
