Sean Banahan Tops the World Poker Tour World Championship Kickoff Tournament’s Field

The 2022 World Poker Tour World Championship at Wynn Resorts’ popularity has grown since the $15 million guaranteed $10,400 buy-in no-limit hold’em main event that was announced in June. The series kicked off on December 1 and will end on December 20. It has $22 million in guaranteed prize money in 23 tournaments.

A $500,000 guaranteed $600 buy-in no-limit hold ’em tournament was the first event in the series. It had six starting flights and attracted 2,999 entrants. The huge turnout more than tripled its guarantee as players won $1,559,480 in prize money.

The tournament ended on December 4 with Sean Banahan being the last player standing. He won $136,220 and the trophy after sealing a deal. Jesse Lonis, a World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet champion, finished second with $122,184.

This was Banahan’s first six-figure score in his poker career. His previous biggest cash was $80,000 he won in the $1,100 buy-in tournament in the 2021 Wynn Winter Classic after finishing second. The Hendon Mob indicates that the Twin Falls player has over $270,000 in lifetime poker cashes.

Lonis amassed 500 Card Player Player of the Year (POY) points from his second-place finish. Also, it was his 16th POY-qualified final table this year. The poker pro has $643,457 in POY earnings and 3,102 total points.

He is among the top 50 players in the 2022 POY race standings. Besides, Lonis has over $2.1 million in lifetime poker earnings after the deep run. Lunique Petiote (latest Card Player Poker tour bestbet Jacksonville Main Event ninth place holder) and La Senghpet (six-time WSOP Circuit ring champion) are other popular players who reached the final table.

The Final Table’s POY Points and Payouts

1. Sean Banahan-600 points and $136,220
2. Jesse Lonis-500 points and $122,184
3. Richard Alati-400 points and $84,433
4. David Chavez-300 points and $82,900
5. La Senghpet-250 points and $61,222
6. Jatinder Singh-200 points and $30,307
7. Lunique Petiote-150 points and $25,915
8. David Yokoyama-100 points and $22,852
9. Thomas Zanot-50 points and $20,227

The $15 million guaranteed championship tournament is the series’ centerpiece. But, its schedule has other events like the $2 million guaranteed $1,100 WPT Prime Championship no-limit hold’em event between December 16 and 18, the $2 million guaranteed $1,600 Wynn Mystery Bounty, and the $200,000 guaranteed $1,100 Ladies Championship between December 16 and 18.

Wynn pioneered the unique mystery bounty tournament and it will allow players to get cash prizes after securing bounties. Bounty payouts will be up to $100,000.

Two high-roller events will also take place including a $10,500 buy-in on December 18 and a $25,700 buy-in on December 11 and 12. The series will have a broad array of formats and price points for no-limit hold’em enthusiasts, other games like a $600 H.O.R.S.E. tournament on December 5, a $3,00 eight-game mix tournament on December 8 and 9, a $600 Omaha eight-or-better tournament on December 6, a $1,100 Omaha eight-or-better championship on December 13 and 14, and a $1,100 H.O.R.S.E. championship on December 12 and 13.

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