Don Bates is the champion of the Ante Up World Championship Main Event at Hard Rock Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic.
After a grueling, nearly 14-hour final table that began with the nine players averaging 64 big blinds, Bates and Aran C. of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, reached a deal to chop first and second place money, with Bates getting the title, the cover of the September issue of Ante Up Magazine, a hoodie from Poker Life Gear and a personalized champion’s jacket from Ante Up, and Aran C. getting the championship bracelet from Pro Poker Gear.
Top prize before the deal in the 46-player, $1,150 buy-in two-day event was $16,560.
Bates of Sarasota, Fla., won his way to the event via a satellite at Sarasota Kennel Club in Sarasota, Fla., and was one of four players at the final table who qualified via satellites. Timothy Trahan of Youngsville, La., finished third after qualifying at Cypress Bayou Casino Hotel in Louisiana, Larry Lippert finished fifth after qualifying at Sarasota Kennel Club and Justin Mutchler finished ninth after qualifying at Dover Downs Hotel & Casino in Delaware.
ANTE UP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Event #8 – No-Limit Hold’em Main Event
46 entries – $1,150 buy-in
1. Don Bates, Sarasota, Fla., $13,110
2. Aran C., Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, $13,110
3. Timothy Trahan, Youngsville, La., $7,360
4. Vic Sabo, Lakeport, Fla., $5,520
5. Larry Lippert, Sarasota, Fla., $4,140
6. Alberto Meram, Dominican Republic, $2,760
