WPT Legends - Steinberg Butchers Four, Josh Hale Wins

The six-handed final table of the WPT Legends of Poker $3,700 Main Event was held yesterday, on the fifth day of the tournament. Huge names were at the table including 2-time WSOP champion Jeff Madsen and Greg 'FBT' Mueller, WSOP champion Max Steinberg and high stakes cash game pro Ali Eslami. Raoul Malek and the chipleader Josh Hale were also present.

Seat 1: Max Steinberg - 1.020.000 (17 bb)
Seat 2: Jeff Madsen - 1.030.000 (17 bb)
Seat 3: Raouf Malek - 3.130.000 (52 bb)
Seat 4: Greg Mueller - 3.490.000 (58 bb)
Seat 5: Josh Hale - 7.325.000 (122 bb)
Seat 6: Ali Eslami - 2.900.000 (48 bb)

The game started on the 28th blind level (10.000/30.000/60.000). Hale took the first big pot, he defeated Malek with two pairs, and after 45 minutes of idle play, Steinberg limped from SB, the BB Madsen went all-in, Steinberg insta-called.

Madsen: A 3
Steinberg: A A

Board: T 8 7 Q J

Madsen was eliminated and took home the $75,400 prize for the sixth place.

By the 30th level (10.000/50.000/100.000) Hale was sitting on almost half of the chips on the table, his opponents were cornered. The next scalp was collected by Stinberg, who called Mueller's UTG preflop all-in.

Steinberg: A K
Mueller: 7 7

Board: T 8 5 K 4

Steinberg eliminated Mueller with a pair of kings.

In the four-handed play the short stacks managed to double up or even triple up, the battle became fierce, but Eslami

Max Steinberg - 6.990.000
Josh Hale - 5.745.000
Raouf Malek - 4.620.000
Ali Eslami - 1.345.000

Eslami was soon out, Steinberg won a flip against him, and the heads-up formulated with the elimination of Malek, who was beaten by Steinberg. Malek opened to 300,000 on the button (32nd blind level, 25.000/75.000/150.000), Steinberg called from the BB. The flop came T 9 2 , Steinberg checked. Malek opened to 325,000, Steinberg called. The turn was K , both players checked, but on the Q river opened to 900,000, Malek raised to 3,000,000. Steinberg went all-in, Malek called. Malek showed a straight with J 6 , but Steinberg held a higher straight, A J .

Max Steinberg - 14.150.000
Josh Hale - 4.550.000

Hale came back and built a decent stack, then doubled up, he pushed his stack in on the flop, and his flush hit on the river.

From then on, Hale dictated the pace of the game. He finished his opponent off on the 34th blind level (25.000/125.000/250.000), where he opened to 550,000, Steinberg went all-in, Hale called.

Steinberg: A K
Hale: J J

Board: 9 8 8 5 J

Hale won his first WPT title with a full house.


Final Results:

1. Josh Hale - $500.000
2. Max Steinberg - $293.490
3. Raouf Malek - $192.400
4. Ali Eslami - $133.700
5. Greg Mueller - $97.100
6. Jeff Madsen - $75.400