Gatineau, QC (November 22, 2013) — The final day of the Casino Lac-Leamy Main Event started with Charles Sylvestre on top and ended with Charles Sylvestre on top. The Quebecois WSOP bracelet winner ruled the tournament and never slowed down as he battled his way through the final 18. Sylvestre earned the $122,435 first place prize, a WSOP Circuit gold ring and on top of that, a berth into the WSOP National Championship. "After my unexpected WSOP bracelet this summer, to come back here to Lac-Leamy, my hometown, and ship the ring… I can't ask for better. It's an amazing feeling," Sylvestre said.
The 2013/2014 WSOP Circuit at Casino Lac-Leamy marked the first time for a WSOP event to take place in the Canadian province of Quebec. The series was a success, not only drawing 371 players for the $1,675 finale, but drawing rave reviews from players.
"[The tournament] was very nice and well organized," Sylvestre said. "For the first event in the province of Quebec it was amazing. Overall it was a success and very well organized."
The final day of the Main Event started with 18 hopefuls and Sylvestre with a two-to-one chip lead over his nearest challenger, Canadian pro Mike Leah. In the second level of play on Day 3 we witnessed an epic clash between Daniel Charette, who held the chip lead for quite a while on Day 2, and Leah. Leah crippled Charette who bluffed all-in on the turn against Leah’s set. Charette was knocked out not too long after this while Leah was now very close to Sylvestre. In a matter of hands we also said goodbye to Gabriel Menard (16th, $6,400), Jeremie Trepanier (15th, $7,691) and Jason Sagle (14th, $7,691), the latter finished 23rd in the WSOP Main Event won by Greg Raymer in 2004. After Richard Reimer busted in 13th place ($7,691) two six-handed tables remained. When short-handed play began it became clear Sylvestre showed up to win. At the start of the final table it was local favorite Vladimir Faubert who fell to Sylvestre’s ever-growing stack. Sylvestre had his opponent crushed in a pre-flop confrontation holding kings to Faubert’s queens. The board brought blanks and Faubert took home $9,371 for his 10th-place finish. Sylvestre had amassed 2.1 million chips already at this point with 7.4 million in play. Leah had lost quite a few chips since doubling through Charette but pulled another trick out of his hat to stay alive. Leah moved all in from early position with two fives and Ioannis Pentefountas called with ace-king suited. Leah’s hand held up, Pentefountas was crippled and knocked out two hands later. Pentefountas cashed $14,491 for his ninth-place finish. Adam Podstawka was next to go in eighth place when his queen-eight did not improve versus Justin Dean’s king-queen suited. Podstawka cashed $14,491 and more importantly earned 27.5 points toward the Casino Championship, a race he now leads. Five events still need to be completed but if Podstawka remains at the top he secures himself a berth into the National Championship next spring. When five players remained there seemed to a battle for second place behind the immense stack Sylvestre had gathered. Leah was one of the contenders but he ran ace-king into John Nelson’s aces. Nelson now sat firmly in second place while Leah was eliminated in fifth place cashing $30,953. The last lady standing, Dinara Khaziyeva, fought a tough fight but eventually she lost a big coinflip to end her impressive run. Khaziyeva’s pocket tens seemed safe against Nelson’s ace-queen when the flop brought mere low cards. The turn did not change anything when a king popped up, but on the river the ace of spades knocked her out. Khaziyeva walked away with $55,283, her biggest live tournament cash to date, a fact made even more impressive because she satellited into the tournament on EspaceJeux.com. Because of Nelson’s late surge he started with the chip lead going into the heads-up battle. John Nelson - 5,200,000 (130 BBs)
Charles Sylvestre - 2,200,000 (55 BBs) "I started the heads-up with about 30 percent of the chips, but I knew one double up would get me right back in. I had my double and I managed to ship it. I'm very happy," Sylvestre said.The total final table lasted just over six hours and the heads-up portion no more than 30 minutes. Sylvestre turned things in his favor and came out victorious catching Nelson on a big bluff. On the final hand Nelson three-bet the river all in with just six-high and Sylvestre called with trip deuces. Nelson was knocked out in second place for $75,656 and Sylvestre was crowned WSOP Circuit Main Event champion. The French Canadian now has a WSOP bracelet and a WSOP Circuit Main Event title, a very impressive feat. "The bracelet is like the best possible thing, but [the ring] is another nice reward. I'm really happy to add it to my poker resume," Sylvestre said.The Main Event was the seventh of 10 gold ring events on the WSOP Circuit schedule at Casino Lac-Leamy. The $1,675 No-Limit Hold’em tournament attracted 371 entries generating a $556,500 prize pool. The top 45 players were paid.Ten-handed final table results:1st: Charles Sylvestre - $122,435
2nd: John Nelson - $75,656
3rd: Dinara Khaziyeva - $55,283
4th: Sol Bergre - $41,047
5th: Mike Leah - $30,953
6th: Justin Dean - $23,690
7th: Bryan Moon - $18,398
8th: Adam Podstawka - $14,491
9th: Ioannis Pentefountas - $11,575
10th: Vladimir Faubert - $9,371Full results available on WSOP.com.