Goliath and WPT Round-Up: Pascal Lefrancois Leads Weekend of Winners

Jason Reynolds

12 months ago

It’s been another bumper weekend of action online thanks to Grosvenor Casinos’ Goliath and a double-header of WPT high roller events.

Pascal Lefrancois shines on a busy day of action online for Grosvenor Poker, the WPT, and Partypoker. (Image: Flickr/Lee Davy)

First to step into the winner’s circle on Sunday was Gerard Barclay. The Englishman overcame more than 2,000 players in the first ever online Goliath to win £42,428/$55,025.

The win was the biggest of Barclay’s career so far and another example of the Goliath’s enduring popularity.

Goliath Another Giant Hit with Poker Players

The first of two days on GrosvenorPoker.com got underway on August 8. 24 hours before the start, just over 200 players had paid the £125/$160 entry fee. However, thanks to a late flurry of entrants, satellite winners and rebuys, the final number of buy-ins topped 2,013.

That might be a far cry from the 9,300 players that entered in 2019, but this year’s dynamics are different. With the event taking place online due to COVID-19, the total number of entries is a record in and of itself.

What’s more, the £231,495/$300,700 collected was more than double the Goliath’s £100,000/$130,000 guarantee. With money and a place in history on the line, amateurs and pros battled for two days between August 8 and 9.

Team Grosvenor Poker members Jeff Kimber, Richard Trigg and Katie Swift put in solid sessions, as did recent recruit David Haye. However, none could make it into the 144 payout spots.

Barclay did make it into the money and more. Playing under the moniker WRDortmund, he held strong throughout the final table before beating FrazzleFraggle heads-up. His victory netted him a five-figure payday and brought another successful Goliath to a conclusion.

Grosvenor Goliath 2020 Result

1 – Gerard “WRDortmund” Barclay – $55,025

2 – FrazzleFraggle – $39,023

3 – AhJh – $30,018

4 – JBtheshark – $22,509

5 – ChiZhang – $15,000

6 – Dealersober411 – $10,050

7 – PokerPirate1963 – $5,996

8 – Haymon23 – $3,893

9 – Siak – $2,692

Pascal Lefrancois Dominates WPT High Rollers

As the masses were fighting for glory in the Goliath, poker’s elite were battling for supremacy on Partypoker. With the WPT World Online Championships in full swing, the organizers hosted two one-day high rollers on August 9.

The first cost $10,300 to enter and attracted 38 runners. Coming through the tough field to pick up the title and $135,855 was Canadian Timothy Adams. However, as impressive as that win was, it was another Canadian who stole the show.

WPT World Online Championships High Roller Result

1 – Timothy Adams – $135,855*

2 – Nick Petrangelo – $118,744*

3 – Benjamin Rolle – $62,700

4 – Laszlo Bujtas – $36,100

5 – Pascal Lefrancois – $26,600

*Denotes a deal.

Pascal Lefrancois finished fifth in the high roller at the same time as winning the WPT Super High Roller. The $25,500 MTT welcomed 31 entrants, including Partypoker pros Jason Koon and Isaac Haxton.

The latter made it to the final table before exiting in fifth place, but it was Lefrancois who put in the best shift. Showing why he’s won WSOP, WPT and Partypoker Live titles in the past, the Canadian beat Jake Schindler to claim another championship and $315,812.

WPT World Online Championships Super High Roller Result

1 – Pascal Lefrancois – $315,812

2 – Jake Schindler – $203,437

3 – Vyachelsav Buldygin – $127,875

4 – Mikita Badziakouski – $73,625

5 – Isaac Haxton – $54,250