The $111,000 buy-in WPT Alpha8 for One Drop at Wynn Las Vegas attracted 45 entrants ($4,612,500 prize pool), and on Sunday the final six returned to play down to a winner on a live-streamed final table.
After five hours of play, Jonathan Jaffe, who began the final table as chip leader, defeated fellow WPT Champions Club member Taylor von Kriegenbergh in heads-up play to win the tournament for a career-high $1,537,600.
The score was more than double Jaffe’s previous best, which came back in March when he placed third in the Triton Poker Vietnam Event #5: $30,000 NLH 7-Handed for $766,890. According to the Hendon Mob, Jaffe now has just over $9 million in lifetime tournament winnings.
“Feeling good,” Jaffe said. “I’m still going to wait before I process the win very much; I’m still kind of in poker mode and just going through the motions right now but I know I will feel good.”
“Congratulations to Jonathan on his momentous victory, and thank you to all the players who entered in support of the One Drop Foundation,” said WPT CEO Adam Pliska. “The funds raised will ultimately aid many communities in need. We cannot wait to return to the beautiful Wynn Las Vegas to raise even more with the Big One for One Drop in December.”
WPT Alpha8 for One Drop Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jonathan Jaffe | $1,537,600 |
| 2 | Taylor von Kriegenbergh | $1,042,100 |
| 3 | Dan Smith | $701,700 |
| 4 | Aleksejs Ponakovs | $485,200 |
| 5 | Michael Lim | $350,100 |
| 6 | Iaron Lightbourne | $273,200 |
| 7 | Isaac Haxton | $222,600 |
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Final Table Action
According to the WPT Live Updates, the first elimination came on Hand #19 when Iaron Lightbourne got his stack all in preflop with ace-queen only to see von Kriegenbergh table pocket aces. Lightbourne didn’t get so much as a sweat and exited in sixth place for $222,600.
Four hands later, von Kriegenbergh jammed the small blind with the 9♣8♣ and Michael Lim called off from the big with the 9♠9♥. Lim was a big favorite but the K♦J♣6♣ flop gave von Kriegenbergh a club-flush draw. It came in too when the 3♣ appeared on the turn, which left Lim drawing dead headed into the meaningless 6♥ river.
On Hand #31, Aleksejs Ponakovs got his short stack all in preflop holding ace-five but was dominated by the ace-ten of Jaffe. The superior ace prevailed and Ponakovs bowed out in fourth place for $485,200.
Three-handed play was an extended affair in which all three players moved up and down the counts. Eventually, on Hand #73, Dan Smith raised to 800,000 on the button, which was nearly all his stack. Von Kriegenbergh responded by moving all in and Smith called off for 1.015 total with the J♥10♥, which was behind von Kriegenbergh’s A♦4♣. The board ran out 9♥9♣5♦Q♦5♣ and Smith hit the rail in third place for $701,700.
Jaffe and von Kriegenbergh began heads-up play nearly even in chips with the former holding a slight lead. On Hand #105 of the final table, it was Level 22 (75,000/125,000/125,000) when Jaffe raised to 350,000 and then called when von Kriegenbergh jammed for 3.4 million. The former was ahead with the 10♥10♦ and was flipping against the latter’s K♠Q♦.
Von Kriegenbergh, who late registered the tournament by jumping in right before the start of Day 2, needed to improve to stay alive, but that didn’t happen as the board ran out a lowly 6♣6♠3♠7♦4♥ to eliminate him in second place for $1,042,100.
As for Jaffe, he became the WPT Alpha8 for One Drop champion for $1,537,600 and both Alpha8 and Wynn trophies.
The WPT Will now head to the Star Gold Coast for the WPT Australia on September 22, while stops at bestbet Jacksonville (November 10), Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood (November 24), and the WPT World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas (December 12) still remain in 2023.
*Images courtesy of WPT / Drew Amato.
Executive Editor U.S.
Executive Editor US, PokerNews Podcast co-host & 2013 WSOP Bracelet Winner.