WPT Jacksonville bestbet Open Final Table Preview

Calderaro, Cristos looking for Season XII double on the World Poker Tour while a former WPT PoY looks to lock up his first title…

CHAMPS LOOK TO DOUBLE DOWN

The final table at the WPT Jacksonville bestbet Open is set and two current season Champions are looking to book yet another victory as the final six make their way to bestbet Jacksonville later today:

The last time the WPT visited the State of Florida, James Calderaro (GPI#620) finally broke through on the World Poker Tour, winning the WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open in Coconut Creek. Calderaro continued his hot streak last week at WPT Rolling Thunder where he finished 10th.

Calderaro was a runner-up at WPT Jacksonville back in 2012. He would finish second to Shawn Cunix (GPI#919) at bestbet Orange Park.

Jordan Cristos (GPI#138) won the WPT Legends of Poker, the kickoff event to Season XII, this past September. Cristos has cashed twice on the WPT since his big win. Cristos heads to the final table with an average chip stack.

JAKA TRACKING

With all of his successes throughout a long career on the live tournament circuit, it’s shocking to see that Faraz Jaka (GPI#113) has yet to collect his first major victory on the live tournament circuit … in fact, Jaka’s only win on record came back in 2008 where he won a 1K prelim event at the L.A. Poker Classic, his second career cash on the circuit.

Jaka’s tremendous 2009 season earned him the Season XIII Player of the Year title on the World Poker Tour.

Jaka heads into final table play with one of the shortest stack, yet, his experience in big-time situations, despite the lack of victories, will surely serve him well in Jacksonville.

Let’s take a closer look at our final table participants:

[table id=988 /]

›› SEAT 1  |  JAMES CALDERARO  

• Won WPT Lucky Hearts Open in February ($271,703)
• Finished 10th last week at WPT Rolling Thunder ($30,170)
• Finished 2nd at WPT Jacksonville in 2012 ($236,560)
• Finished 13th in Main Event at 40th WSOP ($633,022)
• Will cross the 2M USD mark in earnings with a win on Tuesday
• WPT Career: 1 win, 2 final tables, 6 cashes, $677,599
• GPI Ranking: Current: #620  |  Career Peak: #204 (May 2012)

›› SEAT 2  |  NABIL HIREZI  

• Earning third score of this Series
• Finished 8th at WPT Regional Jacksonville in 2011 ($16,181)
• WPT Career: First WPT Cash
• GPI Ranking: Current: #22265  |  Career Peak: #9105 (Jul 2012)

›› SEAT 3  |  PETER LE

• Earning first cash on the live tournament circuit
• WPT Career: First WPT Cash
• GPI Ranking: Current: NR  |  Career Peak: N/A

›› SEAT 4  |  FARAZ JAKA  

• Finished 22nd at WPT Borgata Winter Open in January ($17,357)
• Finished 3rd at 2012 PCA ($755,000)
• Finished 3rd at WPT Five Diamond in 2009 ($571,374)
• Finished 2nd at WPT Bellagio Cup V in 2009 ($774,780)
• Finished 3rd in 5K NLH event at 40th WSOP ($400,525)
• Won Season XIII WPT Player of the Year
• WPT Career: 2 final tables, 8 cashes, $1,497,455
• GPI Ranking: Current: #113  |  Career Peak: #40 (Apr 2012)

›› SEAT 5  |  BRIAN GREEN  

• Finished 5th in River Poker Series prelim event in 2013 ($122,248)
• Finished 19th at WPT World Poker Challenge in 2008 ($18,733)
• Has collected just under 30 cashes on the live tournament circuit
• WPT Career: 1 cash, $18,733
• GPI Ranking: Current: #1117  |  Career Peak: #901 (Jan 2014)

›› SEAT 6  |  JORDAN CRISTOS  

• Won WPT Legends of Poker in September ($613,355)
• Finished 23rd in the WSOP Europe Main Event in October (€23,750)
• WPT Career: 1 win, 1 final table, 4 cashes, $674,667
• GPI Ranking: Current: #138  |  Career Peak: #96 (Feb 2014)