James Obst “Running Like God” Wins WPT Australia Championship

09/25/2024

James Obst wins WPT Australia - Photo by WPT

“Running like god”, those were the words Australian pro James Obst used to describe his incredible run at the WPT Australia Championship. “It’s too good to be true. It happened too quick to process it. Really insane. I didn’t lose a pot all day.” The two-time WSOP bracelet champion dominated the final table and clinched the title in just five heads up hands.

“Honestly, I have never won a live tournament with more than around 100 players. I’ve always wanted to win a big tournament, I just don’t get to play very many of them at all. It’s taken a long time. And now winning that trophy, it’s unbelievable. It’s amazing.” Obst became the newest WPT champion to have his achievement forever immortalized on the iconic Mike Sexton Champions Cup.

In addition, the victory awarded Obst a hefty AUD $585,359 (~US $398,512) and a seat worth $10,400 into the season-ending WPT World Championship in Las Vegas.

2024 WPT Australia Championship

WPT Australia Championship - Photo by WPT — WPT Australia Championship – Photo by WPT

The 2024 WPT Australia Championship ran from September 20 to 25 at The Star Gold Coast in Gold Coast, Queensland. Now in its third consecutive year, it opened with two starting days attracting 396 entries, each ponying up the AUD 8,000 (~US$ 5,440) buy in for a prize pool of AUD $2,930,400 (~US $1,995,016).

Winner’s Story

Reviewing Obst’s rise to the throne, at Day 2 he entered as one of the top ten out of 149 qualifiers and maintained his high rank into Day 3 with 50 remaining. Within minutes, Obst won a cooler with pocket Aces over Michael Rattigan’s pocket Kings. This catapulted Obst to the top of the counts where he parked for the rest of the tournament.

Another big pot was at Day 3 where Obst knocked out fellow Australian Daniel Neilson who flopped the straight, Obst turned the full house and pushed it on the river. Neilson tank-called to end the heat with Obst far ahead at the final 16.

Final 6 of WPT Australia Championship - Photo by WPT — Final 6 of WPT Australia Championship – Photo by WPT

Day 4 seemed to be a breeze for Obst who chipped up all day with barely a showdown. By the time the field trimmed to the official WPT final table of six players, Obst had over double his closest challenger Matthew Wakeman.

The final day was the quickest heat by far running only 4.5 hours. The biggest mover was undoubtedly Travis Endersby who was on a back-to-back final table having finished third at the WPT Prime Championship Gold Coast last March.

Endersby improved on his quest, reaching heads up against Obst who was ahead 4:1 (158 bb to 40 bb). On just the fifth heads up deal, Endersby three-bet shoved and was dominated throughout by Obst’s A♠K♣ over K♦J♦ on a final board Q♥10♥7♠5♠K♥.