Noah Schwartz Quickly Takes Down the WPT bestbet Jacksonville Fall Poker Scramble

By Diana Cox 

Topping a field of 477 players Noah Schwartz earned his first career WPT title and became the latest member of the WPT Champions Club during the early evening hours of November 13 at the WPT bestbet Jacksonville Fall Poker Scramble. 

Schwartz came to the final table with nearly half of the 14 million chips in play and a mere sixty eight hands later, Schwartz and runner-up Byron Kaverman began the heads-up match with nearly even stacks. Hand number 80 would prove the end of Kaverman’s tournament life and ensure Schwartz his long-awaited WPT title and $402,970. 

"Finally," a smiling Schwartz said as he was presented with the winner’s trophy. 

Schwartz and Kaverman stayed fairly even throughout the short heads up match with no big pots playing out until the final hand of the night.

Schwartz completed from the small blind and Kaverman raised to 250,000. Schwartz called to see a flop of [10h9s3h], Kaverman bet 400,000 and Schwartz again called. The turn was the [4s], Kaverman fired out a bet of 700,000 and Schwartz responded by pushing 1,925,000 to the middle of the table. Kaverman announced he was all-in and Schwartz called. Kaverman flipped over [10c9c] for two pair, tens and nines, and Schwartz turned up [Qs10s] for a pair of tens. With both players and their rails on their feet the dealer peeled off the river card, the [Qc], giving Schwartz the winning hand. 

Kaverman walked away from his second official WPT final table with $236,592. 

Lee Markholt, who won the WPT Season VI World Poker Challenge and was the only former WPT champion at the final table, was the first to go, seeing his chance at becoming a repeat champion snuffed out on the very first hand of the day. 

Hans Winzeler raised to 80,000 from the cutoff, Brian Senie re-raised to 200,000 from the button, Schwartz made it 570,000 to go from the small blind and Markholt shoved all-in for 1,715,000 from the big blind. Winzeler and Senie got out of the way but Schwartz made the call with [QdQs]. Markholt held [AdKc] and when the board completed [10c5c5hJc7d] Markholt made his exit as the sixth place finisher, adding $61,819 to his nearly $3 million in lifetime live tournament earnings. 

Senie, who was seated at his first major tournament final table, followed Markholt as the fifth place finisher for $77,083. Senie moved all-in from the button with [Qc10h] and from the small blind Schwartz would pick off his second victim of the night. With [Ks10c] Schwartz called to see a board of [AhKc8s4h8c] and eliminate Senie. 

Winzeler followed Senie to the rail as the fourth place finisher for $106,848, but his tournament ended at the hand’s of Kaverman. Kaverman raised to 120,000 from the button and Winzeler pushed all-in from the big blind for his last 1,025,000. Kaverman called with [3c3h] against Winzeler’s [AsJc]. The dealer spread [Kh9h6dQc9c] and Kaverman’won the pot with two pair, nines and threes. 

Having hung on with a short stack for much of the final table, Ryan Hartmann’s tournament came to an end as the third place finisher for $153,403. Kaverman announced he was all-in from the small blind and being down to just 765,000 Hartmann made his move. 

"It’s time to gamble," he told the table and called all-in for less than Kaverman. 

Kaverman showed [8h8c] and Hartman revealed [QdJd]. After a flop of [Qh7h5c] Hartmann looked in good position to double up but the [6s] on the turn gave Kaverman additional outs to take the lead again. One of those outs, the [9h], turned up on the river to give Kaverman the nine-high straight and relieve Hartmann of the last of his chips. 

WPT bestbet Jacksonville Fall Poker Scramble final table results: 

1. Noah Schwartz – $402,970
2. Byron Kaverman – $236,592
3. Ryan Hartmann – $153,403
4. Hans Winzeler – $106,848
5. Brian Senie – $77.083
6. Lee Markholt – $61,819