Soheb Porbandarwala leads at the final table of the WPT World Championship

Soheb Porbandarwala leads the final table of the prestigious WPT World Championship tournament at Wynn Las Vegas. Six finalists are competing for $2,528,000.

On Friday, December 15, the fifth day of play concluded in the prestigious WPT World Championship tournament with a $10,400 buy-in, held at Wynn Las Vegas. After an intense battle, six finalists remain, each continuing to fight for the top prize of $2,528,000. All final table participants have already secured payouts of at least $540,000, but at stake is not only big money, but also the prestige of one of the most coveted titles in the poker world. Format and Significance of the WPT World Championship The WPT World Championship is one of the largest annual events in live poker, organized by the World Poker Tour . The $10,400 buy-in attracts the strongest players from around the globe, and the prize pool reaches impressive amounts. The venue is the famous Wynn Las Vegas , which adds special prestige to the tournament. The tournament structure features deep stacks and gradual blind increases, allowing participants to showcase a high level of skill and strategic thinking. The final table brings together the best of the best, and the live broadcast of the finale allows millions of poker fans to follow the action in real time. Day 5: Soheb Porbandarwala’s Dominance The main figure of Day 5 was Soheb Porbandarwala , who not only topped the chip count but did so with a solid lead over his closest competitors. His stack reached 81,325,000 chips, almost double that of the second-place player, Schuyler Thornton (36,500,000). This advantage gives Porbandarwala a significant edge at the final table. Throughout Day 4, Porbandarwala steadily built his stack, but at the end of the session, Jeremy Becker briefly took the lead thanks to a series of successful hands. However, on Day 5, Porbandarwala reclaimed the top spot, displaying aggressive and well-thought-out play. One particularly memorable hand saw Porbandarwala make a four-bet preflop with 9♦2♦, forcing Linglin Zeng (7♠7♦) to fold. This hand became one of the key moments in his dominance at the final table. Key Eliminations and the Battle for the Final Table The road to the official final table was not easy. First to leave was Linglin Zeng , the last woman in the tournament, who finished ninth and took home $255,000 . Zeng is known for her regular appearances on Hustler Casino Live . David Pelosi finished eighth, earning $325,000 . After his elimination, play continued with seven players, and at this stage, the finalists demonstrated cautious and calculated strategies, unwilling to risk their large stacks. The decisive hand came between Graeme Newman and Soheb Porbandarwala. Newman, with a stack of 31 big blinds, went all-in with K♠Q♠, but ran into A♣Q♥ held by Porbandarwala. Newman picked up a flush draw on the turn, but the river didn’t improve his hand, and he exited in seventh place, earning $415,000 . This hand further cemented Porbandarwala’s lead and ended the day’s play. Finalists’ Chip Counts and Payouts Heading into the final day, each of the six remaining players has at least 26 big blinds, promising a long and intense battle. Below are the chip counts and payouts for the finalists: Soheb Porbandarwala — 81,325,000 chips Schuyler Thornton — 36,500,000 chips Jeremy Becker — 18,200,000 chips Payouts for 7th–9th places: 7th place: Graeme Newman — $415,000 8th place: David Pelosi — $325,000 9th place: Linglin Zeng — $255,000 The minimum payout for the remaining six players is $540,000 . First place comes with a prize of $2,528,000 , and the top three finishers will all receive seven-figure sums. Leader Profiles and Their Achievements Soheb Porbandarwala is the only member of the WPT Champions Club among the finalists. He won the WPT Online Poker Open in December 2020, and also holds a World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet and twelve WSOP Circuit (WSOPC) championship rings. Before this tournament, his total live tournament winnings recorded on The Hendon Mob exceeded $2,200,000. Schuyler Thornton, second in chips, built his stack throughout Day 5 by winning many small pots, avoiding major confrontations. Jeremy Becker, who actively fought for the lead, made an unsuccessful bluff with ace-high against Jeremy Brown , costing him part of his stack, but he managed to stay in the game with 18,200,000 chips. The Final Table: Expectations and Format The finalists received a day off to rest and prepare for the final day, which will take place on Sunday, December 17. The final table will be played in a single session with a live broadcast, allowing fans to follow every hand in real time. Deep stacks and the absence of clear short stacks make the final especially interesting: players will be able to use their full range of strategies, and victory will depend not only on luck but also on skill. What This Means for PPPoker Club Players For PPPoker club members, this tournament is a great example of how important discipline, strategy, and the ability to adapt to different opponents’ styles are. Even at the highest levels, success comes to those who can not only be aggressive, but also manage their stack wisely and make timely bluffs, as demonstrated by Soheb Porbandarwala. Carefully studying hands from major live series like the WPT World Championship helps club players adopt best practices and apply them in online play. Pay attention to how the leaders build their advantage by putting pressure on opponents and choosing the right moments for big decisions—these skills are especially important in the final stages of club tournaments. Moreover, the tournament results confirm: even with deep stacks and no obvious short stacks, the final table turns into a marathon, where the winner is not only the strongest by cards, but also the most resilient and mentally tough player. Practice these qualities in PPPoker club games to be ready for long and intense sessions.