WINNER: Dave Matthews

The budding pro proved his prowess tonight as he knocked his competition out one by one.

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PLAYERS:

The players are Jimmy Pine, Antonio “the Magician” Esfandiari, Joanna Wlodawer, Robert Blechman, David Matthews, Eric Bloore, and James Grosjean.

The big names in this week’s group are Blackjack Hall of Famer James Grosjean and All In magazine’s #6 ranked tournament-blackjack player, David Matthews. Jimmy Pine and Robert Blechman both have extended tournament experience and Joanna Wlodawer is an accomplished live-game player who has worked with several professional blackjack teams. Antonio Esfandiari is the lone poker luminary in the field and Eric Bloore is the Internet qualifier, having won his way to the final here on PlayUBT.com.

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ELIMINATION:

Hand 8: Antonio Esfandiari is first to be eliminated on a wild hand 8 that isn’t decided until the turn of the hand’s final card. The Magician makes a good all-in bet, but loses the hand and disappears.

Hand 11: Robert Blechman lost a big bet covering Antonio on hand 8 and he never recovers. Taking the first opportunity after the button passes him, he goes all in and becomes the game’s second casualty.

Hand 16: James Grosjean is eliminated on the second EH. His fate was sealed, however, on hand 14, when he lost a $45,000 bet that left him with only $1,500—too little to make a comeback.

Hand 25: All four remaining competitors make it to the third Elimination Hand, but Eric Bloore is $59,000 behind third place with only $60,000 himself. He bets it all and his competitors’ bets give him an opening, but he loses his hand.

Hand 27: Jimmy Pine’s surprising big bet and loss on hand 25 catches up to him while he’s attempting to catch up. He goes all in on hand 27 and loses.

Last Hand
David Matthews and Joanna Wlodawer begin heads-up play with David in a commanding lead, $189,500 to $105,000. But at hand 28, Joanna has a chance if she can double up. She bets $70,000 and gets a total of $100,000 in action on a double down, but the dealer turns a hard 12 into 19 to beat her and David becomes the second UBT champion.

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SEASON ONE RECAP:
Episode 1: The final table is a powerhouse, featuring great play, a classic good-versus-evil scenario...

Episode 2: This is an emotion-packed contest, with tempers flaring (between Matthews and Pine) in later rounds...

Episode 3: If anything, this episode demonstrates that you're not out till you're out. Tyrone Jackson is down to just $15,000 on hand 9...

Episode 4: This is a strategy-packed match that provides plenty of fodder, as you'll see, for Strategy Notes...

Episode 5: The match is a roller-coaster ride of ups and downs, featuring a couple of excellent strategic plays and the first playoff of the UBT series...

Episode 6: It's a shootout. At hand 25, the three remaining players—Monica, Jennifer, and Angie—have nearly $1 million among them...

Episode 7: As has been the case earlier in this season, the repeat players, Gary Debernardi and John Cernuto, fair much better the second time around...

Episode 8: Dave gets battered mid-match and has to climb back from a significant deficit to get to heads-up play with Erica Schoenberg...

Episode 9: All of the players obviously have tournament chops. Ken Smith is the consensus favorite, but David Matthews, Adriana Jade, and Hollywood Dave are all considered prominent...

Episode 10: With huge bragging rights on the line (not to mention the prize money), the players are dialed in for this one and there are loads of high-end...

SEASON TWO RECAP:
Episode 1: This wasn't a timid table, but the eliminations came slowly and there were three players all the way to the 30th hand...

Episode 2: As it often does, it came down to cards in the end—but rather than it being about who got them, it was more about who didn't...

Episode 3: With two seasoned blackjack-tournament pros (Anthony and Blair) and one poker-tournament superstar...

Episode 4: This match will go down as one of the strangest and best in UBT history...

Episode 5: The blackjack players excelled on this day, with Ken Einiger and Adriana Jade steadily pulling away from the field...

Episode 6: Chips flew early in this match and three players, including Ken Smith, were already gone by the end of hand 8...

Episode 7: The final table of the UBT's first Poker vs. Blackjack Superstar Showdown features an interesting mix of poker and blackjack luminaries...

Episode 8: The three "favorites" mentioned above go out before the third Elimination Hand and the All-Stars contest comes down to the unlikely trio...