“Best Jiggities Ever” Brad Owen Headlines WPT Gardens Poker Championship Final Table
May 25, 2023
WPT Gardens Poker Championship Final Table: (from left to right) Ryan Salunga, Josh Lachman, Brad Owen, Chris Lee, Joey Deluca, Ky Nguyen
It took less than an hour to eliminate the last two players needed to set up the official final table of the Gardens Poker Championship, and it was WPT Ambassador Brad Owen doing the deed with both knockouts.
Owen will take the 3rd largest stack of the final six to the HyperX arena in Las Vegas for Saturday’s televised final table, trailing only chip leader Ryan Salunga, who holds 7,275,000, and 2nd place Chris Lee with 3,975,000.
WPT Gardens Poker Championship Final Table Chip Counts:
Seat 1: Ryan Salunga (Phillipines) – 7,275,000 (97 bb)
Seat 2: Brad Owen (USA) – 3,350,000 (44 bb)
Seat 3: Ky Nguyen (Vietnam) – 1,700,000 (22 bb)
Seat 4: Chris Lee (USA) – 3,975,000 (53 bb)
Seat 5: Josh Lachman (USA) – 225,000 (3 bb)
Seat 6: Joey Deluca (USA) – 875,000 (11 bb)
It was fitting that Owen’s first elimination of the day came holding his trademark “jiggities” as he called a 1,200,000 chip all-in from Steven Spunt with 
against Spunt’s 
. Owen held 1,300,000 before the hand which would either give him a massive double-up or crush his hopes.
Owen’s jacks held, and at the end of play, he confirmed what appeared to be certain.
“Best jiggities ever. I looked down at it, and I’m sure it wasn’t really visible but I kind of chuckled in my head a little bit and I was like ‘Oh this is fitting’, I’m either going to get knocked out with the jiggities, or get a massive double-up to get us down to seven.”
From there, the focus of the table was which of the two extreme short stacks between Josh Lachman and Thomas Choi would survive, and again it was Owen providing the elimination, with Choi the unfortunate player to be sent home in 7th place.
Choi moved his 
in under the gun and was called by Owen in the small blind with 
.
As someone at the table verbalized the old gambling adage “It’s always coming seven,” sure enough the 
came on the flop, pairing Owen and ending Choi’s incredible run after he came back from a single big blind late on Day 3.
While obviously thrilled about scoring the final knockout, Owen had great praise for his fallen opponent.
“Tom played so well, he should be really happy with himself. To be down to one big blind when we had 14 players, for him to make it this far says a lot about his resilience.”
Photo: Brad Owen vlogs his elimination of Thomas Choi in 7th place
Making his first WPT final table Thursday is extra special for Owen, who emotionally acknowledged what he’s most excited for.
“It’s my brother’s birthday today, so I’m just excited to give him a birthday present and invite my family and friends out to Vegas to the TV final table.”
With that, the final six will now enjoy their achievement before re-assembling in Las Vegas to crown a champion at the televised final table on Saturday. Play will resume with 38 minutes remaining in level 26 and the button will be on Owen.
WPT Gardens Poker Championship Remaining Payouts:
1st place: $375,380*
2nd place: $230,000
3rd place: $169,000
4th place: $125,000
5th place: $94,000
6th place: $71,200
*1st place includes a $10,400 seat into the WPT World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas this December.
Stay tuned to WPT.com for continued coverage until another name is etched onto the Mike Sexton Champions Cup.
@WPT