The weekend saw a second major tournament play out at the Bellagio in Las Vegas when Mohsin Charania bested a final table full of talent to win the World Poker Tour Five Diamond World Poker Classic for the second time and claim the first prize of $1,477,890.
The 586-strong entry field was full of respected professionals, among them Fabian Quoss, Daniel Colman, Dan Smith, Erik Seidel, Daniel Negreanu, Antonio Esfandiari, Will Failla, Scott Seiver, JC Tran, and Jason Mercier, and generated a prize pool worth $5,682,200.
Daniel Negreanu created something of a stir by finishing at 25th for just under $40,000 despite executing a loss-making five re-buys.
After five tough days the final table formed, with Charania warily eyeing Garrett Greer, Brett Shaffer, Ryan Julius, Ryan Fee and Tobias Reinkemeier across the felt.
Shaffer’s departure at third for $562,736 at hand 114 ushered in the heads up between Garrett Greer and Charania, with the former holding a near-impregnable (or so many thought) 4 to 1 chip lead.
But Charania displayed the same disciplined cool that helped him bounce back a year ago at the WPT Grand Prix de Paris; he aced five double ups to overtake his opponent and then go on to defeat him, sending Garratt to the exit and a still impressive second placing pay day of $869,683.
Charania’s spoils were the $1,477,890 first-place prize, including a $15,400 seat into the WPT championship, and a second plaque bearing his name on the prestigious WPT Champions’ Cup.