Amateur wins L.A. Poker Classic Main Event
5 Mar 2012
Jazayeri, an amateur, outlasted five top young professional poker players to claim his first World Poker Tour title and win $1,370,240 in the LAPC Main Event.
The LAPC broke new ground with several innovations that proved to be big hits and enhanced the event already recognized as one of poker's finest. There were 51 events in the six-week LAPC, the first and biggest in Commerce Casino's 2012 championship tournament season.
"It's been a great LAPC," said Tournament Director Matt Savage. "We had great numbers in events ranging from $65 to $25,000. We made our first attempt at running post-tournament events. They were very successful and we will do that again."
The events added after the beginning of the Main Event to sustain interest did exactly that, drawing some of poker's biggest names and most accomplished players with Phil Hellmuth winning the Eight-Game Mix on the final day of the 2012 L.A. Poker Classic.
David "Doc" Sands won $806,370 for his runner-up finish to Jazayeri. Dan Kelly finished third to win $521,770. Noah Schwarz earned $355,750 for fourth, followed by Jason Burt ($252,980) and Jason Somerville ($202,910).
Jazayeri began the six-man final table as chip leader but relinquished the advantage to Sands with three players remaining. Jazayeri was an underdog in the heads-up clash with Sands, who had a significant chip lead throughout until the pivotal moment.
Sands, with a pair of Queens, raised to $280,000 and Jazayeri three-bet to $800,000. Sands put in a four-bet to $1,840,000. Jazayeri moved all-in for $6,925,000 and showed Ace-King. Jazayeri spiked an Ace on the flop to double up to nearly $14 million. Suddenly, the tables were turned and Jazayeri didn't waste time capitalizing.
The short-stacked Sands, with King-Queen off-suit, got all-in before the flop. Jazayeri had a suited A-5. The flop came King-10-5 to give Sands the lead with a pair of Kings. The turn didn't help either player but a 5 on the river gave Jazayeri trips and the title.
"A magic 5 on the river," Jazayeri said. "You have to win some races. I had A-K against Queens when we were heads up. It could have gone either way. That put me ahead of a very good young player."
Jazayeri, 53, an amateur who is an IT guy in Bellevue, Washington, was playing in only his sixth WPT event over roughly a three-year period.
"I don't think words can describe how I feel," said the gracious Jazayeri. "This is a fantasy. You fantasize about something like this but never expect it will happen. I played against five very good young players. David Sands is going to win five, six or seven of these (WPT titles). For me, this is once in a lifetime."
Jazayeri also had compliments for Commerce Casino.
"They run a great tournament here," he said.