Las Vegas, NV (December 20, 2022) – Eliot Hudon joins the World Poker Tour® Champions Club by emerging victorious in the first-ever, record-breaking WPT® World Championship, topping a field of 2,960 entrants. From the nearly $30 million prize pool, Hudon, from Montreal, Quebec, Canada, collected the grand prize of $4,146,000.
“At this point it wasn’t even about the money… If I’m going to make it this far, I kind of wanted to really win the trophy more than anything. I’m more in poker for winning more than the money,” said Hudon after his historic win. “I don’t deserve it any more than these guys, it’s just we all know how it goes, some people have more luck in some spots.”
The $10,400 buy-in tournament attracted enough players to nearly double the $15 million dollar guarantee, generating a total prize pool of $29,008,000. The sum was distributed to the top 371 finishers, and each of the six final tablists scored at least $1 million payday.
“The success of the WPT World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas was a spectacular way to commemorate 20 years of global, WPT events and the many players who have made WPT what it is today. We attempted to make this a true festival atmosphere and are so grateful for the overwhelming reception we received,” said Adam Pliska, CEO of the World Poker Tour. “On behalf of the WPT Family, we want to welcome Eliot to the WPT Champions Club and congratulate him on securing his honored role in the WPT legacy.”
England’s Benny Glaser finished as the runner-up, earning $2,830,000, Jean-Claude Moussa placed third for $2,095,000, Adam Adler placed fourth for $1,608,000, Frank Funaro placed fifth for $1,301,000, and rounding out the final table was Colton Blomberg who placed sixth for $1,001,500.
An excess of notable names played in the World Championship and made the money, such as Bryce Yockey (12th place), WPT Champions Soheb Porbandarwala, (15th place), Daniel Negreanu (17th place), Freddy Deeb (144th place) and Dan Smith (194th place), as well as WPT Ambassadors Brad Owen (35th place) and Andrew Neeme (286th place), Johan “YoH ViraL” Guilbert (75th place), former NFL star Richard Seymour (161st place), WPT all-time female money leader Kathy Liebert (288th place), and WPT commentator Tony Dunst, to name a few.
Along with the first-place cash prize, Hudon received a Mega Rockstar room package from Virgin Voyages ($15,000 value). The other five final tablists were awarded Rockstar room package ($8,000 value each).
With a massive turnout, the WPT World Championship broke the Main Tour record for entries and prize pool. The final table was filmed for television at Wynn Las Vegas and will air in early 2023 on Bally Sports.
The tournament provided a momentous conclusion for Season XX, and the 20th anniversary of the WPT. The 2023 Main Tour season makes way on April 1 with WPT Rolling Thunder. And come December, the WPT World Championship will be back.
All photos from WPT Prime Championship 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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