Daniel Santoro Snares WPT Foxwoods Title

Poker News / Short-Stacked Shamus / 02 November 2011 / Leave a Comment

Daniel Santoro, 2011 WPT Foxwoods champion (Photo: World Poker Tour)

Santoro began heads-up with a big chip advantage over Christian Harder, but it would take just over 100 hands and a few lead changes before the matter was decided.

In a final table that lasted exactly 200 hands, Daniel Santoro won the first $10,000 buy-in event of World Poker Tour's Season X, capturing the World Poker Finals at Foxwoods in Mashantucket, Connecticut.

After grabbing the chip lead early on the final day and having a nearly 4-to-1 chip lead over Christian Harder to start heads-up play, Santoro had to survive a tough battle with Harder that saw the lead go back and forth a few times before Santoro finally prevailed to claim the $449,910 first prize.

When play began on Tuesday's sixth and final day at Foxwoods, just six remained from the starting field of 189. Steven Brackesy began the day with a significant lead, entering with just over 1.8 million with Harder his nearest foe with 1.293 million. Santoro was next with 1.163 million, followed by three players with shorter stacks -- Bob Carbone (588,000), Eli Berg (496,000), and WPT Season IX Player of the Year Andy Frankenberger (374,000).

The pace was rapid early on, with half of those six hitting the rail before they'd reach the 25-hand mark.

In just the third hand of the day, Berg opened with a UTG raise and got two callers in Harder (button) and Frankenberger (big blind). The flop came Kc-7d-7s, and only Harder called Berg's continuation bet. The turn brought the 10d and a check from Berg. Harder bet less than half the pot, prompting an all-in shove from Berg which Harder quickly called.

Berg showed Kh-Qd for kings and sevens, but Harder had Ac-Ah for a better two pair. The river was the 7h and they were quickly down to five.

Ten hands later it was Frankenberger four-bet shoving his short stack from the big blind with Harder his lone caller. Frankenberger had Ac-10c, but Harder had picked up another big pair with Kd-Kh. The board brought a ten but no ace, and Frankenberger was out in fifth.

That hand put Harder in front with more than 1.9 million, but both Santoro and Brackesy were relatively close behind. Meanwhile Carbone remained with a short stack of just under 500,000. It was just ten hands after Frankenberger's elimination that the next knockout would come -- not of Carbone, but Brackesy.

In that hand, Brackesy opened with a raise from the small blind, Santoro reraised from the BB, Brackesy four-bet, Santoro reraised again, then Brackesy shoved for nearly 1.5 million total (at the time more than 90 BBs). Santoro called, tabling Qh-Qs, while Brackesy had but Ac-4c. The board ran out 9c-9h-5s-2c-6h, and after coming in with a lead Brackesy was suddenly out in fourth.

Carbone would hang on for a good while -- nearly 75 hands -- before finally being eliminated in third. In his final hand, Santoro opened with a min-raise to 60,000 from the small blind, Carbone shoved for about 1 million from the big blind, and Santoro snap-called. Carbone had 10d-10s, but had run into Santoro's Ah-As. The board brought no help for Carbone, and they were down to heads-up.

As mentioned, Santoro began the battle with Harder with a big chip advantage -- over 4.5 million to Harder's 1.215 million -- but there was a lot of poker yet to be played. As it happened, it would take just over 100 hands and a few lead changes before the matter was decided. In fact, at one point late Harder had about a 2-to-1 lead himself, though Santoro doubled through when his pocket sevens held versus Harder's Ah-Qs.

The final hand then presented another preflop all-in race situation, with Santoro holding Ac-Ks and Harder 10c-10d. The flop came Jc-8c-5s and turn the 2h, meaning Harder's tens were still best. But the Kc fell on the river, giving the title and first prize to the New Yorker.

The win marks the biggest by far of Santoro's career, nearly tripling his overall tourney winnings.

WPT Foxwoods World Poker Finals final table payouts:

1st: Daniel Santoro -- $449,910

2nd: Christian Harder -- $248,962

3rd: Bob Carbone -- $166,271

4th: Steven Brackesy -- $129,816

5th: Andy Frankenberger -- $99,585

6th: Eli Berg -- $83,580

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