WPT Championship: SHR Winner Afriat Leads Final 18

The final 18 players return to the Borgata today in hopes of earning a spot at the final table as the WPT World Championship is getting down to crunch time…

AFRIAT ON A HEATER

A week after winning the biggest tournament in WPT history at the Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown, Canadian Eric Afriat (GPI#672) is at it again! Entering Thursday’s Day 3 play with the chip lead, Afriat would end up right where he left off, on top and will once again be the start of day chip leader when action continues today at Noon.

Afriat, who is the only player to bring a chip south north of 2M into Friday play, will come in with a 400k chip advantage over Abe Korotki (GPI#1637). WPT Champions Club member and One Drop High Roller winner Tony Gregg (GPI#368), Ryan D’Angelo (GPI#287) and Curt Kohlberg (GPI#860) close out the Top 5.

PoY STAMMEN, KAVERMAN STILL IN

Currently ranked #1 on the 2014 GPI Player of the Year Leaderboard, Keven Stammen (GPI#58) is right in the middle of the action, sitting 9th in chips. Stammen is already assured of collecting a minimum of 108 PoY points in the tournament. His overall lead will continue to increase as more and more players in the event.

Stammen will be breathing a sigh of relief with these additional points as three players – Alex Bilokur, Mukul Pahuja and Ole Schemion – made a big charge into the PoY Top 5 this week.

Byron Kaverman (GPI#20) is the top remaining player on the GPI300. Kaverman comes into Friday play ranked 7th in chips. The Ohio native is about to wrap-up a very successful season on the World Poker Tour.

GPI300 members Ray Qartomy (GPI#159), Justin Young (GPI#204) and D’Angelo (GPI#287) are also still in the hunt.

Here is a look at Final 18:

[table id=1099 /]

Play resumes at Noon ET – the WPT Live Updates team will keep you up-to-date on the action over at WPT.com.

Cover photo courtesy of World Poker Tour/WPT.com