Rainer Kempe Bags WPT XV California Swing Champion Title

The World Poker Tour (WPT) Season XV California Swing contest is over and the champion is none other than popular high stakes pro Rainer Kempe (cover image). Last year, the man to bag this title was Indian-origin pro, Ankush Mandavia.

The German player made the cut due to several impressive WPT finishes that include an 18th-place finish in the WPT L.A. Poker Classic $10,000 Championship and a sixth-place finish in the WPT Bay 101 Shooting Star $7,500 Main Event. The only miss was the WPT Rolling Thunder $3,500 Main Event, where he did not cash, but his two earlier scores were more than enough to see him clinch the title, which comes with a bunch of goodies, such as –

• Up to six nights’ accommodation at Commerce Casino’s Crowne Plaza Hotel during the Season XVI WPT L.A. Poker Classic Championship event.

• Complimentary airport transfer from LAX/Burbank Airport to Commerce Casino.

• Up to five nights’ accommodation at the Thunder Valley Casino Resort during the Season XVI WPT Rolling Thunder.

• $500 food and beverage credit for use during the Season XVI WPT Rolling Thunder.

• Shooting Star status for the Season XVI WPT Bay 101 Shooting Star event.

• Complimentary accommodation of up to $1,000 in value to attend the Season XVI WPT Bay 101 Shooting Star.

The only hurdle in Kempe’s path to the title was Dean Baranowski, who would have surpassed the former if he had managed to end at a fifth place or higher in the WPT Rolling Thunder $3,500 Main Event, the final one of the WPT California Swing schedule. However, Baranowski’s pocket nines were cracked by Jaroslaw Markowiak’s pocket aces and he was relegated to a 14^th place finish among the 421 entries.

All players who participate in the WPT L.A. Poker Classic $10,000 Championship, WPT Bay 101 Shooting Star $7,500 Main Event, and WPT Rolling Thunder $3,500 Main Event in the same season are eligible for the WPT California Swing contest.

Players are awarded points for their performance, as per a pre-decided system. The one with the highest point wins the challenge.