TV producer Matthew Salsberg wins WPT Grand Prix de Paris
Monday, 17 September 2012
TV producer Matthew Salsberg has won the WPT Grand Prix de Paris Main Event and pocketed a cool €400,000 in the process.
The final table was one of the toghest seen in a WPT event, featuring 2012 WSOP bracelet winner Timothy Adams, EPT Monte Carlo Grand Final Main Event Mohsin Charania, 2010 Grand Prix de Paris winner Theo Jorgensen, 2010 English Poker Open Main Event and the GUKPT Grand Final winner Fabian Quoss and Philipp Gruissem thewinner last year's EPT London High Roller.
Salsberg does have a score of over $100k, but is probably better known as co-producer of TV show "Entourage" and the writer/producer of "Weeds".
Coming into the 6-handed final table at the start of day 5 the chip counts looked like this:
1 Matt Salsberg 1,757,000
2 Philipp Gruissem 776,000
3 Theo Jorgensen 1,169,000
4 Fabian Quoss 570,000
5 Timothy Adams 1,198,000
6 Mohsin Charania 1,435,000
The chips started to fly early, as in the first level Theo Jorgensen won a massive hand against Timothy Adams to take the chip lead. All the money got in pre-flop, and though it was the Dane’s tournament life at risk, his aces were crushing Adams' A,K. There was no miracle for Adams, and Jorgensen doubled to over 2.6 million chips.
When it got down to heads up, Jorgensen had a slight chip lead over Salsberg and was looking to claim the record of being the first player to win two WPT titles at the same venue. Jorgensen began to pull away pretty quickly, and had a 4:1 chip lead at the time of the first heads up all-in- Theo's A5 losing to Matt's A4 when the 4 came putting him back in contention for the title. Not too long after Salsberg was at risk and was the underdog again with A10 against AQ getting it in preflop. However Salsberg picked up a flush draw on the K,6,4 flop and saw it get there on the river, doubling him up once more and this time putting him in the chip lead.
Understandably, Jorgensen was somewhat frustrated after this second denial of the title, and soon after limp-shoved over Salsberg's raise with Q,10o. Unfortunately for him he was in the worst possible shape when the American called him with his pocket Queens, and lady luck wouldn't return the favour she gave Matt as the board ran out 3,5,2,4,7, and he was out in second.
Tournaments can often be cruel, unluckily for Theo he got it in good twice but it wasn't enough, it was clearly Matt's day. Salsberg takes home €400,000, entry into the $25,000 WPT World Championship and the prestigious title. Minutes after his victory Matt took to twitter to simply tweet "Holy f***".
The next stop on the WPT will is Malta, which is sure to be entertaining with the upcoming Tony G vs Phil Hellmuth triathlon.
The final table positions and payouts were as follows:
1. Matthew Salsberg - €400,000, including entry into the $25,000 WPT World Championship
2. Theo Jorgensen - €264,600
3. Philipp Gruissem - €170,065
4. Timothy Adams - €125,775
5. Mohsin Charania - €94,615
6. Fabian Quoss - €75,765