Alex Yen Wins 2022 WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open

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.

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).

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 //// against Yen's

.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

with a board of

, making the straight anyway. When the turn came with

, Wigg jammed - holding pocket queens - and unsurprisingly Yen called. The river landed

and ended the match with it. With that hand, Alex Yen became a World Poker Tour Champion in his first ever major tournament.

Watch the final hand showdown here, from WPTs very own coverage:

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 and made Alex Yen a World Poker Tour Champion in his first ever major tournament.