Hand #195: Albert Knafo Wins WPTDeepStacks Venetian ($532,395); Steven Sarmiento Finishes as Runner-Up ($383,595)

Photo:  WPTDeepStacks Venetian Champion Albert Knafo

Steven Sarmiento raises to 1.3 million, Albert Knafo reraises to 4.2 million, and Sarmiento thinks for a while before he four-bets it to 10.0 million. Knafo calls.

The flop comes , Knafo moves all in, and Sarmiento snap-calls all in for 9.0 million with for a set of queens. Knafo turns over for an open-ended straight draw, and Sarmiento needs his set of queens to hold to stay alive.

The turn card is the , and Sarmiento retains the lead. Knafo begins chanting, “Eight or king! Eight or king!”

The river card is — the !

Photo:  When the eight of hearts fell on the river to give Albert Knafo the victory, he exploded in celebration with his friends on the rail.

Albert Knafo wins the pot — and the WPTDeepStacks title — with a queen-high straight.

Steven Sarmiento finishes as the runner-up, earning $383,595.

Albert Knafo wins WPTDeepStacks Venetian earning $532,395, a WPTDeepStacks trophy, and a Venetian poker trophy. That amount includes a $3,000 package for him to play in the WPTDeepStacks Championship this December. Knafo also earns 1,400 points in the WPTDeepStacks North American Player of the Year race.

Congratulations to Albert Knafo!

1st:  Albert Knafo  –  $532,395*
2nd:  Steven Sarmiento  –  $383,595
3rd:  Austin Srur  –  $249,375
4th:  Doug Lada  –  $185,275
5th:  Jim Gilbert  –  $139,180
6th:  Eli Elezra  –  $112,235
7th:  Shawn Daniels  –  $91,865
8th:  Marc Bernal  –  $72,350
9th:  Thomas Boivin  –  $54,280

* First-prize amount includes winner’s $3,000 package into the WPTDeepStacks Championship.

Photo:  Steven Sarmiento