‘Legends of Poker’ Success for Shariati

A tense final table at the Bicycle Casino in Los Angeles saw Mike Shariati lift the title – and $675,942 – after defeating Freddy Deeb in a marathon heads-up encounter at the WPT Legends of Poker.

Deeb had entered the day seeking a record-equalling 3rd WPT bracelet to join fellow legends Gus Hansen, Carlos Mortensen and Anthony Zinno, but it was Californian Shariati who emerged victorious when his Q♠Q♥ held up against Deeb’s K♥10♠ to snatch the title-dream from Deeb’s grasp.

Six players had fought their way to the final table, but no-one could match the pedigree of Lebanon-born Kassem ‘Freddy’ Deeb, whose life-time live tournament earnings sit at a massive $8.5m over a career spanning several decades.

First to fall was New Jersey pro Craig Chait, who collected $91,523 after his A♠Q♣ failed to improve against Deeb’s A♦K♥ early in the day’s play. He was followed a short time later by Stan Jablonski who found his Q♣10♥ dominated by Brent Roberts A♠10♠ and, when the table bricked, Jablonski was sent home in 5th place and $117, 673 richer.

When final-table chip-leader Aaron Kweskin was bluffed off a massive 4.5m chip pot by Deeb, the Boston pro soon found himself on the rails when his shove with A♠10♥ was called by Shariati’s A♦K♣ again the board being no help. Kweskin’s pay-day of $168, 664 almost doubled his life-time earnings.

After Brent Roberts made a move with 9♣9♥ a few hands later, it was Deeb’s turn to pull the trigger when he tabled A♣A♦. Roberts’ 3rd place finish was good for $251,035 and his exit left Shariati and Deeb to fight it out heads-up for the title and a share of over $1million.

Deeb’s 2-1 chip lead didn’t last long and the pair traded blows for the next 100 hands, Shariati surviving an all-in moment when he rivered a desperate 6 to stay alive. The final hand saw of the protracted battle saw Shariati limp in for 600,000 chips, and Deeb decided to shove for almost 7 million with the K♥10♠.

When Shariati insta-called with Q♠Q♥, the flop of 10♥ 2♠ 2♥ helped Deeb, but not enough as the turn and river fell 9♦ 5♠ giving Mike Shariati the title and 1st prize of $675,942.

Deeb was left to enjoy his $383,090 for second place and looking forward to the next WPT event, the Borgata Open which runs from September 20-25 at the Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa in Atlantic City, New Jersey.