The race towards the first-place prize of C$403,570 of the 2017 WPT Fall Classic festival is nearing its closing stages. Day 3 saw a field of 43 hopefuls being whittled down to just 16. Each of the remaining players managed to secure a sweet payday of no less than C$21,390. Nevertheless, the remaining hopefuls are to cross swords in a fierce poker derby as the massive first-place prize and the trophy are up for grabs. The winner is also to secure a free seat in the season-ending WPT Tournament of Champions worth C$15,000 and luxurious Hublot Big Bang Steel watch.
Eric Afriat soared to the top on Day 3 of the event, which commenced yesterday at noon. In an exceptionally strong field, the poker pro managed to demonstrate accomplished poker skills and brilliant strategy to bag the chip lead.
Eric Afriat is vying second WPT title rose to the top of the counts as he finished with a stack of 2.4 million in chips. After Day 3 of the event was completed, Afriat told the reporters that he is determined to win this time. In February this year, he missed the opportunity to add one more WPT title to his collection as he reached the final table in the Season XV WPT Playground Main Event, but the cards did not go his way.
A Brief Look at Day 3 of WPT’s Main Event
When asked about the key hand, which catapulted him to the leading position, Afriat explained that there was no such thing as one key hand. He elaborated that all the hands played a certain role in his hot run during the day, which perfectly reflects the meaning of the expression “drop by drop, a river is formed”. The well-known pro heads the list of remaining players to Day 4 of the event, which is to kick off today at 12 pm local time.
Afriat’s nearest rival at this point is Curt Kohlberg, who collected 1.804 million in chips. Kohlberg’s career profile revealed that he has a rich poker experience, reaching 4 times WPT final tables. His best performance in a WPT event came in the Season IX WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown, when the player finished in 2nd place for $586,109.
As for the chip leader, his poker career is also worth the attention. Afriat is sporting a seven-figure live poker bankroll of $1,828,420. In 2010, the player succumbed in 6th place in the Season IX WPT Bellagio Cup for $118,950. A few years later, Afriat became the champion in the Season XII WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown, which was recognized as the largest WPT event. The guaranteed prize pool was blown out of the water, so the player received a healthy payout of $1.081 million.
