Scott Stewart Wins WPT World Championship After 3-Way Deal!

A Different Angle of the Final Day

Melvin Schroen, who provides us with live updates and exclusive insights from the poker rooms of the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas, lived up to his dream of being present at such a majestic poker event. Where the previous days of the event had been played out in the Encore Ballroom, it was time to experience the pure class of the Americans when it comes to broadcasting live on TV, and everything that comes with it.

After a long week being in Las Vegas for the first time, it really has been an experience from out of this world. Seeing so many top poker professionals in one place is what it is all about — the main stage of poker at its finest. Big names such as Mikita Bodyakovsky, Phil Ivey, Phil Laak, Chris Moorman, and so many more, all in the same place! It really was like heaven on earth.

Mikita was my favorite to do well in this tournament as he impressed me already throughout the years with his great results overall. But to have seen him live in action… It made my admiration for him even bigger. It’s so impressive to see that he really considers every move he makes as vital, and he reads things that happen at the table very well. He doesn’t leave any detail unnoticed. Sadly, he left the tournament in 19th place, but luckily there was another rock star running deep in this event in the likes of Chris Moorman.

Moorman is someone with whom I have played a fair amount of hands in the online poker world as well, but of course, not even close to his legacy that he had built for himself at the virtual tables. I remember that before I arrived in Vegas and was going through the results of last year, I started wondering if he would be present this year as well. And of course, he was present to try and surpass his result of last year when he finished 4th for over $2M.

I’ve made many videos and pictures during the event and also paid attention to how people were acting and reacting during hands being played out. Moorman is someone who is very calculative in his decisions, and he barely shows any kind of emotion at the table. I mean, he did smile here and there when the occasion led him to, but mainly he was just fully in the zone. I was so glad to see him go through to the final day of this event, but was sad on the other hand as well, as Jonathan Willis (9th) and Fabian Gumz (12th) did not make it to the end. These two players really set the tone when it came to the ambiance at the tables until that time in the tournament. But there was one guy who was shining alongside in his own recognizable way as well: Scott Stewart!

And… Action!

The Wynn resort in Las Vegas was completely new to me, and to have had to walk for about 5 to 10 minutes from the main lobby toward the poker rooms was already quite the change when you are used to the European poker rooms. But the final day of the event was not being played in the Encore Ballroom but in one of the rooms on the Wynn side of the resort. They had mentioned to me it was just a little walk from the usual media room I was working from, but I started to regret already quite fast that I hadn’t asked Mike Matusow to borrow his mobility scooter. Dear lord, what a distance!

When I finally arrived at the poker room for the final table, I couldn’t believe my eyes. First of all, the elegance of the rooms on the Wynn side is of such an ultimate level that even Princess Sisi would be jealous of it! After dropping off my stuff at the media room, I went to have a peek at the Final Table. The TV set was so incredibly impressive, exactly how I remember it from the past year when I was watching the live stream. The amount of material for this entire stage, pfoeeee!

After settling down, I saw the remaining six players, who got their final instructions for the final table, and the official proceedings of a TV show were completed. It was time to get to the action. All players were still reasonably deep in terms of their chip counts. I mean, the lowest-ranked player still had more than 20 big blinds, so it was destined to be a long day ahead. At least, that’s what I thought!

And… Action! (continued)

The first hand already set the tone, as Scott Stewart, wearing his cap with the beer brand ‘Bud,’ found the perfect spot with his aces against ace-queen suited. It’s the kind of dream scenario for him to have such a start, and of course, it lifted the ambiance as many of his friends were already cheering from the rail. Hardly one breath later, another player hit the showers.

Moorman, who suffered a hard blow in one of the early hands as his pocket sixes couldn’t hold up against Rob Sherwood’s pocket queens, had a tough time. It seemed destined for him to finish 4th again this year, and so it was. After playing a few more hands, the final three players decided it was time to look at the numbers, leading to a deal with the following payouts:

1. $2,563,900
2. $2,200,000
3. $2,000,000

Usually, after a deal has been made, players loosen up a bit, and the tournament wraps up quickly. Little did we know that all three remaining players were fiercely targeting the 1st place prize and the trophy that comes with it. What followed was a battle of the titans that lasted another five hours of play.

Unfortunately, Eddie Pak, who had the lowest total live earnings among the final three, fell short. The media room was rooting for him, but he found himself in a spot where he couldn’t lay down his Q-high flush despite the paired board creating the possibility of a full house. Of course, Scott Stewart, who had already earned the chant ‘STU-SA, STU-SA’ from the crowd, was on the right side of the balance, taking down a massive pot before the final heads-up battle began.

England Versus America

Scott Stewart is the kind of player who can only be embraced by anyone in the world who loves watching poker. He has an aura that makes him not only entertaining but also incredibly likable due to his passionate and competitive personality. Entering the final heads-up, he held a significant chip lead, which had taken just 69 hands to achieve. However, it was clear that defeating Rob Sherwood wouldn’t be a walk in the park.

What followed was a rollercoaster heads-up match lasting another 102 hands. Finally, Scott managed to bring the English warrior to his knees. The crowd erupted in celebration as Scott emerged victorious.

Scott Stewart – New World Champion of the WPT

Scott, I am absolutely sure you enjoyed this tournament as much as we did as a media platform. Witnessing your dominance at the tables was truly inspiring—something we will remember for a long time. You are a gem for the game of poker, inside and out. We hope you will bring your personality to poker tournaments around the world, as the game truly needs someone like you. Down to earth, a little loose in character, highly competitive, and full of passion, you are the rightful NEW WORLD CHAMPION OF THE WORLD POKER TOUR! Congratulations!

Mike Sexton (RIP)

Right next to the TV table, another setup was prepared. This time, Vince Van Patten was accompanied by WPT Ambassador Tony Dunst, ensuring the audience at home received great commentary during the day’s decisive hands. As a spectator, a fan of the WPT, and an admirer of this magical duo, it was amazing to witness them live.

But one downside lingered — Mike Sexton was not there alongside Vince Van Patten. This duo had become legendary for their commentary on dozens of WPT final tables across the continent. It would have been an honor to see them live, handling this tough job with their signature professionalism. Mike Sexton remains a true legend of poker, the WPT, and everything it represents. Everyone in the WPT family surely misses his unparalleled quality and dedication.