From Dusk Till Victory: WPT UK Title for Matas Cimbolas

Six players started their journey towards the WPT title earlier today. For all six of them, this was a big moment, as regardless of which one of them won, it would be his first WPT victory. There was a lot at stake, not to mention about $250,000 difference between the first to exit and the last one standing.

Lithuanian Matas Cimbolas started the day as the chip leader and some hours later he successfully turned that chip lead into the beautiful WPT trophy and $313,328 to pad his bankroll. Despite the chiplead, outlasting five other contenders was no easy task and the 21-year old had to dodge many traps on his way to the victory. It wouldn’t be fun otherwise anyways.

Patrick Leonard was the first one to leave the final table. His stay was not a long one, as he would hit the rail after only three hands, falling victim of an ugly cooler. Holding q5 , Leonard moved his chips in the middle after turning trip Fives, only to discover he was drawing to one out against Warrington’s Sixes Full.

Busted after 3 hands but no regrets. Food now then normal service shall resume with the Sunday grind.
— Patrick Leonard (@4bet2induce) November 23, 2014

The official short stack to start the day, Phillip Mighall couldn’t hold any longer and he too sent his chips Warrington’s way after moving over his raise and his pocket pair losing the race against Ben’s ak .

Warrington seemed determined in his intention to overrun this final table. Frenchman Antoine Saout probably had higher hopes than finishing fourth, but the Englishman made a short work of those hopes. In the Ace-Seven vs. Ace-Six confrontation, a chop will often be the outcome, but not today. By the time the river was dealt, Warrington’s Seven was alive and playing, sending Saout back to the rail.

The game went into the three-handed mode and Tamer Kamel was the one nursing the shortest stack. Looking to double up, he was more than happy to get his stack in the middle, but he ran into – you guessed it right – Ben Warrington. By this point it felt almost that Kamel’s hand didn’t even matter, but Warrington was holding pocket Nines for a small preflop advantage that would turn into yet another elimination five cards later.

From Dusk Till Dawn

Matas Cimbolas had a mountain to climb if he was to win this tournament. Warrington had a big chip advantage and from how the things went at the final table, even those not superstitious at all would have to admit that things were looking rather bleak for the Lithuanian.

However, fortunes turn quickly at the poker table. Although Warrington started strong, winning the first big heads-up pot to extend his chip lead further, he was not able to seal the deal. First Cimbolas found the double as an underdog with Ace-Five against Ben’s Ace-Six and then, some hands later he found himself in the driver’s seat after turning two pair against top pair for Warrington. The tide had shifted.

British pro fought for a while more, but although it may have seemed like it for the major part of the final table, it wasn’t quite his day after all. The final hand saw Warrington move in with 97 and Cimbolas made the call, after brief deliberation, holding kj . Best hand held up and all of a sudden, Ben Warrington was out of ammo.

Got 2nd in #WPTUK !! Really pleased although I wanted the title. Fantastic FT and congrats to the champ @bebaimis777pic.twitter.com/yyquCzbwl7
— Ben Warrington (@Benwa1) November 23, 2014

Matas Cimbolas, 21-year old from Lithuania captured his first WPT title and $313,328 to match. Ben Warrington picked up $219,330 for his valiant effort, but he will have to hold on for the title just a bit longer.

Thank you all for supports and greetings! I still can't believe it... I did it!!! Time to celebrate in style 👍 #WPTchampion
— Matas Cimbolas (@bebaimis777) November 23, 2014

Final table was streamed live right here at PokerTube and we hope to bring you many more WPT final tables in the future!