Randy Pfeifer Wins The 2015 Western New York Poker Challenge Event #5: $25,000 Guarantee

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Level 29 : 50,000/100,000, 10,000 ante

After four days of poker that saw 1,026 entries over six different starting flights, veteran local rounder Randy Pfeifer has been crowned the champion of Event 5: $50 No-Limit Hold'em from the 2015 Western New York Poker Challenge.

With hundreds of players firing multiple bullets, the $25,000 guarantee was laid to waste with a $41,040 prizepool created. The event was designed to attract poker room regulars, recreational players, and the area's best. By all accounts it did so in spades and was a smashing success.

A total of 119 players pushed through to Thursday's second and final day, with Shayne Shackelford leading them all, having built an incredible stack on his starting flight. But things did not go well for Shackelford, as he was cut down to size early and eventually busted 49th for $160.

Pfiefer, who came into this event with $945,683 in career tournament earnings on his résumé, emerged as the first player past the 1 million chip mark as they day wore on, winning pot after pot without showdown.

While the chip lead changed hands several times, Pfeifer took control at the final table with patience and veteran savvy, grabbing the lead for good by the time they reached five-handed play, then holding out for the better end of the deal and the trophy when the players decided to chop up the prize money.

While this was by far the busiest event on the 2015 Western New York Poker Challenge schedule so far, the biggest will begin Friday with Day 1a of the $200,000 guaranteed $1,000 buy-in Main Event going off at 11 a.m. local time.

The PokerNews Live Reporting team will be back to provide live coverage all day as soon as the cards hit the air.