The 2024 World Poker Tour (WPT) bestbet Scramble Championship culminated in a thrilling final table where Chilean poker pro Nick Yunis emerged as the victor, taking home a first-place prize of $315,791 and securing his spot in the history books as the first player from Chile to win a WPT title. The $5,000 Main Event attracted 361 players, creating a prize pool of $1,642,550, and it featured several high-stakes moments that would keep poker fans talking for days.

The tournament unfolded at bestbet Jacksonville, with poker professional Eric Afriat leading the charge into the final table. Afriat, aiming for a record-tying fourth WPT title, was the chip leader when the final table action began. However, as the hours ticked on, it became clear that his bid for history would fall short, and it was Yunis who would shine on the big stage. In this recap, we highlight the most thrilling hands of the event, with a focus on Yunis’s game-changing bluff that shifted the momentum in his favor.

The Bluff That Changed Everything: Yunis vs. Afriat

With just three players remaining at the final table, Yunis found himself in a pivotal hand against Afriat that would set the stage for his victory. The action took place in Level 27 with blinds at 50,000/100,000/100,000, and it was Hand #116 when Yunis raised to 200,000 from the button. Afriat, sitting in the small blind, and Yunkyu Song, in the big blind, both called, setting up a multi-way pot.

The flop came down 10♣ 9♠ 6♣, presenting potential straight and flush draws. Afriat led with a bet of 250,000, and Song quickly called. Yunis, however, had other plans and raised to 800,000. Afriat, who had a strong hand, tanked for a while before deciding to re-raise to 1.5 million. Song folded, and Yunis called, moving on to the turn.

The turn brought the 3♠, completing a potential straight and giving both players a strong reason to proceed with caution. Afriat continued his aggression, betting 1 million, and Yunis again called. The river came down 5♠, completing the board. Afriat, sensing that his hand wasn’t as strong as he hoped, made a smaller bet of 600,000. At this point, Yunis decided to make his move, going all-in for 4.25 million—a huge raise that put Afriat to the test.

Afriat, who had 2.475 million left, used a time extension to carefully consider his decision before ultimately folding. Yunis then revealed his bluff—Q♠ 8♥—as he took down the pot worth 6.55 million. This move was a critical turning point, not only eliminating a large portion of Afriat’s stack but also positioning Yunis for the eventual win. Afriat, who had been in contention for his fourth WPT title, was eliminated in third place just three hands later, earning $165,000.

The ClubWPT Qualifier’s Early Success

In another dramatic moment early in the tournament, ClubWPT qualifier Michael Goldsworthy managed to score a big double-up. On Day 1b, in Level 4 (300/500/500), Ricardo Eyzaguirre raised to 1,000, and Wagner Wysotchanski called from the hijack. Goldsworthy, next to act, made a three-bet to 4,000, forcing Eyzaguirre to fold. Wysotchanski called, and the two saw a flop of Q♦ 9♣ 2♦.

Wysotchanski checked, and Goldsworthy bet 4,000. Wysotchanski then check-raised to 25,000, and Goldsworthy called off for 20,500 with K♦ K♠. Wysotchanski held Q♣ J♣, putting him behind Goldsworthy’s pocket kings. Despite a 10♠ turn and 9♦ river, which didn’t change the situation, Goldsworthy held on to win the pot, doubling his stack and giving him a solid foundation for the rest of the tournament.

The Money Bubble Bursts

The tournament reached an intense moment on Day 2 when the money bubble burst during Level 17 (5,000/10,000/10,000) on Hand #13 of hand-for-hand play. Josh Hopkins, sitting in the big blind, checked on a flop of J♦ 8♦ 6♦, and Joe Jordan, in early position, bet 20,000. Hopkins responded by check-raising to 67,000, and Jordan called. The turn came 5♠, and Hopkins fired another 135,000, prompting another call from Jordan. The river brought the 10♠, and Hopkins checked, giving Jordan the opportunity to move all-in for 220,000.

After a brief pause, Hopkins quickly called, holding 9♦ 5♦ for a flopped flush. However, Jordan also held a flush with K♦ 4♦, which was enough to secure the pot. Hopkins was eliminated as the bubble boy, finishing in 47th place and walking away with nothing.

Tony Dunst’s Early Exit

Tony Dunst, a WPT commentator and Champions Club member, had a short-lived run on Day 3. With just 16 players remaining, Dunst found himself all-in against T.K. Miles, who had raised to 40,000. Dunst moved all-in for 165,000, and Miles made the call. Dunst was ahead with pocket fives (5♠ 5♣), while Miles held pocket sevens (7♥ 7♣).

The board ran out J♥ 9♥ 4♦ 3♥ 6♠, and Dunst was unable to improve his hand, ultimately finishing in 16th place for $16,800.

Local Player McNulty’s Deep Run Ends

In the same level, with 13 players left, local player Thad McNulty, who had bagged the chip lead on Day 1b, found himself in a tough spot against Afriat. Afriat raised to 55,000 from the cutoff, and McNulty called from the small blind. Francis Anderson also called from the big blind. The flop came 8♥ 4♥ 3♥, and McNulty moved all-in for 380,000. Anderson folded, but Afriat called with 4♣ 3♣, holding two pair, which was ahead of McNulty’s top pair with K♣ 8♠.

The turn was the Q♣, and the river brought the A♠, ending McNulty’s deep run in 13th place with $20,500 in prize money.

Conclusion

The 2024 WPT bestbet Scramble proved to be a captivating event full of unexpected twists and turns. From Yunis’s incredible bluff that knocked Afriat out of contention to the early successes of ClubWPT qualifier Goldsworthy, this tournament highlighted the exciting unpredictability of live poker. With a prize pool of over $1.6 million, it was an event that demonstrated the strategic depth and high stakes that define the World Poker Tour.