WPT World: Chase Bricker Wins Legendary Freeroll, Phillip Lee Bags Overall Chip Lead in Main Event

Day 1a Highlights: Big Stacks and Strong Contenders

The opening flight of the tournament, Day 1a, saw some impressive performances, with players building huge stacks early on. The standout player of the day was Fabian Gumz, who managed to accumulate an impressive 1,013,000 chips, putting himself in a prime position for the later stages. He wasn’t the chip leader though, as Phillip Lee accumulated 1,102,000 in chips. They are followed closely by Calvin Anderson with 721,000 chips, and Mateusz Moolhuizen, who finished with 720,000.

Other notable names on Day 1a include John Van Fleet (490,000), Dan Smith (396,000), Joe McKeehen (328,000), and Mark Newhouse (316,000). Defending champion Dan Sepiol, who has a knack for making deep runs in these prestigious events, managed to bag 258,000 chips. As the defending champion, Sepiol will be eager to add another title to his poker resume.

There were also some seasoned pros in the mix, including Jennifer Harman, who finished with 231,000 chips, and David “ODB” Baker with 224,000. The American regulars were joined by European players like Tarmo Tammel (221,000), and Canadian Mike Leah (213,000), who are all looking to make a statement at this year’s World Championship. Meanwhile, Kitty Kuo finished Day 1a with 146,000 chips.

While many top pros made their mark, there were some who didn’t make it through Day 1a. Players like Kenny Hallaert, Joe Serock, Jonathan Tamayo, Sam Soverel, and Ryan LaPlante didn’t manage to make it past the opening flight, proving just how tough the competition is at this prestigious event.

Day 1b: Another Huge Field Joins the Action

Day 1b saw a fresh batch of 681 players entering the tournament, with 227 advancing to Day 2. The total number of entries after Day 1b stood at an impressive 1,432, a strong indicator that this year’s World Championship is shaping up to rival last year’s massive turnout. As always, the WPT has attracted a wide range of players, from high-stakes professionals to online qualifiers and ticket winners through raffles and freerolls.

While the lack of a guaranteed prize pool this year may have raised some questions, the turnout so far has put those concerns to rest. There is no doubt that the action will continue to heat up as more players join the field, especially as the final opening flight (Day 1c) draws closer. Currently, 625 entries have been recorded for Day 1c, and it remains to be seen whether the 3,835 entries from last year’s tournament will be surpassed.

Notable chipcounts Day 1b:

A Fun Twist: The ClubWPT $5 Million Freeroll

One of the more exciting elements of the tournament is the Club WPT Freeroll, where a prize pool of $5 million was on the line, with an additional $750,000 in added prizes. The big draw was the McLaren GTS, a stunning $240,000 luxury car, which added an extra layer of prestige to the event.

The star of the Freeroll was Chase Bricker, who took down the first-place prize of $1 million, along with an additional $110,000 in bounties at the final table. Bricker’s victory was a remarkable one, as he hadn’t cashed this big yet before. Jason Christopher finished in second place, pocketing $250,000, while Daniyal Gheba took the bronze and $125,000, along with the biggest bounty of the table, a whopping $200,000.

One of the most entertaining moments of the final table came when one of the bounty envelopes revealed a zero-dollar prize. Jason Christopher, who drew the envelope, was understandably surprised to find that his bounty was worth nothing.

Congratulations to Jason Christopher for winning back his buy-in! pic.twitter.com/LrlrvgEdXp

— ClubWPT Gold (@ClubWPTGold) December 16, 2024

The WPT organizers added a touch of humour by putting six zeros in the envelope, creating a light-hearted moment during the intense final table proceedings.

The Wynn Encore: The Perfect Backdrop for WPT’s Largest Event

The WPT World Championship is taking place in one of the most luxurious and glamorous settings in the world. The Wynn Encore Hotel in Las Vegas is renowned for its elegance, modern design, and impeccable service, providing the perfect backdrop for this prestigious poker event. The hotel’s chic atmosphere and state-of-the-art facilities ensure that players and spectators alike have a first-class experience.

PokerListings is honoured to be part of the event’s coverage, providing insights throughout the tournament. As the action continues to unfold, it’s clear that this year’s WPT World Championship promises to be a thrilling ride filled with star-studded performances and unforgettable moments.

Looking Ahead: Will 2024 Surpass Last Year’s Record?

With the first two days of action already underway and a large number of entries still to come, it’s anyone’s guess whether this year’s WPT World Championship will surpass last year’s record-breaking 3,835 entries. However, with a field as strong as it is and players like Gumz, Anderson, and Harman still in the hunt, it’s clear that this tournament is set to deliver more excitement in the days to come.

The PokerListings Experience

Waking up in the morning here in Las Vegas at the Wynn Encore resort is absolutely fabulous. I did not have the chance to dive into the beautiful pools here or test the sauna/wellness areas, but I am pretty sure that these are from the upper class in terms of quality!

While I am familiar with thousands of poker player names, here in the US it is very hard to get a grip on it, as there are just so many players who usually are not mentioned in articles or interviews, players who deserve also some daylight during this event. I will start focusing on that more from now on! I am now five days here in Las Vegas, and it already feels like home. There is poker everywhere! Stay tuned, as there is much more coming up these days as we come closer to finding out who will be the new WPT World Champion!