Daniel Weinman was one of 66 World Poker Tour Champions Club members to enter the Season XV Monster WPT Tournament of Champions. Three days after he entered, when the dust had settled under the bright lights of the televised WPT final table, Weinman was the last one standing, defeating Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi in heads-up play to take home the $381,500 first-place prize.
That’s not all Weinman won. Included in his prize was a $15,000 entry into the Season XVI WPT Tournament of Champions, plus he was awarded with a brand new 2018 Audi S5 Coupe, a pair of Rose Gold Wireless Over-Ear Element Headphones from Monster, a Hublot King Power Unico Carbon and Red watch, a custom premium poker table from BBO Poker Tables, a seat in Tiger’s Poker Night Presented by World Poker Tour, and a one-week stay with Wyndham Extra Holidays.
Season XV Monster WPT Tournament of Champions Results
1st: Daniel Weinman – $381,500*
2nd: Michael Mizrachi – $218,000
3rd: Daniel Santoro – $133,525
4th: David Ormsby – $95,375
5th: Erik Seidel – $73,575
6th: Dylan Wilkerson – $57,225
7th: Stefan Schillhabel – $49,050
8th: Jesse Sylvia – $43,600
9th: Jonathan Jaffe – $38,150
When the third and final day of play started, Weinman was in the lead of the final six, but all eyes were on Mizrachi and Erik Seidel. For Mizrachi, he was making a back-to-back appearance at the Monster WPT Tournament of Champions final table. For the legendary Seidel, winning the event would be another incredible accomplishment in his storied career.
Dylan Wilkerson busted first at the final table, earning $57,225 for his sixth-place finish. Seidel then followed in fifth for $73,575.
Out in fourth place was David Ormsby for a score of $95,375, and play was down to Weinman, Mizrachi, and Daniel Santoro. Last season, Mizrachi placed third in this event.
After Ormsby, it was Santoro who went out in third place, taking home $133,525. Weinman sent him packing and with the pot took a commanding chip lead into heads-up play — his 2.75 million to Mizrachi’s 550,000.
On the sixth hand of heads-up action, Mizrachi nailed a double on the river to get back in the game and move to 1.28 million in chips. Weinman was still in the lead, but his lead was much smaller with a stack of 2.02 million. Mizrachi’s momentum kept up, and he worked his way to within 140,000 of Weinman following the double up. But then Weinman quickly smacked Mizrachi back down and regained a 2-1 chip lead.
Then, just after the blinds increased, two hands into Level 24 playing 20,000/40,000 with a 5,000 ante, Weinman finished off Mizrachi.
On the final hand of the tournament, Mizrachi moved all in on the button for 885,000 with the 
. Weinman made the call with the 
, and it was a race with the tournament on the line. The 
flop kept Mizrachi in the lead with a pair of fives, but the 
on the turn vaulted Weinman in front with the best hand. The river was the 
, and that was all she wrote for Mizrachi.
Mizrachi finished runner-up and earned $218,000. Combining that with his $140,450 third-place score from last season, Mizrachi’s two-year earnings for this event total $358,450.
Weinman earned his entry into the Season XV Monster WPT Tournament of Champions when he won the WPT Borgata Winter Poker OPen $3,500 Main Event in January for $892,433. Not only can he now call himself a WPT champion, but Weinman will forever be remembered as the Season XV champion of champions.
Looking to win your way to a World Poker Tour event for your shot at becoming a WPT champion? Play for your chance on ClubWPT.com, where eligible VIP Members can play for over $100,000 in cash and prizes each month, including seats to WPT events, no purchase necessary.