WPT Fallsview Poker Classic Final Day Preview

Final day play is set to begin shortly at the Fallsview Casino in Niagara Falls…

JAMES LEADS THE WAY

Canadian Jason James (GPI#3449) leads the way as final day play is set to begin shortly at the WPT Fallsview Poker Classic along Niagara Falls as the World Poker Tour makes its second visit to Canada this season.

James is the only player holding over 2M chips as play begins. What’s more intriguing is that James has enjoyed success here at the Fallsview Poker Classic before. In 2011, James would final table the Main Event, finishing seventh. He would also pickup a sixth place finish in the 2,500 prelim event, leaving Niagara Falls with over 70K CAD in his pockets.

American Dylan Wilkerson (GPI#669) and Canadian Josue Sauvageau (GPI#4981) are two players readers may recognize in what is otherwise a final table filled with amateurs and first timers. Former EPT Barcelona final table participant Matthew Lapossie (GPI#16065) is another player to watch on Monday.

CLOSE CALL FOR CHAMPIONS CLUB MEMBERS

Former WPT Bellagio Cup IV Champion Mike Watson (GPI#19) was certainly hoping for a better result playing just a few hours away from his home in Toronto, but Watson would bow out in 12th position on Sunday, still earning over 5 times the amount of money he originally put in to play.

The same goes for 11th place finisher Shawn Cunix (GPI#1667). Cunix, who won WPT Jacksonville in 2012, joins Watson as WPT Champions Club members who just miss out on the finale.

Peter Jetten, Mark Radoja, Mike Leah, Curt Kohlberg and Mike Linster are just a few other name players who were able to cash but unable to qualify for final day play.

Here is a closer look at the final table participants: 

[table id=872 /]

›› SEAT 1  |  SPIRO MIKROGIANAKIS  

• Only live tournament cash was at WPT N.A. Championship in 2008 (56K CAD)
• WPT Career: 1 cash, $50,340 USD

›› SEAT 2  |  JASON JAMES  

• Final day chip leader
• Finished 41st at WPT Canadian Spring Championship last May (10K CAD)
• Earned 7th place finish at 2011 Fallsview Classic (non-WPT) (28K CAD)
• Also finished 6th in 2,500 prelim event that same year (43K CAD)
• WPT Career: 1 cash, $9,883 USD

›› SEAT 3  |  HOWIE LEUNG  

• Only live tournament cashes on file are from 2009
• WPT Career: First WPT Cash

›› SEAT 4  |  JOSUE SAUVAGEAU  

• Finished 5th at last year’s Fallsview Poker Classic (non-WPT) (44K CAD)
• Earned 11th place finish at 2012 WPT Montreal (32K CAD)
• Top 100 finish in 2010 WSOP Main Event (67K USD)
• WPT Career: 1 cash, $32,131 USD

›› SEAT 5  |  XIAOHU CHEN

• Finished 40th in 1K prelim event here at 2014 Fallsview Classic (3K CAD)
• WPT Career: First WPT Cash

›› SEAT 6  |  PETER LABIB

• First known cash on the live tournament circuit
• WPT Career: First WPT Cash

›› SEAT 7  |  BEN GRAHAM

• First known cash on live tournament circuit
• WPT Career: First WPT Cash

›› SEAT 8  |  DYLAN WILKERSON  

• Cashed in two straight years at WPT Montreal (83rd, 37th)
• Finished 67th in 2013 WPT Canadian Spring Championship (6K CAD)
• Earned six cashes last summer at the 44th World Series of Poker
• WPT Career: 3 cashes, $26,415 USD

›› SEAT 9  |  MATTHEW LAPOSSIE  

• Finished 60th in 2,500 prelim event here at Fallsview Classic (4K CAD)
• Final tabled EPT Barcelona in 2009 (120K EURO)
• Won prelim event at the 2009 L.A. Poker Classic (53K USD)
• WPT Career: First WPT Cash

›› SEAT 10  |  JOHN BOULOUGOURIS

• First known cash on live tournament circuit
• WPT Career: First WPT Cash