Hands of the Week from WPT Prime: Big Slick Does Trick for VanKeuren; Himmelbrand Kicks Out Hastings

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Dec 16, 2024 3 min read

The World Poker Tour (WPT) World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas is going strong. While the is happening now, several other tournaments on the schedule are in the books.

That includes the $1,100 buy-in WPT Prime Championship attracted a massive field of 9,670 runners (down slightly from the 10,512 entries the year before), and after four grueling days of play, it was Zak VanKeuren defeating Jim Casement in heads-up play to win the tournament for $1,162,350.

While PokerNews was not providing live updates from that event, the WPT was on the floor capturing the action. Here's a look at five big hands as reported by the WPT Live Reporting Team.

Himmelbrand Sends Hastings Out the Door

On Day 2 in Level 18 (6,000/12,000/12,000), Greg Himmelbrand raised to 25,000 and Brian Hastings defended his big blind to see a flop of Q♠6♠6♣. Hastings checked, Himmelbrand continued for 22,000, and Hastings woke up with a check-raise to 60,000.

Himmelbrand put in the chips and then called when Hastings moved all in for 162,000 on the 10♥ turn. Hastings tabled the Q♣9♦ but he had a kicker problem as Himmelbrand rolled over the Q♦J♦.

The 7♦ was no help to Hastings and he was sent out the door.

Leah Sets Up Radu

One level later with the blinds at 10,000/15,000/15,000, a preflop raising war resulted in Brett Radu getting his stack of 220,000 all in and at risk against Canadian pro Mike Leah.

Brett Radu: K♦K♠
Mike Leah: 10♠10♦

Radu held the better pocket pair and was primed to double, especially when the flop fell a lackluster 5♥J♦4♦. However, this is Mike Leah we're talking about, a bracelet winner with more than $8.8 million in lifetime earnings according to The Hendon Mob. That said, the 10♥ spiked on the turn to give Leah a set, and after the 2♥ was run out on the river, Radu took his leave from the tournament.

The Ladies Love Rich Alsup

Much later in the tournament in Level 34 (250,000/500,000/500,000), Nico Betbese raised to 1 million from under the gun and then called after Minnesota's Rich Alsup, a MSPT Hall of Famer, moved all in for 4.9 million from middle position.

Rich Alsup: Q♥Q♦
Nico Betbese: A♣K♥

It was a classic flip and Alsup was just looking to hold for his tournament life. That's just what he did too when the board ran out a lowly 7♥4♦2♥3♦4♣. That double helped Alsup make a deep run finishing the tournament in 17th place for $52,000.

Calenzo Straightened Out in 3rd Place

On Day 4 of the tournament, it was down to the final three players in Level 42 (1,500,000/3,000,000/3,00,000) when Jim Casement moved all in from the button for 65.7 million and Kevin Calenzo, who had about 25 million in the small blind, used a time extension before calling off.

Kevin Calenzo: J♣10♣
Jim Casement: 4♦4♣

It was a big flip for a lot of money, but Calenzo came up empty on the 7♦6♥5♣ flop. To make matters worse, the 3♦ peeled off on the turn to give Casement a straight and leave Calenzo drawing dead to the river, which was the meaningless 9♥. While he came up on the wrong end of the flip, the long-time grinder had $560,000 in prize money to help soothe the pain.

Final Hand of the Tournament

Heads-up play began with VanKeuren holding 97 BB to Casement's 32 BB. The duo would battle for 14 hands before things came to a head in Level 43 (2,000,000/4,000,000/4,000,000) on what was Hand #141 of the final table.

That is when VanKeuren limped with the A♣K♥ and then called when Casement shoved all in for 69.4 million with the K♣J♠.

The K♦8♦4♠ flop paired both players, but VanKeuren's kicker had him way out in front. Neither the 5♥ turn nor Q♥ river helped Casement and he had to settle for second place and $759,890 in prize money. Meanwhile, VanKeuren was crowned champion to the tune of $1,162,350!

_{*Images courtesy of WPT.}

PR & Media Manager for PokerNews, Podcast host & 2013 WSOP Bracelet Winner.

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