Craig Mason wins WPT Venetian title after three-way deal

Craig Mason won the $5,000 WPT Venetian Las Vegas Fall Championship, defeating Matt Affleck heads-up after the final three players agreed to a deal. The victory gave Mason his first World Poker Tour title and $358,800.

Mason also earned a seat in the $10,400 WPT World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas in December. His name will be etched on the Mike Sexton WPT Champions Cup trophy, PokerNews reported.

The tournament drew 510 entries at Venetian and reached a six-player final table on Sunday. Mason began that table near the bottom of the chip counts, just ahead of Anthony Piacquadio, who was eliminated in sixth place for $88,000.

Mason climbed the standings but lost a hand that doubled up Affleck. He later doubled through Nick Yunis, who finished fifth for $117,000. Nick Pupillo followed in fourth place, earning $155,000 after losing a hand to Mason.

Mason held a 2-1 chip lead when three-handed play began, although Affleck and Daniyal Gheba soon narrowed the gap. Gheba briefly took a large lead before he was eliminated by Mason in third place for $276,000.

Mason started heads-up play with nearly a 2-1 advantage, but Affleck took the lead during the early stages. After about 20 hands, Affleck moved all in with AxQx on a 9x6x3x flop, and Mason called with Jx9x. Mason's hand held through the river, leaving Affleck with the $301,000 runner-up payout.

Mason, also a WSOP Circuit and PGT champion, now has over $3.5 million in live tournament cashes, according to The Hendon Mob. The win also puts him in the WPT Champions Club.