Dan Sepiol has taken his seat within the $10,400 buy-in World Poker Tour (WPT) World Championship, one 12 months after his life-changing victory within the historic occasion.
The Indiana native had already produced spectacular event outcomes previous to December 2023 when he gained $5.3 million within the largest assured prize pool in poker historical past on the time ($40 million). PokerNews caught up with the defending champion on a Day 1a break at Wynn Las Vegas to learn the way successful the most important event has impacted his life previously 12 months.
Sepiol’s win at Wynn was a springboard to a monster 12-month run. He gained a World Collection of Poker (WSOP) bracelet this previous summer season, completed runner-up in an internet bracelet occasion, and took down the $25,000 buy-in WPT Alpha8 Trifecta occasion at Wynn in July for $672,200. Oh, and for good measure, he conquered a each day fantasy sports activities contest a pair weeks in the past for $1 million.
How Did $5 Million Rating Change His Life?
Returning to the scene (Wynn) of the place he captured a monumental victory brings again some good recollections for the defending champion.
“Yeah, for certain, enjoying the (WPT Prime Championship) the previous few days or so and a few opening occasions, it brings again some recollections,” Sepiol mentioned.
Sepiol was already a Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) champion and World Collection of Poker Circuit (WSOPC) ring winner earlier than he took down the 2023 WPT World Championship. He’d cashed for greater than $1 million in dwell tournaments, in accordance with The Hendon Mob. However the seven-figure payday was life-changing in methods, as he defined.
“Actually, I really feel like the identical previous Danny. Perhaps I’ve slightly extra confidence on the poker desk now, however mainly enjoying the identical tournaments, doing the identical stuff.
Sepiol mentioned he hadn’t performed any palms of word via the primary few ranges. His stack 5 hours into play was hovering across the beginning stack, which is not an terrible spot to be in early on this marathon event that will not finish till Dec. 21.
The primary of three Day 1 beginning flights had 729 entrants on the time of publishing, 120 greater than the identical session final 12 months in a event that had 3,835 entrants.
*Photos courtesy of World Poker Tour.
Dan Sepiol Wins WPT World Championship for $5.3 Million
