April 12 2013, by Eric Danis
WPT Hard Rock: Keep and Eye on Justin Zaki
NOTE: This article has been released prior to the end of Day 1A play at the WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown. UPDATE: Zaki has made Day 2 play with 82K in chips, just above the average chip stacks from Day 1A.
A few days ago, after finishing in a WPT Seminole Hard Rock prelim, Justin Zaki (GPI#92) took to Twitter to voice his frustration about not having posted a win yet on the live tournament circuit:
Kinda comical that I've still never won a live tourney. Even if I was the worst player ever you'd think i woulda luckboxed 1 by now.
— Justin Zaki (@Justin_Zaki) April 9, 2013
The fact of the matter is, it has to be frustrating for a someone with Zaki’s skill-level to have never clinched a big win. But, Zaki’s morale has taken a turn for the better today as Day 1A play has begun here in Hollywood, Florida at the WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown:
Up early, pumped for this WPT Hard Rock. Ready to make another deep run. Really wanna win this one.
— Justin Zaki (@Justin_Zaki) April 11, 2013
Zaki, playing this tournament in his home state, seems determined to make this one the first. He has already avoided disaster by folding QQ early in a hand where opponents showed KK and AA!
Despite not winning the big one, Zaki, the 92nd ranked player on the GPI, has an impressive resumé. Having collected over $750,ooo on the live circuit, having cashed in seven WPT events (including a third place finish in this very event (Taylor von Kriegenbergh) in this very event back in 2011 followed by a 15th place finish (Tommy Vedes) the following year) and eight WSOP cashes, five of which came last summer in Las Vegas.
While it’s impossible to determine how the cards fall, it’s obvious that Zaki is here in Hollywood to try and right a wrong. His current Market Price on FPM is a little over 186,000.
FANTASY POKER MANAGER PLAYER CARD
JUSTIN ZAKI |
GPI#92 | FPM 186,790 |
| Best WPT Seminole Hard Rock Result: | 3rd, 2011 | $415,680 |
| Career WSOP, WPT, EPT: | 0 wins, 15 cashes | $660,593 |
| First WSOP, WPT or EPT Cash: | WSOP Side, 2010 | $78,067 |
| Biggest Live Tourney Score: | WPT Hard Rock ’11 | $415,680 |
| Career Wins, Earnings: | 0 wins | $758,071 |
| Days Since Last Result: | 4 days | $2,475 |
Why should I add Zaki to my team?
- Despite zero wins on tour, has impressive track sheet
- Motivated to win his first major event
- Finished 15th and 3rd in this event the previous two years
Ready to add Zaki to your FPM team? Head on over to Facebook and signup to play the GPI Fantasy Poker Manager … lineups for the WPT Seminole Hard Rock lock on Saturday! FPM is the official Fantasy game of the World Poker Tour and the World Series of Poker!
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About the author
Eric Danis’ passion for poker came at a very early age but it’s when writing about and covering the game he loves that Danis is most in his element. Danis is better known for creating www.PTPRpoker.com where he spent a few years covering poker events. Danis is also known for having worked on the poker shows Poker Eh! and The Pulse on the Quad Jacks Network.
