WPT Emperors Palace Poker Classic Won By Daniel Brits

Daniel Brits has won the WPT Emperors Palace Poker Classic, after overcoming a field of 191 players over four days on his way to capturing the title, and collecting the $132,128 first place prize.
The $3,300 Main Event took place at the Palace of Dreams in Johannesburg, and attracted a good-sized field to create a prize pool worth $561,527. By the time the final table of six had been reached, Eugene Du Plessis was the chip leader on an 88 BB stack, followed by Daniel Brits (41 BB), and Dominik Nitsche (29 BB). Also competing were short-stacks Wesley Wiegand (12 BB), Rob Fenner (11 BB), and Ronit Chamani (10 BB).
Soon after, the three-short stacks were all-in preflop with Fenner’s Ac-10s up against Wiegand’s A-K and Chamanis A-J. The dealer subsequently produced a 10c-5c-3-3c-Qc board to make Fenner the flush, eliminate Ronit Chamani in 6th ($26,504), whilst reducing Wesley Wiegand to just three blinds.
On the very next hand, Daniel Brits eliminated Wesley Wiegand in 5th ($33,130), before being dealt A-Q and doing likewise to Dominik Nitsche (A-J) in 4th ($44,136) on a K-J-8-10-K board.
Next to exit the arena was Rob Fenner in 3rd ($59,634), who got his remaining chips in with 10h-9h on a Qh-7-4h flop, only to discover Eugene Du Plessis (6h-7h) was also chasing a flush draw. Unfortunately for Rob Fenner, though, the 3s and Kc on turn and river meant Du Plessis’ pair of sevens was enough to take the pot and so Eugene Du Plessis progressed through to heads-up play against Daniel Brits for the title.
As the heads-up phase of the tournament got started the players were fairly even in chips and it wouldn’t be for another three hours before the defining hand was played. Daniel Brits (Qs-8d) and Eugene Du Plessis (Jd-7d) then got it all-in on a Qd-7-2d flop, and after the turn and river produced a 9c and Qc, Du Plessis received $92,708 for his runner-up finish, while Daniel Brits was crowned the WPT Emperors Palace Poker Classic champion.
Final Table Payouts:
1st – Daniel Brits – $132, 128
2nd – Eugene Du Plessis – $92,708
3rd – Rob Fenner – $59,634
4th – Dominik Nitsche – $44,136
5th – Wesley Wiegand – $33,130
6th – Ronit Chamani – $26,504