2021 WPT Tampa
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Tampa, Florida
$3,500 WPT Tampa Championship
$2,000,000 Guaranteed
Entries:  1,165
Prize Pool:  $3,728,000
June 18-22, 2021

The WPT main tour came to Tampa for the first time and we headlined our inaugural series with the $2,000,000 guaranteed WPT Tampa Championship. The tournament drew players from around the world and it was Brian Altman outlasting them all for his third WPT title along with $613,225.

“My experience playing WPT Tampa for the first time was fantastic,” Atman said. “The venue is beautiful, the staff is great, and the tournaments are well-run. I’ve had a blast down here.”

The $3,500 buy-in tournament featured two starting flights and combined for 1,165 entries creating a prize pool worth $3,728,000. Both those numbers were records for our tournaments; our biggest Championship field and the top prize pool in our history.

Altman came into the last day of the tournament with a big lead and went wire-to-wire at the final table as players dropped around him. In addition to Altman, two other players came to the final table with a chance to win another WPT title. Jonathan Jaffe fell short in fourth place followed by Zachary Smiley in third.

With a nearly four-to-one chip lead to start heads up with Gabriel Abusada, Altman quickly won the match and became only the seventh player to earn a third WPT title.

“This is a really special World Poker Tour title for me,” Altman said after his win. “I’m joining the elusive club of three-time champions, which only a few people have done.”

“To be among that company makes me feel really proud.”

Congratulations Brian!

Final table results:

1st: Brian Altman – $613,225
2nd: Gabriel Abusada – $408,825
3rd: Zachary Smiley – $302,200
4th: Jonathan Jaffe – $225,675
5th: John Haas – $170,275
6th: Will Berry – $129,825
7th: Dave Berman – $100,030
8th: Steve Queen – $77,900
9th: T.K. Miles – $61,325

$3,500 WPT Tampa Championship
$2,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 32:  150,000/300,000 with a 300,000 ante

Gabriel Abusada was closing the gap and was up to 18,525,000 when they played the biggest hand of the tournament. He open-shipped from the button and Altman called with a chance to close it out.

Altman:
Abusada:

Altman found a great spot to catch the big pair and it held as the dealer spread the final board .

Abusada earned $408,825 for his runner-up finish while Altman claimed the WPT Tampa Championship, third overall, for $613,225.

1st: Brian Altman – $613,225
2nd: Gabriel Abusada – $408,825

$3,500 WPT Tampa Championship
$2,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 32:  150,000/300,000 with a 300,000 ante
Players Remaining:  2 of 1,165

Level 32 came to an end giving Brian Altman and Gabriel Abusada a 10-minute break from the action. Altman extended his lead a bit over the first part of heads up and the grind continues.

Seat 3: Brian Altman – 37,850,000 (126 bb)
Seat 4: Gabriel Abusada – 8,550,000 (29 bb)

Remaining payouts:

1st: $613,225
2nd: $408,825

$3,500 WPT Tampa Championship
$2,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 31:  125,000/250,000 with a 250,000 ante
Players Remaining:  2 of 1,165

Brian Altman and Gabriel Abusada adjusted their seats to begin their heads-up match for the WPT Tampa Championship title. Levels now last 30 minutes for the duration.

Seat 3: Brian Altman – 35,850,000 (143 bb)
Seat 4: Gabriel Abusada – 10,650,000 (43 bb)

Remaining payouts:

1st: $613,225
2nd: $408,825

$3,500 WPT Tampa Championship
$2,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 31:  125,000/250,000 with a 250,000 ante
Players Remaining:  2 of 1,165

Zachard Smiley open-shoved for 1,800,000 from the small blind and Brian Altman called in the big.

Altman:
Smiley:

Smiley ran into a big hand in the big blind and he couldn’t catch up on the board to exit in third place.

Brian Altman – 35,850,000 (143 bb)
Zachary Smiley – Eliminated in 3rd Place ($302,200)

$3,500 WPT Tampa Championship
$2,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 30:  100,000/200,000 with a 200,000 ante
Players Remaining:  3 of 1,165

It folded to Jonathan Jaffe in the small blind and he completed. Brian Altman raised to 650,000 and Jaffe limp/shoved for 4,400,000. Altman called and one friend had the other at risk.

Altman:
Jaffe:

Jaffe’s pair of sixes were in trouble against the eights and he could not find a Championship save on the run out to exit in fourth place.

Brian Altman – 28,000,000 (140 bb)
Jonathan Jaffe – Eliminated in 4th Place ($225,675)

$3,500 WPT Tampa Championship
$2,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 30:  100,000/200,000 with a 200,000 ante
Players Remaining:  4 of 1,165

John Haas open-shoved from the cutoff and Gabriel Abusada called from the small blind with the bigger stack.

Abusada:
Haas:

Haas was ahead for the double, improved on the flop but now had to worry about an open-ended straight draw. The turn gave Abusada diamond outs as well and the river was one of them to knock Haas out in fifth place.

Gabriel Abusada – 17,050,000 (85 bb)
John Haas – Eliminated in 5th Place ($170,275)

$3,500 WPT Tampa Championship
$2,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 30:  100,000/200,000 with a 200,000 ante
Players Remaining:  5 of 1,165

Will Berry open-shoved for 2,400,000 from under the gun and it makes it around to the big blind. Jonathan Jaffe calls and Berry is at risk.

Jaffe:
Berry:

Berry has kicker issues, misses the but picks up a small gutshot draw. The turn is a blank and he is the first off the official final table after the river.

Jonathan Jaffe – 5,325,000 (26 bb)
Will Berry – Eliminated in 6th Place ($129,825)

$3,500 WPT Tampa Championship
$2,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 30:  100,000/200,000 with a 200,000 ante
Players Remaining:  6 of 1,165

It folded to Zachary Smiley in the cutoff, he moved all in for 1,500,000 and Brian Altman called in the big blind.

Smiley:
Altman:

Smiley needed help to overcome his kicker problems but found no help on the flop or turn. The river was he needed and he doubled with two pair nine and fives.

Zachary Smiley – 3,300,000 (17 bb)
Brian Altman – 19,100,000 (96 bb)

$3,500 WPT Tampa Championship
$2,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 30:  100,000/200,000 with a 200,000 ante
Players Remaining:  6 of 1,165

Jonathan Jaffe opened to 400,000 from the button and Will Berry moved all in from the small blind for 1,000,000. John Haas folded his big and Jaffe called.

Berry:
Jaffe:

Berry was ahead for the double but needed to fade Jaffe’s live cards to double. He did better than that and made two pair aces and queens on the board to take the pot.

Will Berry – 2,400,000 (12 bb)
Jonathan Jaffe – 3,600,000 (18 bb)