In an unforgettable performance, Scott Stewart emerged victorious at the World Poker Tour World Championship (WPTWC), earning a life-changing prize of $2,563,900. The $10,400 buy-in event ended on Saturday after a dramatic final day, with Stewart defeating Rob Sherwood, who secured $2,200,000 as the runner-up.
Scott Stewart Starts Strong at the Final Table
From the very first hand, Stewart made his presence felt. Early in the day, he picked up pocket aces, which held against Christian Roberts’ ace-queen. Despite a promising flush draw, Roberts was eliminated in sixth place, taking home $665,000.
Shortly after, Ryan Yu found himself on the rail in fifth place. His pocket nines fell to Eddie Pak’s ace-king, which turned into a full house. Yu walked away with $875,000, kicking off the seven-figure payouts.
Scott Stewart Advances as Chris Moorman Exits
British poker legend Chris Moorman, a consistent performer, couldn’t escape an unfortunate exit. In a critical hand, Moorman’s pocket queens were overtaken by Eddie Pak’s pocket tens when a ten hit the turn. He was eliminated in fourth place with $1,150,000, mirroring his finish from the previous year.
After Moorman’s elimination, the final three players— Stewart, Rob Sherwood, and Eddie Pak—agreed to flatten the payouts. Originally, first place was slated for $3,138,000, but the adjustment balanced the rewards for the top three contenders.
Eddie Pak was the next to go, securing $2 million after his queen-high flush was crushed by Stewart’s jacks full. With Pak out, the stage was set for a thrilling heads-up showdown.
Scott Stewart Faces Rob Sherwood in Epic Heads-Up Battle
The heads-up match between Stewart and Rob Sherwood lasted over five hours. Scott Stewart began with a 2-to-1 chip lead, which he expanded to nearly 7-to-1. However, Sherwood fought back, doubling up with ace-jack against Stewart’s pocket queens and even overtaking him in chips at one point.
Hence, the turning point came when Stewart held pocket kings against Sherwood’s pocket sixes. The kings held, leaving Sherwood with only a few chips. Two hands later, Sherwood was eliminated, earning $2,200,000 for his efforts.
Career-Defining Victory
With this win, Stewart joins the prestigious ranks of WPT World Championship winners, including Eliot Hudon (2022) and Dan Sepiol (2023). His total live tournament earnings now surpass $5.5 million, cementing his status as one of the game’s top players.
Chants of “Stew-S-A” from the crowd highlighted the celebrations for Stewart’s remarkable achievement.
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