The eyes of the poker world are all now on the final six players in the 2023 WPT World Championship Main Event. Having reached the final table, each remaining contestant is guaranteed to take home at least $1,207,000 from the No Limit Hold’em showcase’s $40 million prize pool. The eventual first place finisher will be awarded $5,678,000 and the televised final table will play out today, December 21st. Headlined by Andrew “Luckychewy” Lichtenberger, it’s sure to be a riveting battle at the felt!
The @WPT World Championship Final Table is STACKED! 🏆
We've reached the Final 6 in the $10,400 @WPT World Championship @WynnLasVegas @WynnPoker!@luckychewy leads the Final 6 into action with all remaining guaranteed a minimum payout of $1,207,000 — but just one will take… pic.twitter.com/TmdK0urohW
— World Poker Tour (@WPT) December 21, 2023
2023 WPT World Championship Final Table Chip Counts
Andrew Lichtenberger – 148.2M
Chris Moorman – 88.3M
Georgios Sotiropoulos – 46.2M
Ben Heath – 36.7M
Daniel Sepiol – 34.3M
Artur Martirosian – 29.4M
Of course, there’s been a plethora of poker action outside of the Main Event at the WPT World Championship. In case you missed it, be sure to check out our Week 1 recap. We’ll pick up our recap below from where we had left off…
2023 WPT World Championship: Winner Updates
Longtime poker crusher Mike Leah has made one heck of an impactful return to the live felt, earning just shy of $100,000 upon outlasting a 547-player field in the $1,100 buy-in Pot Limit Omaha event on December 14th. This was his second side event win of the series, after he also took down the $2,200 8-game mix for over $78,000 and emerging victorious over 145 other hopefuls.
Michael Leah claimed his second title of 2023 @WPT World Championship with his win in the $1,100 PLO Event on December 13th. Michael defeated 547 players, earning $99,916! Congratulations Mr. Leah! pic.twitter.com/jRcEY3nygh
— Wynn Poker Room (@WynnPoker) December 14, 2023
On December 16th, Shunsuke Tokoo entered the Top 100 of Japan’s all-time live poker tournament money list when she won the $1,600 Bounty event. Tokoo eliminated 16 players on her way to first place and collected a payday of $81,657 for her efforts.
Shunsuke Tokoo eliminated 16 players on the way to victory in the @WPT $1,600 Turbo Bounty on December 15th. Congratulations Shunsuke on the win and a total event earnings of $81,657! pic.twitter.com/TZptsIA3Cj
— Wynn Poker Room (@WynnPoker) December 16, 2023
Clemen Deng of Oregon won the next bounty event and took home almost $250,000 in combined bounties and tourney payouts. Deng’s victory came at a final table that included French poker legend Bruno Fitoussi and Bulgarian crusher Alex Kulev.
Clemen Deng won the @WPT $3,000 Progressive Bounty for $156,530 in addition to his $92,750 in bounties, for a total event payout of $249,280! Congratulations Clemen! pic.twitter.com/F77GLEDcLl
— Wynn Poker Room (@WynnPoker) December 17, 2023
While he’s mostly a mixed cash game grinder, poker pro Nathan Gamble proved (again) that he’s got tournament chops, too. Heads-up vs. Yuval Bronshtein in the $1,100 buy-in Limit Omaha Hi/Lo tournament, the two agreed it was a “skill level stalemate”, chopped up the combined 1st + 2nd place prize money and flipped for the trophy. Gamble won the flip and got to pose for the winner’s photo with the mini Wynn sculpture.
Congratulations Nathan Gamble, winner of the @WPT $1,100 Limit Omaha 8 Championship. Mr. Gamble secured the trophy and $47,472 for his first place finish. Well played Nathan! pic.twitter.com/95qL40aV69
— Wynn Poker Room (@WynnPoker) December 19, 2023
The $25,000 buy-in High Roller NLHE tournament was won by Bin Weng – who cashed for $958,279 and prolonged his 2023 poker tournament hot streak. Over $6.6 million of Weng’s lifetime $8.5 million in tournament winnings have come this year, according to the Hendon Mob. The aforementioned Alex Kulev also made another final table appearance, along with Pokercoaching.com‘s Justin Saliba and 2015 WSOP Main Event Champion Joe McKeehen.
Bin Weng continues his legendary run with his victory in the @WPT $25K High Roller on December 18th. Congratulations Bin on winning $958,279! pic.twitter.com/wShiKudVWG
— Wynn Poker Room (@WynnPoker) December 19, 2023
Mikita Badziakouski crossed the $50 million lifetime tournament winnings threshold after capturing the WPT Big One for One Drop title. The $1 million buy-in event featured just 17 entries, including WPT Ambassador Phil Ivey, but was a hotly contested affair, with only four nosebleed-stakes players cashing for a minimum profit of $224,800 apiece.
Mikita Badziakouski wins the @WPT Big One for @onedrop @allinforonedrop @WynnLasVegas @WynnPoker! 💧🏆
He’ll take home $7,114,500 with @mariomosboeck finishing runner-up for $4,663,950!
Final Results:
1st: Mikita Badziakouski – $7,114,500
2nd: Mario Mosboeck – $4,663,950
3rd:… pic.twitter.com/DtEPr0Xrez— World Poker Tour (@WPT) December 21, 2023
While we’re not recapping EVERY single side event that occurred at the 2023 WPT World Championship festival, it’s undeniable that they’ve all been exceedingly popular. The Main Event may have unfortunately missed its guarantee (despite being 30% larger, delivering about 900 more players than last year) but attendance at ALL the other events has absolutely smashed! WPT Executive Tour Director Matt Savage captured the mood:
The prelims and postlims in the @WPT Championship Festival @WynnPoker have been unbelievable! The $3,000,000 $3K event just doubled the guarantee with 2,196 entries. The player of the festival race is also heating up with more events to come. pic.twitter.com/H1QneyRDVf
— Matt Savage (@SavagePoker) December 19, 2023
And speaking of that $3K NLHE event, Dennys Luis Ramos of Brazil collected a seven-figure payday upon landing in the winner’s circle.
Earlier today, Dennys Luis Ramos won $1,001,377 for his first place performance in the @WPT World Championship $3,000 No Limit Hold’em Event. Congratulations Dennys on the victory! pic.twitter.com/2VT7qwV7wI
— Wynn Poker Room (@WynnPoker) December 21, 2023
Calvin Anderson Wins 2023 WPT Prime Championship
Four-time WSOP bracelet winner Calvin Anderson of Las Vegas added to his illustrious live poker tournament resume this week. Calvin outlasted over 10,500 competitors and came out on top of the title event for $1,273,170 – laying claim to the WPT Prime Perpetual Trophy and bringing him very close to $5 million in career winnings.
Calvin Anderson defeated a massive field of 10,512 players to claim the 2023 @WPT Prime Championship Title and $1,237,170 in prize money. Congratulations Calvin! pic.twitter.com/31lshsj2Cz
— Wynn Poker Room (@WynnPoker) December 20, 2023
Inaugural WPT x Daniel Arsham Celebrity Invitational Brings Out the Stars
U.S. entrepreneur Adam Weitsman became the first-ever winner of the WPT x Daniel Arsham Celebrity Invitational tournament on Monday. The six-player single table Sit N’ Go also featured Arsham, television actor Neil Patrick Harris, French actor/songwriter Patrick Bruel, and actresses Eileen Davidson and Arden Cho.
We revealed this Season’s Final Table set at the @WPT & @DanielArsham Celebrity Invitational!
Arsham hosted @ActuallyNPH, @eileen_davidson , @AdamWeitsman, @arden_cho and @PatrickBruel on the new Final Table set to battle it out for the Arsham Veiled Porsche!
Ultimately,… pic.twitter.com/Vk2l7ObZah
— World Poker Tour (@WPT) December 19, 2023
WPT World Championship Shines in 2023
The World Poker Tour has established itself as a marquee live poker tournament brand and now hosts dozens of events annually around the globe. Between its Main Tour, Prime Tour, and other poker festival events, there are millions of dollars awarded to poker players during each stop of the calendar year.
The WPT poker festivals held throughout the world each year culminate in Las Vegas at the Wynn Poker Room. This is where the annual Prime Championship, Ladies Championship, and World Championship are held in December.
We wish the best of luck to the final six players in the 2023 WPT World Championship Main Event, and a genuine thanks and kudos to the WPT for staging another stellar live poker festival product.
