Vlad Darie Wins WPT Vienna Main Event; Dietrich Fast Fourth
When the final table of the World Poker Tour Vienna stop got underway on Sunday evening, all eyes were on Dietrich Fast. The German poker pro was second in chips behind Zoltan Gal and looking for his second WPT title in a little over two weeks after taking down the L.A. Poker Classic.
Fast’s run at that second title was cut short, though, as Vlad Darie went on to win WPT Vienna for his first WPT title and $192,496 after beating Gal in a nearly four-hour-long heads-up battle.
The first elimination didn’t come for nearly 90 minutes. Darie opened for 60,000 from the button and Georgios Zisimopoulos moved all in from the small blind for 427,000. Darie called and showed 
, while Zisimopoulos tabled 
. The board ran out 
to eliminate Zisimopoulos in sixth place.
On the very hext hand, Dominik Bosnjak called from UTG before Fast raised to 70,000 from the cutoff. The blinds both folded and Bosnjak moved all in for 354,000. Fast called and showed 
and was racing against the 
of Bosnjak. The 
flop put Fast in front and neither the 
turn nor 
river was able to save Bosnjak from a fifth place finish.
Despite starting the day second in chips, Fast was unable to maintain the momentum, even after sending Bosnjak packing. With blinds at 20,000/40,000, Gal raised to 100,000 and Fast moved all in for 910,000. Gal called with and Fast tabled 
. The 
flop gave Fast a nut-flush draw, but the 
turn and 
river failed to complete his hand and he was out in fourth place.
Left with just over four big blinds, Matt Davenport raised all in to 175,000 from the button and both Darie and Gal defended their blinds. The board ran out 
and Davenport showed 
, Gal showed 
for ace-high, but Darie flipped up 
for a rivered straight to win the pot and eliminate Davenport.
Even with Davenport’s chips now in his stack, Darie started heads-up play down 2-1 to Gal and quickly found himself in an even bigger hole, down nearly 3-1 after just five hands of play. The sixth hand, however, saw both players make a pair on a 
flop. Gal made two pair when the 
fell on the turn and all the chips went in. Darie, who held 
, made a better two pair when the 
hit the river and doubled into the chip lead.
Even though the two players played another two-and-a-half hours, Gal never regained the lead. On the final hand of the tournament with blinds at 75,000/150,000, Darie moved all in from the button and Gal called. Gal was ahead with 
against Darie’s . The flop changed everything, though, with Darie pairing his six. The 
turn and 
river did nothing for Gal and Darie eliminated him in second place to claim the title.
The €3,300 buy-in event had 234 entrants for a €702,000 prizepool. The WPT now heads back to the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood, Florida for three events including the Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown and the WPT Tournament of Champions.
Final Table Payouts
- Vlad Darie – $192,496
- Zoltan Gal – $123,554
- Matthew Davenport – $80,004
- Dietrich Fast – $59,269
- Dominik Bosnjak – $44,477
- Georgios Zisimopoulos – $35,595
