Young Gun Raahil ‘rbhatia3’ Bhatia Narrowly Misses out on WCOOP Title, Finishes 2nd in WCOOP Event 12 for $29,386

The 2014 World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP) is well underway on PokerStars and with big money at stake, some of the world`s best poker talents are up in arms on the virtual felts.

History was almost in the making at the early hours on Friday, with Young Gun Raahil “rbhatia3” Bhatia (cover image) barely inches away from becoming the first Indian to ever win the WCOOP title. Bhatia reached the final`s of the WCOOP 12: $215 Heads-up event after winning 10 straight matches but nelson foiled his title attempt. Raahil pocketed $29,386 in prize money from his runner-up finish in the event, his best career score till date.

The mid week tournament registered 1,830 runners; easily crushing the $250K guarantee with nearly $50K set-aside for the winner. Players had to win atleast three matches to make it in the money!

Raahil “rbhatia3” Bhatia was up against 10Badboy10 in the quarterfinals. According to the PokerStars blog, the match was a marathon affair with both players evenly matched even after an hour of play. Things however changed after a crucial hand where rbhatia3 led out with a pre-flop raise and 10Badboy10 called to see the flop . Raahil led out again for 455 that got a call and we headed to see the turn card open the . Both checked the turn to reach the river , where Raahil 3-bet all-in. 10Badboy10 tanked hard and finally called with for trip eight`s but Raahil got the better of him with . With this win, Raahil booked a berth in the semi-finals against 23noraB.

Raahil was the first one to reach the final`s in the semi-final round after a swingy heads-up duel against Austria`s 23noraB. The Austrian was in the driver`s seat but Raahil came up from behind to win the match in just two crucial hands had played out moments from each other. In the first hand Raahil doubled up, when his hit a straight on the river. Just a few hands later, 23noraB open-shoved with and Raahil called with . The board kept Raahil in the lead, taking him through to the final`s.

In the other semi-final match, 360flip019 was trading blows with lbtrading for a berth in the final round. It was however 360flip019 who prevailed, to set-up his final`s encounter with Raahil Bhatia.

Final Match

A departure from the usual norms, the finals did not immediately start with talks of a deal. It was not before 20-mins of play has lapsed, that both players began discussing the possibility of a deal.

With both players still very close in chips, 360flip019 asked for a lot more in the negotiations, a figure large enough to elicit a laugh from Raahil. It was GAME ON thereon.

The match could have ended soon with Raahil taking a double up with against 360flip019`s , but a quick comeback with against Bhatia`s kept 360flip019`s title hopes alive.

The match went on for another 35 hands with 360flip019 breaking away from Bhatia. On the final hand of the match, Raahil limped from the button holding and 360flip019 put him all-in with . Raahil picked up a flush draw on the flop but the turn narrowed his out`s. On the hunt for a heart on the river, the river blanked out for Raahil as 360flip019 scooped up his first WCOOP title.

WCOOP 2014: Event #12 $215 NL Hold’em (Heads-Up)

Prize pool: $366,000

Places paid: 256

1. 360flip019 – $46,185.54
2. rbhatia3 – $29,386.14
3. lbtrading – $14,698.56
4. 23noraB – $14,698.56
5. 10Badboy10 – $8,183.76
6. drnyul – $8,183.76
7. teunuss – $8,183.76
8. kinglune – $8,183.76

Congratulations to Raahil Bhatia on his 2^nd place finish in the event.