Calvin Anderson emerged as the champion of the WPT Prime Championship at the 2023 WPT World Championship Festival, securing a staggering prize of $1,386,280.
In a heads-up battle, Anderson overcame Aaron Pinson, who took home a commendable $910,000 as the runner-up. However, a particular hand during the three-player stage, involving Anderson and Jay Lu, has become the focal point of discussion among the poker community, leaving both players and commentators in awe.
Lu came to the final table as a chip leader and finished in third place, earning $675,000, followed by Jon Glendinning in fourth for $505,000, Bob Buckenmayer in fifth with $380,000, and Valeriy Pak in sixth place, claiming $290,000.
The tournament witnessed a staggering turnout of 10,512 players for the $1,100 buy-in event, setting a new record as the largest $1k poker tournament in the history. A total of 1,309 players finished in the money, highlighting the event’s massive scale.
2023 WPT Prime Championship Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
| 1 | Calvin Anderson | United States | $1,386,280 |
| 2 | Aaron Pinson | United States | $910,000 |
| 3 | Jay Lu | United States | $675,000 |
| 4 | Jon Glendinning | United States | $505,000 |
| 5 | Bob Buckenmayer | United States | $380,000 |
| 6 | Valeriy Pak | Uzbekistan | $290,000 |
WPT CEO Adam Pliska expressed his enthusiasm about the event’s success: “The astounding increase in the WPT Prime Championship exceeded expectations, and further fortifies the event as a pillar of the WPT World Championship festival at Wynn Las Vegas. Congratulations to Calvin for his monumental win.”
Fans and enthusiasts who missed the live action can watch the replay of the final table below.
WPT Prime Success in 2023
The WPT Prime events have rapidly become a highlight in the busy poker schedule since their debut in 2022. These events uniquely blend the premier experience of a WPT Main Tour with more accessible buy-ins, fulfilling a long-standing desire among poker players for high-level, affordable tournament play.
Last year’s Prime Championship at Wynn Las Vegas attracted 5,430 entries, and the momentum continued to build. In August, the WPT Prime Taiwan set a milestone with a $1,000,000 guaranteed prize pool – a first in the history of WPT Prime. This year’s record-breaking turnout for the biggest $1k tournament in history only adds to the growing prestige of these events.
A significant factor in this popularity has been the online qualifications available on WPT Global, which have opened doors for a wider range of players to participate in this celebrated series. As we look forward to 2024 with much anticipation, seven stops have already been announced, promising another year of exciting and accessible high-level poker.
