The WPT World Online Championships reached the halfway mark this week and, so far, six main event winners have stood in the spotlight.
However, with low, mid-stakes, and side events also running on Partypoker, there have been plenty of other standout performers so far.
Canada’s Kristen Bicknell showed why she’s one of poker’s finest by claiming two titles this month. Although her wins came outside of the championship events, she still banked more than $100,000.
Champions Reign Supreme, Haxton Dominates High Rollers
Alongside the main event winners (listed below), Bicknell’s double wins made her a one of the early stars of the WPT World Online Championships. But, she’s not the only player who’s shone outside of the championship events.
WPT World Online Championships Main Event Winners So Far…
- Event #1 Winner – Paul Tedeschi – $92,105
- Event #2 Winner – Alex Manzano – $176,131
- Event #3 Winner – Gavin Cochrane – $540,664
- Event #4 Winner – Nick Petrangelo – $494,550
- Event #5 Winner – Daniel Smyth – $428,391
- Event #6 Winner – Andrey Kotelnikov – $488,508
Isaac Haxton matched Bicknell’s performance this week with his second super high roller win. After winning a $25,500 super high roller last week, the American returned to the winner’s circle on August 23.
The $25,500 WPT Super High Roller may have been a one-day side event, but 21 top pros anted up. Only three would make the money, which meant Jason Koon, Stephen Chidwick, and a host of other familiar names missed out.
However, Haxton wasn’t to be denied. Riding a wave of momentum, he cruised past Jake Schindler and Artur Martirosian to secure a $262,500 pay day.
Adams Adds to His WPT Tally
Also doing well in WPT high rollers is Timothy Adams. The Canadian dominated the $10,300 event on Aug. 9. Playing through the night and into the early hours of Aug. 10, Adams beat Nicholas Vincent to top the 38-player field and win $135,855.
Adams was back in the spotlight two weeks later, this time in another one-day high roller. On this occasion, 29 players paid $5,200 for a shot at WPT glory. Adams again came out on top.
To secure another $61,506 in prize money, he had to beat the festival’s proverbial nearly man, Jake Schindler. Although Schindler finished one place better than he did against Haxton, he couldn’t beat Adams and wound up finishing second.
Jiang’s Big Performance Wins WPT Big Game
New Zealand’s Sosia Jiang has also impressed in recent days. The talented Kiwi burst onto the tournament scene in 2017 with a win in the PokerStars Championship Macau High Roller. That breakout performance earned Jiang $498,073.
Another high roller victory in Australia followed before she took 14th in the Triton London main event in 2019.
Her time mixing it up with poker’s finest served Jiang well in the $5,200 WPT Big Game. The $1 million guaranteed MTT ran between Aug. 23-24, attracting 202 players in a field littered with talent.
Ludovic Geilich and Patrick Leonard represented Partypoker well by finishing seventh and third, respectively. When the final chips fell, Jiang rose up to beat Philipp Hofbauer and claim the $206,110 top prize.
Figueiredo Goes from Freeroll to WPT Finale
The WPT World Online Championships hasn’t been all about the big guys and gals. Satellites have given players at every level the chance to shine, including Liliane Figueiredo.
The Brazilian amateur used a second-changc freeroll to bag a ticket for the Six-Max Mini Warm Up. That ticket turned into a $13,153 bankroll boost when she finished third in the $109 event.
Fellow Brazilian, Felipe Theodoro, went on to win. However, Figueiredo picked up her biggest score to date and proved that anything is possible in poker.
With plenty more action to come, pros and amateurs alike will be fighting for glory in the second half of the WPT World Online Championships.
