Las Vegas, NV (October 24, 2022) – Chad Eveslage took home just over $1,000,000 late Sunday night at the Bellagio after winning the 20th installment of the WPT® Five Diamond World Poker Classic. Eveslage earned his second World Poker Tour® title with the win, pairing with his 2021 victory at WPT Venetian. Along with the cash prize, the poker pro from Florida earned a seat in the WPT World Championship in December.
“Bunch of emotions, very tired, happy,” said Eveslage following his win. “Before I hit the ace on the river, I felt resigned to defeat, then it’s just like ‘oh, I win.’”
A total of 569 players entered the $10,400 buy-in main event, which generated a $5,519,300 prize pool that awarded the top-72 finishers with a payout. The entire Five Diamond festival encompassed over 20 events, including multiple $25k high roller tournaments, and ran from Oct. 7 through Oct. 23.
“Thank you to the Bellagio for putting on another historic Five Diamond Poker Classic and to all the players that have made this event one of the most prestigious in poker over its 20-year history,” said WPT CEO Adam Pliska. “And congratulations to Chad for becoming a two-time WPT Champion.”
With his first-place finish, Eveslage also won Player of the Festival, earning a seat to the $1,100 WPT Prime Championship.
Steve Buckner fell one spot short of having his name engraved on the Mike Sexton WPT Champions Cup, marking his second runner-up finish of Season XX. Buckner claimed a payout of $690,000 and enough points to place him atop the 2022 WPT Player of the Year leaderboard.
Buckner was preceded by his fellow final-table finishers Michael Gathy (3rd place – $505,000), Brian Kim (4th place – $377,000), Albert Calderon (5th place – $283,000) and David Kim (6th place – $216,000).
Other notable players to cash were Dan Colpoys (9th place), Justin Bonomo (18th place), Pete Chen (26th place), Justin Liberto (31st place), Ryan Leng (40th place), Andrew Neeme (43rd), Nick Petrangelo (47th place), Robbi Jade Lew (49th place), Brad Owen (54th place), Ryan Tosoc (57th place), Ethan Yau (65th place), and more.
As part of the WPT festival, WPT ambassadors Brad Owen and Andrew Neeme hosted a meet-up game on Oct. 18, one day before the Five Diamond main event. Fellow WPT ambassador Steve Aoki joined the $2/$5 MUG.
Next stop for the WPT Main Tour is WPT Seminole Rock ‘N’ Roll Poker Open at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. The Rock ‘N’ Roll festival begins Nov. 16 and concludes Nov. 30. The $3,500 buy-in, $2,000,000 guaranteed main event takes off on Nov. 25, has two starting flights and will be a five-day endeavor.
All photos from WPT Five Diamond World Poker Classic can be accessed via our Flickr Page.
For more information regarding this and all World Poker Tour events, visit WPT.com.
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About the World Poker Tour®
World Poker Tour® (WPT®) is the premier name in internationally televised gaming and entertainment with brand presence in land-based tournaments, television, online, and mobile. Leading innovation in the sport of poker since 2002, WPT ignited the global poker boom with the creation of a unique television show based on a series of high-stakes poker tournaments. WPT has broadcast globally in more than 150 countries and territories, and is currently producing its 20th season, which airs on Bally Sports in the United States. Season XX of WPT is sponsored by ClubWPT.com. ClubWPT.com is a unique online membership site that offers inside access to the WPT, as well as a sweepstakes-based poker club available in 43 states and territories across the United States, Australia, Canada, France, and the United Kingdom. WPT also participates in strategic brand license, partnership, and sponsorship opportunities. For more information, go to WPT.com.
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