ISPT Wembley won by Jakub Michalak

The inaugural ISPT event at Wembley that finished yesterday was been won by Top Ranked Polish player, Jakun Michalak.

761 players picked up chips at Wembley, either by playing “satellite” like Day1’s online or at live venues. Alternatively they just turned up with €3,000 and bought into day 2 directly.

The players were eliminated until just six made it to the final table, which was placed in an executive suite high above the Wembley Pitch. With €600,000 in overlay because of the guaranteed €1,000,000 for first place, a deal had been discussed both on Tuesday evening, and just before the final table began.

The players took some time, and crafted a deal they could all be happy with. Leaving €200,000 for the winner, they split the remaining prize pool as follows:

Pete Linton – €375,000
Alban Juen – €290,000
Nick Hicks – €254,000
Gwendoline Janot – €243,000
Jakub Michalak  – €236,000
Xavier El Fassy – €204,000

With this final table now a winner takes all game, it certainly seemed to relieve the stress on the six participants.

First to leave the table was Gwendoline Janot when, after losing a big pot when her 77 ran into Kings,  she shoved her last 5 big blinds with T7. She was called by Jakub Michalak, who was holding A2. The board ran out adding nothing to either player’s hand, and sent Janot home in 6th.

5th place was a coin flip when Pete Linton got it all in with KQ and was called by Juen Alban, who has holding JJ. The flop came 3KQ, and Alban was left hoping to see a Jack. The turn came with the 3, and the river added insult to injury as Linton filled up his full house with the K. Alban may have got it in good, but that didn’t stop him leaving in 5th place.

Linton soon felt himself on the other end of the stick when he got it all in pre-flop with AQ against Michalak’s KJ for a nearly 50bb pot.

The flop was turned over to show K89 to put the polish player ahead, and the J on the turn just deepened Linton’s woes. He was left praying for a ten on the river, and when the 5 came, his dream was over, and he hit the rail in 4th.

Nick Hicks seemed to have been card dead for the final table, and busted in 3rd place. Michalak raise from the button, and Hicks made the call from the big blind. The flop came A22, and Hicks check called Michalak’s small bet to 350k. The turn of 8 saw Michalak make a much bigger bet of 1,100,000 into a pot of 1,690,000. Hicks didn’t seem overjoyed, but made the call. The River was the 6, and saw Hicks check/call Michalak’s shove. Michalak showed the K2 for trips, and Hicks showed his A4 for top pair. A nasty spot for Nick, and he left in 3rd.

Jakub went into the heads up battle with El Fassey an 8 to 1 chip leader, and it didn’t take long for everything to be resolved.

They got it all in with Michalak holding A7 against El Fassey’s KK. the flop came AJ3 to put Jakub ahead, and the board didn’t find a King for El Fassey and ran out with the 4 and the A.

Michalak left Wembley with €436,000 for his 6 days work, and the trophy for the first ISPT.

I’ve been really impressed with the work of the Dusk till Dawn guys who have taken what was looking like an unmitigated disaster, and turned it into a well run poker tournament, which has honoured all of it’s commitments. It’ll be interesting what the next step is for this growing poker brand.