WPT World Online Championships Event #2: Chile’s Alex Manzano Runs Hot

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Chilean poker pro Alex Manzano successfully navigated his way through a stacked final table to claim first place in WPT World Online Championships Event #2, and a $176,131 payday.

Alex Manzano
Chile’s Alex Manzano has won his first WPT title and $176,131 after taking down Event #2 of the World Online Championships. (Image: Twitch/PartypokerTV)

Leading with a week of Omaha events was always a gamble, but it paid off for the WPT in Event #2 as the $1 million guarantee was breached. The $3,200 PLO event attracted 342 runners between July 25 and 26, meaning 61 returned for Day 2.

When the betting was over on Monday, seven players were set to return and play down to a champion on Tuesday. Paresh Doshi was leading at the start of play, but an all-star cast meant the title race was far from over.

Doshi Starts Fast, but Manzano Makes His Move

Doshi made his presence felt from the start. The Brit used his stack to take control and send three-time WSOP bracelet winner Benny Glaser to the rail. That was no mean feat, as Glaser is regarded as one of the best mixed-game players in poker.

Two of his three bracelets have come in PLO8 events, and he’s known online as RunGodLike. Divine powers weren’t on his side in the early rounds of Event #2, however. After calling a raise from the big blind with K♠ J♥ 9♥ 6♣, Glaser committed his chips on a J♠ 5♠ 9♣ flop.

Doshi, who had pushed the action, was prepared to go all the way with A♣ Q♥ J♦ T♣. With Glaser all-in and Doshi making the call, it was left to the poker gods. The A♦ on the turn virtually sealed the deal for Doshi, before the 2♥ made it official.

With the non-Hold’em expert gone, Doshi looked like the man to beat. In reality, it was Manzano who emerged as the proverbial force of nature. His winning run started with a full house and the elimination of Jesse Rockowitz.

Hungary’s Laszlo Bujtas, aka omaha4rollz, dispatched with Alfred Karlsson in fifth place before Mike Leah dropped out in fourth. Manzano then made what would prove to be his decisive move.

Limp-raising from the small blind against Bujtas, Manzano put his opponent to the test on a 2♠ 8♣ 7♦ board. Bujtas went all-in with A♣ J♠ T♥ 7♣ and was all but out when Manzano called with K♦ K♠ T♣ 9♥. The 6♥ locked it up for Manzano before the Q♦ brought the hand to an end.

Three Threes End a War of Attrition

Manzano had the lead heads-up against Doshi, but there was a deal to be done. With both players having over 100 big blinds, they decided to run the numbers. A straight split was fair, which meant there was $10,000 left to play for — and play they did.

The pair battled for more than an hour before someone had to give. A limp from Manzano in the small blind with K♥ 9♥ 3♦ 3♥ allowed Doshi to check from the big blind. The 3♠ 9♣ K♣ gave Doshi two-pair with K♦ Q♠ 9♠ 6♣, but it was Manzano leading with a set of treys.

A bet and a call later allowed the 4♥ to land on the turn. Chaos quickly ensued as Doshi found a way to get his chips in the middle.

Manzano called and took down the final pot after the Q♥ completed the board. With that, Event #2 of the WPT World Online Championships was over and another winner was entered into the history books.

Event #2 WPT World Online Championships – $3,200 PLO Result

  1. 1. Alex Manzano – $176,131*
  2. 2. Paresh Doshi – $167,272*
  3. 3. Laszlo Bujtas – $106,163
  4. 4. Mike Leah – $76,672
  5. 5. Alfred Karlsson – $54,870
  6. 6. Jesse Rockowitz – $41,147
  7. 7. Benny Glaser – $30,759

*Denotes a deal.



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