Former World Poker Tour One to Watch Daniel Strelitz lived up to the billing Thursday night in Los Angeles. The 27-year-old overcame a final table that included a poker living legend and two other WSOP bracelet winners to take down theWorld Poker Tour L.A. Poker Classic and walk away with just over $1,000,000 in prize money.

It took just seven hands to go from six players to five. The action opened with Strelitz raising to 85,000 from the button. Action folded to Richard Tuhrim in the big blind and he moved all in for 545,000. Strelitz called and showed but was behind Tuhrim’s . The flop didn’t change anything and neither did the turn but the river gave Strelitz top pair and sent chess prodigy Tuhrim to the rail in sixth.

The next elimination came in a blind vs blind battle almost 60 hands later. Action folded to Jesse Martin in the small blind and he moved all in for 745,000 and Jared Griener called from the big blind. Martin showed and Griener tabled . The board ran out to eliminate Martin.

Coming in to the final table all eyes were on WPT commentator Mike Sexton. Just a few short months after winning his first WPT title in Montreal, Sexton was at the LAPC final table seeking a second victory but it was snuffed out by Strelitz.

Sexton moved all in from the button for 670,000 and action folded to Strelitz in the big blind. He called and showed while Sexton showed . The flop was bad news for Sexton though and neither the turn or river were any help and Sexton was out in fourth.

Three-handed play lasted 65 hands. Strelitz opened to 225,000, Simeon Naydenov called from the small blind but Jared Griener moved all in from the big blind for 1,755,000. Strelitz got out of the way before Naydenov called and showed . Griener had and needed help. The [ flop paired Griener’s ace but gave Naydenov a set of eights. The turn gave Griener extra outs to a straight but the river was the and he was out in third place.

When heads-up play began Naydenov had 8,475,000 in chips to Strelitz’s 7,150,000 but a key full house over flush hand early on changed the dynamic and paved the way for Strelitz’s win. On the 38th hand of heads-up action, Strelitz raised to 260,000 and Naydenov called. After the flop, Naydenov check-raised to 975,000. The turn got Naydenov to check, Strelitz bet 1,350,000 and Naydenov raised all-in to 3,860,000. Strelitz called and showed tor a turned straight while Naydenov had for top pair. The river changed nothing and Strelitz picked up his third elimination of the final table to win the first major title of his career.

Final Table Payouts

1. Daniel Streliz – $1,001,110
2. Simeon Naydenov – $672,190
3. Jared Griener – $431,340
4. Mike Sexton – $300,690
5. Jesse Martin – $230,380
6. Richard Tuhrim – $191,490