Summary:
- Held topped 760 entries to become the first WPT Cambodia Championship winner
- The inaugural event marked the first time that the Mike Sexton Championship Cup was awarded in Southeast Asia
- The WPT Main Tour continues with four events running between March and May
The inaugural World Poker Tour (WPT) Cambodia Championship ended successfully on January 30, with Konstantin Held claiming the title for $361,310.
For his victory, the German poker pro also earned a seat in the 2024 WPT World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas.
According to WPT CEO Adam Pliska, WPT Cambodia was a special series as it marked the first time that the Mike Sexton WPT Champions Cup was awarded in Southeast Asia. Pliska congratulated Held for his massive win as he went down in history as the first player to win a WPT Champions Club title in the region.
WPT Cambodia Championship – Final Table Results
The WPT Main Tour kicked off 2024 with a stop in Cambodia, hosting the first-ever WPT Cambodia Championship. The tournament attracted 760 entries across two Day 1 flights, generating $4.6 million in total prize pool.
The final three players agreed to chop the prize, leaving the title to play for. Florent Remi was second in chips when the deal was reached but officially finished 3rd for $302,019 after a flush-over-flush cooler versus Held.
Held went into heads-up play against Joshua McCully who had the chip advantage. But the eventual champion secured a double in the early stages of the match and navigated his way to victory, securing the first WPT Cambodia Championship crown. McCully settled for second place with $277,291 in winnings.
In his post-win interview, Held said that while it was crazy that he had to compete against a good friend in the heads-up match, both of them just enjoyed the real money poker game and the entire experience.
The other players who made the final table included Motoyoshi Okamura, (4th, $157,858), Amit Kaushik (5th, $118,906), Kyle Bao Diep (6th, $90,532), Jianfeng Sun (7th, $69,678), Kou Vang (8th, $54,212), and Anthony Cierco (9th, $42,647),
The first-ever WPT Cambodia Championship paid the top 95 finishers. Among those who reached the money were Punnat Punsri (89th), Masato Yokosawa (61st), Valeriy Pak (57th), and Tony Dunst (14th), all of whom are former WPT champions.
Other WPT Main Tour Events in 2024
The WPT Main Tour heads next to the Thunder Valley Casino Resort in California on March 23 for the WPT Rolling Thunder Championship. Three more events are confirmed for 2024, including the WPT Voyage Championship (April 1), WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Championship (April 19), and WPT Choctaw Championship (May 3).
