Dylan Linde Triumphs at WPT Five Diamond World Poker Classic

The 2018 World Poker Tour Five Diamond World Poker Classic Main Event took place at the Bellagio in Las Vegas from December 11-15. A total of 1,001 players stumped up $10,400 each to enter the tournament, at the end of which Dylan Linde overcame his final opponent, Serbia’s Milos Skrbic, to claim a coveted WPT title, as well as a massive $1,631,468 first place prize.

Linde fired multiple bullets in the event before eventually triumphing over the field, and as he later explained:

“It was like a roller coaster. The first one or two, it was like, ‘Ehhh, OK.’ And then when I busted bullet three, I was pretty sad and I kind of tilted. Then when I busted bullet four, I was just like, ‘Ya know? Whatever, this tournament is really good and I need to fire.’ At that point, I’ve already passed my pain threshold so now it doesn’t matter. I just try and it almost helped me to be in for five.”

Poker Pro Dylan Linde

Originally from Idaho, Dylan Linde cashed in at his first live tournament in 2005. The accomplished poker tournament player has since gone on to amass $3,663,153 in career earnings, with his latest victory in Nevada representing by far his biggest score to date. Linde’s previous highest cash came in 2016 after taking down the WSOPC Hammond Main Event for $348,269.

In addition to his live results, Linde has also racked up a further $6,023,161 in online winnings playing tournaments under the screen name ImaLucSac.

WPT Five Diamond Classic

The WPT Five Diamond World Poker Classic Main Event featured a huge prize pool just short of $10 million, and attracted some of the game’s most talented pros. Among those finishing in one of its 126 money places was Joe Hachem in 85th ($21,789), Nick Petrangelo in 83rd ($21,789), Erik Seidel in 69th ($25,886), Antonio Esfandiari in 66th ($25,886), Nick Pupillo in 49th ($32,401), Calvin Anderson in 39th ($42,645), Andre Akkari in 23rd ($58,967), and Joe McKeehen in 9th ($163,142).

Final Table Action

Milos Skrbic started the final table in pole position, and before long added further to his stack after being dealt 6-5 and calling Barry Hutter’s (A-8) all in move on a 6-5-8 flop. A 2 and K on turn and river changed nothing, and so Hutter bowed out in 6th place, collecting $344,529 for his deep run in the tournament.

Soon after, Linde’s (A-10) next victim was last woman standing Lisa Hamilton (5-5), who exited in 5th place ($451,880), while increasing her life time earnings to $1,267,677.

Continuing his final table assault, Linde (J-2) moved all in against the small blind Ping Liu (A-4). After making the call Liu saw the board roll out K-7-2-3-K to end her tournament hopes in 4th place, albeit for a personal record payout of $599,147.

With just three players now remaining, a Kc-7s-3c flop received a check from both Skrbic (10c-6c) and Andrew Lichtenberger (Kd-5h). Linde subsequently took the opportunity to bet out, but quickly got out of the way after Skrbic check-raised and Lichtenberger moved all in. Skrbic made the call, though, and completed his flush after an 8c hit on the turn to send Lichtenberger to the rail in 3rd.

Heads Up Recap

Skrbic took a 22.37 million to 17.67 million chip lead over Linde into heads-up play. Linde proceeded to get the better of his remaining opponent, though, and by the time the deciding hand was played he was sitting on a 6-to-1 chip advantage.

In the hand in question, Skrbic moved all in holding pocket fives, but unfortunately for him Linde had been dealt pocket jacks. The ensuing K-9-9-9-A board sealed the deal, and so Skrbic collected $1,087,603 for his runner-up finish. As a result, he now boasts $1,570,580 in career winnings, placing him at number 3 on Serbia ‘All Time Money List’ behind Andjelko Andrejevic ($3,637,426), and Ognjen Sekularac ($1,764,194).

Meanwhile, Dylan Linde was crowned the champion and was rewarded with a career first WPT title.

Final Table Result

1: Dylan Linde $1,631,468
2: Milos Skrbic $1,087,603
3: Andrew Lichtenberger $802,973
4: Ping Liu $599,147
5: Lisa Hamilton $451,880
6: Barry Hutter $344,529