Calvin Anderson Takes Down 2023 WPT Prime Championship For $1.4 Million

The World Poker Tour Prime Championship $1,100 buy-in no-limit maintain’em occasion debuted on the Wynn Las Vegas in 2022, attracting an enormous turnout of 5,430 entries to blow away the event’s $2 million assure. The second working of the WPT Prime Championship upped the ante significantly, growing the assure to $5 million whereas preserving the identical buy-in. This yr noticed 10,512 entries made, leading to a prize pool of almost $10.2 million.

After 4 beginning flights and 4 extra days of motion, that sea of contenders was narrowed right down to a single winner: Calvin Anderson. The Las Vegas-based poker professional earned a career-high payday of $1,386,280 because the champion and the particular WPT Prime Championship trophy. The four-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner now has greater than $5.9 million in recorded event earnings.

In addition to the title and the cash, Anderson was additionally awarded 1,440 Card Player Player of the Year factors for the win. This was his first POY-qualified title and sixth such final-table end of the yr. With 3,522 complete factors and greater than $1.8 million in to-date POY earnings, Anderson has climbed to seventieth within the 2023 POY standings offered by Global Poker.

While the occasions didn’t rely towards the POY race, Anderson did take down two tournaments throughout the 2023 WSOP Online for his third and fourth bracelets, profitable the $1,000 pot-limit Omaha six-max occasion and the $5,300 no-limit maintain’em six-max occasion.

The high 1,309 finishers made the cash on this occasion, with a min-cash good for $1,700. The high 12 all acquired six figures or extra. Among the notable gamers to run deep on this occasion had been 14-time WSOP Circuit ring winner Daniel Lowery (18th), latest North American Poker Tour Las Vegas excessive curler winner Sam Laskowitz (fifteenth), and 2023 WSOP fundamental occasion runner-up Steven Jones (tenth), and Mukul Pahuja (seventh).

The ultimate day started with Jay Lu within the lead and Anderson in second chip place. Valeriy Pak was the primary to fall, together with his A-9 working into the pocket kings of Anderson. Pak picked up a gutshot to go together with his overcard however discovered no additional assistance on the flip or river and was eradicated in sixth place ($290,000).

A basic preflop race spelled the tip of Bob Buckenmayer’s run on this occasion. His Ok-Q was unable to outflip the pocket sevens of Aaron Pinson, who made a nine-high straight on the flip to depart Buckenmayer drawing lifeless (fifth – $380,000).

Jon Glendinning obtained the final of his stack in on a Q956 board with Ok9. He was trailing the Q8 of Anderson. The J rolled off on the river to ship Glendinning dwelling with $505,000 for his efforts.

The subsequent key hand was a wild one. Lu limped in from the small blind for 3,000,000 complete with 43 and Anderson raised to 10,000,000 from the massive blind with 54. Lu referred to as and hit journey threes on a Q33 flop. Lu check-raised Anderson’s continuation wager from 6,000,000 as much as 14,000,000. Anderson floated and the flip introduced the 6, enhancing his air to an open-ended straight draw. Lu wager 19,000,000 and Anderson referred to as. The 7 on the river accomplished Anderson’s straight. Lu shoved and Anderson shortly referred to as all-in for 50,900,000 to double into the chip lead.

WHAT. JUST. HAPPENED

With 3 remaining within the @WPTPrime Championship and over $1.3 million up high — you received’t consider what simply occurred!

Livestream – https://t.co/R3IczV2V9d pic.twitter.com/8z1Bb27I9q

— WPT Prime (@WPTPrime) December 20, 2023

Pinson labored his method to the highest of the chip counts in time for the following huge confrontation. Anderson limped in from the button for 4,000,000 complete and Pinson referred to as from the small blind. Lu shoved for 75,200,000 from the massive blind with A3. Anderson bowed out however Pinson made the decision with A10. The AJ976 runout despatched Lu to the rail in third place with $675,000 for his third-place displaying.

Heads-up started with Pinson holding 301,100,000 to Anderson’s 120,300,000. The lead modified palms because of a giant pot that noticed Anderson flip a night-high straight to finest the flopped seven-high straight of Pinson.

Pinson battled all the best way again to even at one level however quickly started to fade. Anderson prolonged his result in almost 4:1 when he rivered a straight towards the turned high pair of Pinson. Not lengthy after that, Anderson raised on the button with Q7 to 25,000,000. Pinson shoved for 70,000 with OkQ and Anderson referred to as. The board got here down J9876 and Anderson made journey sevens to win the pot and the title. Pinson was awarded a career-best payout of $910,000 because the runner-up.

Here is a take a look at the payouts and POY factors awarded on the ultimate desk:

Photo credit: WPT / Hayley Hochstetler.