WPT Caribbean champion Niall Farrell has a substantial lead at WPT Rolling Thunder after eliminating his friend and fellow WPT champion Chris Moorman in a massive pot late on Day 2. With both Brits all in on the river, Farrell turned over a nut straight to win the pot, bust Moorman, and take the lead.
Next WPT events: Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown starting March 31, followed by the Seminole Hard Rock Poker Finale from April 2. We are the tour’s Official Travel Partner so do check for hotel deals here.
Farrell, who hails from Glasgow in Scotland, won his first WPT title in November when he took down the WPT Caribbean Main Event in Punta Cana for $335,000. He now has $3.3m in live tournament winnings and 893,000 in chips at Rolling Thunder. There are currently 57 left and 53 get paid. Also among the big stacks are Chuck Nguyen (644,000), Alex Foxen (568,000), John Hadley (471,000) and Sorel Mizzi with 466,000. There were 421 entries creating a prize pool of $1,347,200 with $284,638 for first.
UK-based German pro Rainer Kempe is out but could still win the WPT California Swing after good performances at WPT L.A. Poker Classic and WPT Bay 101. Six players could still pass him but they will all need to finish at least seventh or better including EPT Berlin champion Kevin MacPhee, British pro Charlie Carrel and Mohsin Charania, who was runner-up last year and would need to win or come second again.
In the Hublot WPT Player of the Year race, WPT Bay 101winner Sam Panzica is now just one min-cash away from passing Benjamin Zamani to take down the POY race. He’ll have to pin his hopes on a good result at Seminole Hard Rock at the end of the month.