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Poker news | Jan 31, 2022

Alex Yen Wins 2022 WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open

By RTR Alex

Alex Yen Banner
Alexander Yen has just claimed the win at his first-ever major tournament. After taking the chip lead to the final table, Yen stayed ahead of the pack and emerged victorious from the 2022 WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open. He left the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino with a WPT title, an impressive trophy and an extra $975,240 to his name.

Alex Yen WPT

According to The Hendon Mob, Yen entered the $3,500 buy-in tournament with just under $400,000 in lifetime live tournament cashes. Now, up against a pool of 1,982 entrants and plenty of seasoned-pros, he's walked away with over double that amount from just one win. The final table line-up guaranteed a first-time winner, as none of the six remaining players were returning WPT champions.


WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open Final Table Results

PLACE PLAYER PRIZE
1 Alex Yen $975,240
2 Anton Wigg $650,180
3 Daniel Lazrus $482,380
4 Nicholas Verderamo $361,130
5 Joshua Kay $272,830
6 Omar Lakhdari $208,025


Final Table Action


Yen covered over 150 big blinds at the final table - with such a dominant lead, his title win was rarely at risk except for one moment in a heads-up battle with Daniel Lazrus.

Lazrus - a two-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner - was certainly one of the more dangerous contenders in the final six. He had won a race against Omar Lakhdari to send him out in 6th place ($208,025) early on. but tasted his own medicine when Yen did the same to knock-out Lazrus in 3rd ($482,380).

This came soon after Anton Wigg eliminated Joshua Kay in a 60/40 win-split hand - putting Kay out in 5th place ($272,830). Yen followed up with a pocket queen play to get the better of Nicholas Verderamo who left in 4th ($361,130).

Wigg


Heads-Up Play


This left just Yen and Wigg in a heads-up battle to find a champion. Yen had more than a 2.5:1 chip lead, but was up against a seasoned-pro that wouldn't back down from a fight, even with such a short stack. Wigg held his own early on, moving all in preflop on one occasion and took the pot with A♦10♣ against Yen's K♣Q♥.

Shortly after, Wigg took a slim lead over Yen but couldn't hold it. Yen quickly regained control and never let up. On the final hand, Yen flopped just short of a straight flush, with only one card off suit. He held 9♣7♣ with a board of 10♦8♣6♣, making the straight anyway. When the turn came with 6♦, Wigg jammed - holding pocket queens - and unsurprisingly Yen called. The river landed 4♦ and ended the match with it - making Alex Yen a World Poker Tour Champion in his first ever major tournament.