Michael Lind Beats Rainer Kempe and Wins $10K LAPC Side Event For $117,950

Single-day Turbo High Rollers with a $10K buy-in don’t happen every day but at the WPT LA Poker Classic it was a way to keep 30 players occupied as the Main Event raged on, and it was businessman Michael Lind who showed the pros how it is done by defeating German High Roller Rainer Kempe heads-up for the $117,950 top prize.

“I’m feeling great. I’ve been trying to do this for a while now,” Lind explained to the LA Commerce Casino blog after his fantastic victory – with the tournaments $10k buy-in actually matching his previous biggest tournament cash. Like many enthusiastic amateurs with cash to spare, it’s as much about the overall experience as it is about the money, in Lind’s case more so.

“The WPT is the best poker event around we travel around a lot and I don’t get to play full time because I own a business but I like playing the WPT. As little as the money is it’s a big one for me so I think it’s the start of something big.”

The run to the title also included an amazing gesture by Lind and fellow final tabler Paul Domb, clubbing together to repay the bubble boy’s buy-in, despite the rest of the table baulking at the idea.

In any event, when Tomer Daniel busted in 5th, Lind and Domb chipped in $5K each, Lind explaining:

“I felt we were playing for a long time I was looking at the numbers. It was a good table and I felt that the way the cash was that we each give the gentlemen $2,500. One guy didn’t want to do it and the funny thing is the guy we wanted to give the money too took a lot of my chips!”

With that taken care of, there was still the matter of the rest of the $293,850 prizepool to fight for...

Lind took out fellow philanthropist Paul Domb when his pocket tens held up against his rival’s ace-ten, and then despatched the hitherto red-hot but short-stacked Alex Foxen, leaving only Rainer Kempe between him and victory.

The final hand saw a struggling Kempe shove with Q♣ 8♣ but again Lind produced the goods, his A♠ J♣ once more holding up and giving him by far his biggest payday to date.

Lind, however, has a good feeling about his poker and stated afterwards:

“I played the WPT a couple months ago at Maryland Live I got 35th in that I think. Cashed a couple recently at the Borgata. If you look it seems like I’m going further and further”. He added: “I was invited to play the WPT cash game on Friday the $100-$200 with a $50,000 buy-in but I might change my mind and play the $25,000. It’s a good possibility.”

Final table results