Dan Cates Wins WPT Alpha8 Johannesburg For $500k
February 17, 2014 2:06 pmDaniel “Jungleman12” Cates has triumphed at the Johannesburg WPT Alpha 8, after besting his eight fellow competitors over two days on his way to capturing the title, and collecting the $500,000 first place prize.
The 24-year-old US online cash game pro moved to Cape Town, South Africa, last year and after having taken down his biggest ever tournament score on his new home ground, now boosts his live earnings to $1,120,697.
The $100k buy-in WPT Alpha8 was held at the Emperors Palace Hotel Casino Convention Entertainment Resort in Johannesburg, and featured a top flight array of pros, including such players as Antonio Esfandiari, Jeff Gross, Max Altergott, Jeff Gross, Erik Seidel, Jason Mercier, Phil Ivey, Kinesh Pather, Dan Cates and Philipp Gruissem.
During the competition, Cates tweeted the following message: “Leading WPT alpha 8 in Johannesburg atm with 7 left (out of 9 lol), after this going to go on a safari and see some lions and stuff.”
With just three places being paid, Jeff Gross finished the bubble boy after his A-8 shove was called by Cates’ with pocket eights, and a little while later Jason Mercier was unlucky to be reduced to 4bb when his Ad-As was bested by Pather’s Kc-Qh on a 10h-9h-5h-7d-2h board. Before long Mercier, too, hit the rail in 3rd ($200,000), leaving Daniel Cates and Kinesh Pather to battle it out for the title.
As the heads-up commenced, Cates held a 4-1 advantage over his last opponent and eventually Panther would get his last chips in holding K-J to Cates’ J-10. However, with the dealer putting out a 10-8-7-J-10 flop, Kinesh Pather finished the runner-up for $275,000, while Daniel “Jungleman12” Cates was crowned the champion.
After his victory, Cates sent another message out, stating: “well I won the alpha 8, poker easy game.”
Final Table Results:
1 Daniel Cates – $500,000
2 Kinesh Pather – $275,000
3 Jason Mercier – $200,000