After a frantic, pressured final day at the felt, Eliot Hudon triumphed in the World Poker Tour’s record-breaking World Championship in Las Vegas, beating Benny Glaser to the top prize of $4.1 million. As the dust settles on a tournament that has captured the excitement and emotion of poker players like never before in December, each player of the final six went through a variety of emotions.
Each player’s journey to the final table and their eventual seven-figure finish was an emotional one and played out to a backdrop of thousands of fascinated fans living their best vicarious lives via social media. The action took place in Las Vegas but was seen around the world.
Early Stages Cut Field in Half
The disparity between the stacks of the six remaining players always dictated that the final would be a frantic one in the early stages and it didn’t disappoint. With just 55 hands needed to go from half a dozen players dreaming of victory to the winner getting their name on the WPT Mike Seton Champions Cup, it took 11 hands for the first elimination to take place.
Colton Blomberg shoved from the small blind with 
and was called for just under seven big blinds with jack-nine in the big blind. Blomberg started the hand ahead as he looked to double up, but a board of 
saw Blomberg lose to Glaser’s rivered four-flush, heading home with just over a million dollars.
After his exit, Blomberg, whose appreciation of making the final table has been a truly memorable part of the event, gave a shout out to his family.
Stopped by my room to drop off some stuff and my Aunt sent me a bottle of champagne with the most heartwarming message. Bawled my eyes out. Tears of happiness. I have run so good in life with the friends and family and support I have. Love you all ❤️❤️❤️
— Colton B (@cballboy) December 21, 2022
Frank Funaro was the next to fall. Just three hands after Blomberg had headed to the rail, he had company as Funaro’s shove with 
ran into Eliot Hudon’s 
. A runout of 
saw Hudon make a full house on the river as Funaro’s desperate hope for a Broadway straight gutshot floundered on the river. He still wanted to let his many fans know what their support meant to him.
5th for 1.3m what a week. Had a blast and a sick score. Appreciate everyone in my corner !!!
— Franky Funk (@FrankFunaro1) December 21, 2022
With Hudon getting off to the best possible start, four-handed play saw him improve his stack even more and when he racked up 188 million chips (94 big blinds), his opponents collectively held just 54 big blinds between them. It was a surprise it took until the 39th hand for the field to be trimmed to three.
Adam Adler was the man to miss out on the podium places, cutting a disparate figure as he was sent to rail albeit with a career-high score of over $1.6 million.
Our #WPTWorldChampionship Final Table is live now and we're down to 3 as Adam Adler exits the field in 4th place earning $1,608,000!
Remaining Payouts:
1st: $4,146,400*
2nd: $2,830,000
3rd: $2,095,000Livestream: https://t.co/mdWGAJo6V1
Live Updates: https://t.co/Bf8Vi6v0vB pic.twitter.com/ywIYiVTgDO— World Poker Tour (@WPT) December 21, 2022
Less than two dozen hands stood between the three remaining players and the major title everyone would be talking about for years to come. Jean-Claude Moussa was the one to miss out on heads-up, busting for just over $2 million when he lost two key hands out of three played. First, his 
failed to hold as Benny Glaser’s all-in with 
saw him double up after a board of 
came down.
Moussa Falls to Benny’s Queens
After one double up from three big blinds, Moussa’s journey was at an end. His call with for his tournament life from the big blind was the right one, as Eliot Hudon had shoved with 
, but the board of 
flopped the eventual winner the nut straight, and a chagrin Moussa was the last American to hit the rail in Vegas. He’d done a huge amount better than he thought he would pre-game.
I still don't think it has hit me that I'm playing for $4,000,000 today. My brain is probably gonna explode as soon as the first hand is dealt today on camera .
— Jean-Claude of Worcester (@Sgt_Hot_Stuff) December 20, 2022
Heading into the final day, Glaser had called it ‘the biggest spot of my life’.
Today is THE DAY!?
The biggest spot of my life.
Chip leading the final 6 of the WPT World Championship.
$1 million locked, and $4.14 mil for 1st! ?
Play starts in 30 mins.
You can watch it on the WPT YouTube channel and Twitch.
(or come join for the rail in person! ?)
LFG! ?— Benny Glaser (@BennyGlaser) December 20, 2022
After a chop pot and three hands in a row for Glaser, the British player started heads-up with real hope of a fightback. However, seven hands in, the battle was over and Hudon was the champion. After a board of 
saw Glaser shove on the river with in an audacious bluff, Hudon called with 
for a rivered straight and claimed the title.
We have our #WPTWorldChampion!
Congratulations to Eliot Hudon for taking down our record-breaking $10,400 #WPTWorldChampionship!
Eliot navigated a field of 2,960 entries and battled against @BennyGlaser for the trophies & 1st place prize of $4,136,000!https://t.co/zOGPSUfY2L pic.twitter.com/Lr6bNU6pj6
— World Poker Tour (@WPT) December 21, 2022
A day of drama and a week of record-breaking action was over. In the aftermath of a superb tournament, the World Poker Tour will likely confirm the return of the WPT World Championship in 2023. They’d be mad not to, since the atmosphere in Sin City this week has been the closest it comes to the WSOP Main Event since the summer.
World Poker Tour 2022 World Championship Final Table Results: |
|||
| Position | Player | Country | Prize |
| 1st | Eliot Hudon | Canada | $4,136,000 |
| 2nd | Benny Glaser | United Kingdom | $2,830,000 |
| 3rd | Jean-Claude Moussa | U.S.A. | $2,095,000 |
| 4th | Adam Adler | U.S.A. | $1,608,000 |
| 5th | Frank Funaro | U.S.A. | $1,301,000 |
| 6th | Colton Blomberg | U.S.A. | $1,001,050 |
