Harrison Gimbel now has a WPT title to go with his PCA Main Event victory (Joe Giron photo)

Harrison Gimbel burst onto the live poker scene in 2010 when the then 19-year-old took down the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure to become the youngest winner in the history of that event. On Wednesday night, Gimbel added another title to his resume after defeating Mohsin Charania heads-up to win the World Poker Tour Rolling Thunder event and pocket $275,112.

Along with the cash, Gimbel earns entry to the WPT Tournament of Champions next month in his home state of Florida. Charania was hoping to become the fourth player to capture three WPT titles joining Gus Hansen, Carlos Mortensen and Anthony Zinno, but Gimbel wouldn’t be denied.

Starting the TV final table with the lowest chip stack, Derek Wolters knew he had some work to do. Unfortunately, it just didn’t work out for the 26-year-old poker pro. Wolters raised from UTG to 90,000 and Gimbel called from the big blind. After a 9h8d5s flop, both players checked. The Th was enough for Gimbel to lead out for 85,000. Wolters responded by moving all-in for 565,000 and after 90 seconds thinking it over, Gimbel called and tabled Jd9c, while Wolters showed KdTd. Wolters was ahead, but the 9d river gave Gimbel trip nines and Wolters was eliminated in sixth.

Russell Garrett opened from the button to 80,000 and Hafiz Khan moved all-in from the small blind. Garrett called and showed AcQd and was up against Khan’s 3d3h. The board ran out 7c7s5d5h9h to counterfeit Khan’s pair and send him home in fifth place.

The third elimination of the night happened just 15 minutes later and again began with Garrett opening to 80,000. Gimbel called from the button before Markus Gonsalves made it 275,000 to go from the small blind. Garrett folded, but Gimbel took some time before announcing he was all-in. Gonsalves quickly called and tabled AdJs and found himself ahead of Gimbel’s KhQh. The flop came QdTd8c to put Gimbel ahead with top pair, but Gonsalves picked up a Broadway draw. The Qc turn put Gimbel further ahead with trips and the Jc river was no help for Gonsalves and he was eliminated in fourth.

Three-handed play went on for 90 minutes before Garrett, who began the day with the chip lead, and Charania clashed. Gimbel raised to 120,000 from the button, Charania called from the small blind and Garrett moved all-in from the big blind for 1,770,000. Gimbel folded, but Charania eventually called and tabled 7d7s and found himself racing against Garrett’s AhQh. The Js8d5c flop was no help for Garrett and the Kh turn and 3c river were both bricks, sending him out in third place and leaving Charania and Gimbel to play heads-up for the title.

When heads-up play began, the two players were separated by just 55,000 in chips – less than one big blind. While it took a little over two hours and 107 hands to go from six players to two, the duel between Gimbel and Charania lasted much longer. The two players played 116 hands of heads-up play with Gimbel and Charania trading the chip lead back and forth at least four times before it finally came to an end.

With blinds of 100,000/200,000 and Gimbel holding the lead, Charania limped his button and Gimbel moved all-in. Charania called and showed KhQh, while Gimbel turned over 5h4h. The Js3s2h flop gave Gimbel extra outs for a straight. The 5d turn put Gimbel ahead and the 5s river sealed the deal to eliminate Charania in second place and give Gimbel his first WPT title.

The next WPT stop is already underway as WPT Vienna began Tuesday and wraps up Sunday. From there the WPT heads to Florida for three events; the WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown, the Seminole Hard Rock Poker Finale and the WPT Tournament of Champions.

Final Table Payouts

  1. Harrison Gimbel – $275,112
  2. Mohsin Charania – $192,132
  3. Russell Garrett – $123,682
  4. Markus Gonsalves – $91,616
  5. Hafiz Khan – $68,712
  6. Derek Wolters – $54,970