Excitement at the WPT Playground: The Bad Beat Jackpot and Booming Championship Action
Just after midnight on Saturday, October 27th, the poker scene outside Montreal, Canada, erupted with excitement as the infamous Bad Beat Jackpot was triggered at Playground Poker Club. The CAD $964,471 jackpot hit, following just three weeks after the property’s record-breaking CAD $2.2 million jackpot, marking it as the second-largest in history. The winning and spectacular showdown involved Aymen Rhammaz, who triumphed with a straight flush, defeating Chad Whittaker’s quad kings. Ironically, it was Whittaker, the “loser” in this hand, who took home the lion’s share of the jackpot, a unique twist that amplified the tension at the tables.
The World Poker Tour Playground Championship: A Booming Field
Following the exhilarating jackpot event, less than 12 hours later, the third and final flight of the CAD $3,500 buy-in, CAD $1.5 million Guaranteed World Poker Tour (WPT) Playground Championship kicked off. The momentum was palpable, with Day 1c attracting 434 runners, building upon the earlier entries of 143 and 229 from Days 1a and 1b, respectively. With a total of 806 entries expected, the excitement ran high as late registration remained open until the start of Day 2.
Chip Counts and Leading Players
As the competition unfolded after 10 levels of play, 168 players bagged their chips for the night. Leading the charge was none other than Jackson Oniske, boasting a stack of 379,000 chips. While Oniske’s performance was commendable, he trailed behind the chip leaders from Days 1a and 1b: Connor Daynard, with a robust 435,500, and Giuseppe Corapi, who secured 401,000.
Notable players who made strong showings on Day 1c included Duff Charette (319,500), Umut Ozturk (214,500), and WPT Global Ambassador Patrick Tardif (204,500), among others. The competition was fierce, with numerous seasoned professionals battling it out for a shot at the title.
Day 1c Top Chip Counts
As players completed Day 1c, the top count stood as follows:
| Place | Player | Count |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jackson Oniske | 379,000 |
| 2 | Gianluca Cedolia | 326,000 |
| 3 | Brady Spencer | 325,000 |
| 4 | Duff Charette | 319,500 |
| 5 | Robin Wezelenburg | 304,000 |
| 6 | Jamie Sequeira | 300,000 |
| 7 | Mahmut Zor | 293,000 |
| 8 | Vadim Rozin | 285,000 |
| 9 | Alexander Bylicki | 262,000 |
| 10 | Felix Martel-Racine | 257,000 |
Heartbreaking Eliminations
With such high stakes, not everyone had a successful outing. Several notable players fell victim to the fierce competition, including Ori Hasson, Igor Tregoubov, and Henry Tran, who experienced heartbreaking eliminations. Yuan Yuan Li’s exit in Level 8 was particularly dramatic. Holding ace-king, he went all in against Josh Silverman’s pocket jacks, but a brick board sealed his fate, giving Silverman the flush. While disappointing for Li, the structure of the tournament allows players the chance for redemption, with late registration open until Day 2’s commencement.
Future Prospects
The tournament continues to build in excitement, with Day 2 set to begin at 11 a.m. local time on Sunday, October 27. Players who didn’t survive the previous flights have a lifeline with the chance to return for the later stages, creating an atmosphere filled with anticipation and hope.
The World Poker Tour Playground is the place to be for poker enthusiasts, with the promise of thrilling action, nerve-wracking decisions, and the ever-present potential for life-changing jackpots.
As PokerNews leads coverage of the event, stay tuned for dynamic updates and captivating stories coming directly from the tournament floor. With star players battling it out and jackpots looming, this WPT Playground Championship is shaping up to be a memorable poker event.
Photos courtesy of World Poker Tour (WPT) / Alicia Skillman
About the Author:
Chad Holloway serves as PR & Media Manager for PokerNews and is a podcast host. He proudly boasts a 2013 WSOP Bracelet win and combines his experience with keen insights to deliver engaging poker content.
