Ashraf Chehata Rides Two-Hour Rocket to WPT bestbet Chip Lead

By Sean Chaffin

After the first eight hours of poker in Day 1a of the WPT bestbet Bounty Scramble, it seemed unlikely Ashraf Chehata (pictured) would be the chip leader much less now virtually playing a freeroll. Things just didn’t seem to be going his way and his chip stack was dwindling.

“I was down to 15,000 about two hours ago,” he said at the conclusion of the first day’s action. “Then the cards just started coming. I got good cards but it was also good flops. I was flopping everything. I couldn’t miss for a while there.”

Chehata’s bounty hunting worked out as well. He collected bounty necklaces and an extra $5,000 from Kitty Kuo and Ray Qartomy. Everything just seemed to be going well for this 53-year-old player from St. Augustine, Florida.

“It was just one of those crazy days,” he said. “It really was.”

He indeed finished the day as the chip leader with 359,500. A recreational player who works as a restaurant manager, Chehata has $5,128 in four cashes. Two of those are at bestbet here in Jacksonville.

When not playing poker or working, Chehata enjoys playing golf and hopes his competitive nature continues to serve him well at the WPT tables. A regular player in Jacksonville and Daytona, he’s looking for his first tour cash.

“That would feel great,” he says. “I love to play. “At my age, I can’t really compete playing sports, but I can always sit down, play some cards, and throw some chips in. I can do that.”

Sean Chaffin is a freelance writer in Crandall, Texas, and his work appears in numerous websites and publications. Follow him on Twitter @PokerTraditions.