The World Poker Tour (WPT) has formally introduced that Yunkyu Tune is the Season 22 Participant of the Yr.
With that in thoughts, Bin Weng is now not the reigning champion. Weng had an unforgettable 12 months of poker in 2023 that included a WPT Seminole Arduous Rock Poker Showdown title and fourth place end at WPT Choctaw.
He could not replicate that success in 2024, nonetheless, leaving the door open for another crushers to take the reins, none of whom may defeat Tune.
Huge Yr for Tune
It is uncommon for the WPT Participant of the Yr race to be wrapped up heading into the ultimate month, and final 12 months was no totally different. Tune was within the driver’s seat to win when the $10,400 WPT World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas started Dec. 14. However he needed to both money or hope Dylan Smith, Eric Afriat, and Landon Tice averted deep runs.
He did not money within the season-ending championship occasion, and he actually had a sweat when Smith reached Day 4 within the 2,392-entrant event. Fortunately for Tune, Smith went out in 127th place and did not obtain sufficient factors to overhaul his Participant of the Yr lead.
WPT Participant of the Yr Remaining Standings
Smith, who gained the WPT Seminole Rock ‘N Roll Poker Open for $662,200 and took fifth within the WPT Seminole Arduous Rock Poker Showdown Championship for an additional $230,000, cashed for over $1 million in reside tournaments for the second straight 12 months. He completed the World Poker Tour season with 2,150 factors, not fairly sufficient to greatest Tune, who ended the 12 months with 2,275. Afriat completed in third place with 1,750 factors whereas Tice was proper behind him at 1,700.
Tune’s Season 22 efficiency did not embody successful a Primary Tour title, however he did win the WPT Prime Playground Championship for $164,251. The most recent Participant of the Yr additionally completed runner-up within the WPT bestbet Scramble Championship in Jacksonville in November for $252,059. Afriat, who held an enormous chip lead through the early elements of the ultimate desk, busted in fourth place and will have taken down POY had he held onto that lead.
Tune joins an unique membership of World Poker Tour POY winners that features Daniel Negreanu, Anthony Zinno, Jonathan Little, Brian Altman, and plenty of different poker superstars. No participant has gained the award a number of instances.
*Photographs courtesy of the World Poker Tour.
