The World Poker Tour (WPT) made history by launching its 2024 season with the inaugural WPT Cambodia Championship, marking the event as a pivotal moment in poker history. Hosted at the prestigious NagaWorld, the tournament attracted a field of 760 players across two starting flights, creating an impressive prize pool of $4.6 million.
After intense competition, Konstantin Held claimed the first WPT Cambodia champion title along with a hefty prize of $361,310. The tournament ended with a three-handed deal that saw Joshua McCully and Florent Remi walking away with significant earnings of $277,291 and $302,019. Besides the substantial payout, Held also won a $10,400 seat at the 2024 WPT World Championship in Wynn Las Vegas.
Reflecting on his win, Held shared his exhilaration with WPT, stating, “It has been an insane journey to end up heads up with a good friend of mine. We just enjoyed our time. We were all having a blast. And the experience here was great. I love the venue. I think NagaWorld is great. It’s been amazing to come to Cambodia.”
The championship’s final table was a showcase of international talent, featuring players from across the globe vying for the prestigious title. The event’s final results were as follows:
| Place | Player | Prize (in USD) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Konstantin Held | $361,310* |
| 2 | Joshua McCully | $277,291* |
| 3 | Florent Remi | $302,019* |
| 4 | Motoyoshi Okamura | $157,858 |
| 5 | Amit Kaushik | $118,906 |
| 6 | Kyle Bao Diep | $90,532 |
| 7 | Jianfeng Sun | $69,678 |
| 8 | Kou Vang | $54,212 |
| 9 | Anthony Cierco | $42,647 |
* Denotes three-handed deal
The $3,500 buy-in tournament was notable not only for its large turnout but also for being the first WPT Main Tour event held in Southeast Asia. The event drew significant attention, with the top 95 finishers receiving payouts. Among the notable players making deep runs were WPT champions Tony Dunst, Valeriy Pak, Masato Yokosawa, and Punnat Punsri.
A New Chapter of WPT
The WPT Cambodia event, held at the NagaWorld Integrated Resort in Phnom Penh, marks a significant milestone in the WPT’s history in the region. The transition from last year’s WPT Prime to the Main Tour proves the growing popularity and competitive level of poker in Asia. The Main Tour event promises to bring together top-tier poker talent from across the globe, competing for substantial prize pools and the coveted title of WPT Champion.
Future WPT Events
The WPT continues to expand its global footprint with an exciting lineup of events. The next WPT Prime event is set to take place in the charming city of Aix-en-Provence, kicking off a new season that promises to bring together poker enthusiasts from around the world. This event is part of the WPT’s efforts to offer diverse and accessible poker experiences, catering to a wide range of players.
The upcoming WPT Main Tour event, WPT Rolling Thunder 2024, happening in California also highlights the WPT’s commitment to top-level poker tournaments. It’s anticipated to attract many players competing for top prizes and a spot in poker history.
