Stephen Chidwick, one of poker’s brightest stars, has done it again! Five years after winning his first WSOP bracelet in the 2019 $25,000 Pot-Limit Omaha High Roller, Chidwick captured his second piece of gold in Event #8: $50,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Championship at the 2024 WSOP Paradise in the Bahamas.
Facing a stacked field of 122 entries and a final table brimming with talent, Chidwick started Day 3 as the short stack with only 12 big blinds. Yet, in true champion fashion, he climbed his way to the top, ultimately defeating Yang Wang heads-up to claim the $1,357,080 first-place prize from the $6.1 million prize pool.
Chidwick’s Thoughts on the Victory
In an interview after his win, Chidwick reflected on his career journey and the significance of this victory.
“Winning always feels great,” he shared. “In the early part of my career, bracelets were a huge goal. Over time, my focus shifted to other tours and higher-stakes tournaments, so it feels nice to snag one while playing fewer events.”
Chidwick credited his success in PLO to his ability to apply tournament fundamentals to the four-card game. “Most of the strongest PLO players are cash game specialists,” he explained. “Combining a solid PLO foundation with strong tournament skills has worked well for me.”
Final Table Highlights
The action-packed final table saw plenty of twists and turns:
- Early Doubles: Chidwick gained momentum by doubling through Dylan Weisman with a double-suited ace-king-jack-ten hand, hitting a flush.
- Tollerene’s Rise and Fall: Chip leader Ben Tollerene started strong, eliminating Pascal Lefrancois and crippling Benny Glaser. But Chidwick chipped away at his stack, eventually doubling through him twice.
- Knockouts Galore: Chidwick eliminated Dylan Weisman (5th) and Nick Schulman (4th) before three-handed play began. Tollerene’s quest for his first bracelet ended with a third-place finish, courtesy of Wang.
Epic Heads-Up Battle
Yang Wang entered heads-up play with a 2-to-1 chip lead, but Chidwick struck back immediately with a double-up. The two traded blows, with Chidwick taking control after a clutch hero call on the river that gave him a commanding chip advantage.
Wang fought valiantly, even finding two doubles to close the gap, but his comeback was short-lived. In the final hand, Chidwick’s pocket aces held up, sealing his second WSOP bracelet and cementing his legacy as one of the game’s greats.
Final Table Results
- Stephen Chidwick – $1,357,080
- Yang Wang – $839,250
- Ben Tollerene – $592,000
- Nick Schulman – $440,100
- Dylan Weisman – $330,300
- Benny Glaser – $256,400
- Pascal Lefrancois – $200,500
This victory not only adds another accolade to Chidwick’s storied career but also showcases his relentless determination and world-class skill. Poker fans, take note—this is the stuff legends are made of!