2026 WPO in Review

Yan Jiang, 2026 WPO Champion!

The 2026 Winter Poker Open was our first big series of the year and players were ready for some poker over the two-week schedule.

Events:  11
Entries:  2,572
Guarantees:  $600,000
Prize Pools:  $1,309,770

We put on 11 trophy events over those two weeks with $600,000 in guaranteed prize pools and awarded more than $1.3 million. Another great turnout, thanks to our players.

The headliner was the WPO Championship with a $1,700 buy-in, and it drew 419 entries, more than doubling the guarantee and creating a prize pool of $628,500. It created a talented field on the last day and a tough final table, one that Yan Jiang dominated late and walked away with the outright win for $133,430.

Rafael Reis was only two spots short of a first in our history; as the reigning Pinktober Poker Open Champ, he ran deep in the WPO Championship and finished third.

You can find links to all trophy events and their results below. Thanks to everyone for coming out, and we look forward to seeing everyone for the 2026 Tampa Poker Classic from March 4th through the 16th!

WPO Championship: Yan Jiang – $133,430
Event 1 ($400 NLH): Mike Valore – $65,940
Event 2 ($250 NLH): Carlo Amenta – $8,880
Event 3 ($400 O8): AJ Kelsall – $5,600
Event 4 ($700 NLH): Ricardo Eyzaguirre – $23,600
Event 5 ($400 Big O): Jordan Joeckel – $4,695
Event 6 ($200 Bounty): Ben Paul Chelladurai – $3,580
Event 7 ($400 PLO): Jeremy Parker – $6,800
Event 9 ($400 NLH): William Davis – $9,110
Event 10 (Seniors): Mike Beckel – $3,367
Event 11 ($300 Bounty): David Kutz – $5,560

David Kutz Wins Last WPO Trophy Outright for $5,560!

2026 Winter Poker Open
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Tampa, Florida
Event 11
$200+$100 Monster Stack Black Chip Bounty NLH
Entries:  131
Prize Pool:  $19,650
Bounty Prize Pool:  $13,100
February 2, 2026

David Kutz, 2026 WPO Event 11 Champ
PlaceFirst NameLast NameCityStatePrize Amount
1DavidKutzSaint PetersburgFL$5,560
2VincentTanicoRiverviewFL$3,440
3JonathanRubinsteinTampaFL$2,330
4MichaelAndersonBufordGA$1,630
5JulioDelgado ReyesDavenportFL$1,180
6GregoryPonPleasantonCA$880
7NicholasCaouetteLewistonME$680
8KyleBrockOrlandoFL$550
9JohnSimensonMaitlandFL$460
10GregoryWilsonTampaFL$400
11RyanMcSwigginSt PetersburgNY$400
12JasonMagnicariWinter SpringsFL$400
13PabloMonge VeraApopkaFL$360
14ScottAndersonSouth PasadenaFL$360
15SeanForbesOrlandoFL$360
16RonaldBrownSan JuanPR$330
17JamesMarkleyBurlingtonVT$330

Mike Beckel Wins 2026 WPO Seniors Event Title in Six-Way Deal!

2026 Winter Poker Open
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Tampa, Florida
Event 10
$250 Seniors 50+ No-Limit Hold’em
$10,000 Guaranteed
Entries:  132
Prize Pool:  $26,400
February 2, 2026

Mike Beckel, 2026 WPO Seniors Camp
PlaceFirst NameLast NameCityStatePrize Amount
1MikeBickelRidgefieldCT$3,367 *
2VittarioIemoloSarasotaFL$3,367 *
3LeeAmbergSarasotaFL$3,367 *
4PaulDisciulloTampaFL$3,367 *
5JosephStevensMulberryFL$3,367 *
6GregoryRockBeaver DamKY$3,365 *
7RossLeboLehigh AcresFL$920
8ScottNicholsWinter GardenFL$740
9WesleySkinnerTampaFL$610
10JamesTurrisi JrNorth MiddletownNJ$530
11WayneLeonardTampaFL$530
12JamesDye JrClearwaterIA$530
13WilburAllison JrCocoaFL$480
14GregoryJosephsonSarasotaFL$480
15MarkCaswellBaldwinsvilleNY$480
16JamesMorrisseyLand O LakesFL$450
17ChristopherOoleyTampaFL$450

Event 11: Monster Stack Bounty

$200+$100 Monster Stack Black Chip Bounty NLH
Structure
Level 1:  100/200 with a 200 ante

We’re closing out the 2026 Winter Poker Open schedule with a fun one at 6 pm. We have a $200+$100 Monster Stack Black Chip Bounty No-Limit Hold’em that will have all the action you need on a Monday night.

Players start with huge 100K starting stacks and all levels last 25 minutes. Late registration and unlimited re-entries are available until the start of Level 11 at 10:40 pm.

Come on out and pick up the last WPO trophy!

  • Players begin with 100,000 in chips
  • Levels last 25 minutes
  • Late registration/re-entry available until start of Level 11 (10:40pm)
  • This is a one-day tournament and play to completion
  • Event 11 Structure Sheet

Event 10: Prize Pool and Payouts; $7,460 to Seniors Champ

2026 Winter Poker Open
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Tampa, Florida
Event 10
$250 Seniors 50+ No-Limit Hold’em
$10,000 Guaranteed
Entries:  132
Prize Pool:  $26,400
February 2, 2026

Registration closed for the $250 Seniors 50+ No-Limit Hold’em tournament, which saw a great turnout of 132 entries, more than doubling the $10,000 guarantee to a prize pool of $26,400. The last 17 spots will be paid with $450 for a min-cash and $7,460 awaiting the Seniors Champ.

1st: $7,460 + WPO Trophy
2nd: $4,620
3rd: $3,140
4th: $2,200
5th: $1,590
6th: $1,190
7th: $920
8th: $740
9th: $610
10th-12th: $530
13th-15th: $480
16th-17th: $450

William Davis Wins WPO Event 9 Outright for $9,110!

2026 Winter Poker Open
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Tampa, Florida
Event 9
$400 No-Limit Hold’em
$20,000 Guaranteed
Entries:  86
Prize Pool:  $28,380
February 1, 2026

William Davis, WPO Event 9 Champ

Running alongside Day 2 of the Championship, WPO Event 9 was a $400 No-Limit Hold’em one-day tournament with a $20,000 guarantee. It drew 86 entries for a prize pool worth $28,380 and William Davis took the top spot outright for $9,110.

Congrats William!

PlaceFirst NameLast NameCityStatePrize Amount
1WilliamDavisOrlandoFL$9,110
2SanjayKuthur GaneshBrandonFL$5,640
3JohnMclaneCantonGA$3,670
4McLeanKarrFort WayneIN$2,500
5JenniferFrankensteinLongwoodFL$1,790
6JenniferSagleNiagara FallsON$1,350
7KhristianGeraciBelle VernonPA$1,070
8DavidFolmar JrClearwaterFL$900
9JasonSagleNiagara FallsON$810
10LazaroRemolinaLake PlacidFL$770
11CorneliusWalkerOrmond BeachFL$770

Event 10: Senior’s Time

$250 Seniors 50+ NLH
$10,000 Guaranteed  |  Structure
Level 1:  100/200 with a 200 ante

The last day of the Winter Poker Open is here and we have two special tournaments to close it out, the first getting underway at 11 am with a $250 Seniors 50+ No-Limit Hold’em tournament. It has a $10,000 guaranteed prize pool and sure to be a lot of fun.

Players start with 30K in their stacks and all levels last 30 minutes. Late registration and unlimited re-entries are available until the start of Level 9 at 3:30 pm.

  • $10,000 Guaranteed Prize Pool
  • Players begin with 30,000 in chips
  • Levels last 30 minutes
  • Late registration/re-entry available until start of Level 9 (3:30pm)
  • This is a one-day tournament and play to completion
  • Event 10 Structure Sheet

WPO Day 13 Schedule

Primary Event Schedule

11AM: Event 10 – $250 Seniors 50+ NLH (Re-Entry)

  • $10,000 Guaranteed Prize Pool
  • Players begin with 30,000 in chips
  • Levels last 30 minutes
  • Late registration/re-entry available until start of Level 9 (3:30pm)
  • This is a one-day tournament and play to completion
  • Event 10 Structure Sheet

6PM: Event 11 – $200+$100 Monster Stack Black Chip Bounty NLH (Re-Entry)

  • Players begin with 100,000 in chips
  • Levels last 25 minutes
  • Late registration/re-entry available until start of Level 11 (10:40pm)
  • This is a one-day tournament and play to completion
  • Event 11 Structure Sheet

2026 Winter Poker Open Schedule and Results

Yan Jiang Wins WPO Championship Outright for $133,430!

2026 Winter Poker Open
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Tampa, Florida
Event 8
$1,700 WPO Championship
$300,000 Guaranteed
Entries:  419
Prize Pool:  $628,500
January 29 – February 1, 2026

Yan Jiang, 2026 WPO Champion

The 2026 Winter Poker Open Championship was the big game on the schedule, and the $1,700 buy-in tournament drew 419 entries, more than doubling the $300,000 guarantee. After a long Day 2 filled with talented players, Yan Jiang won the title outright for $133,430.

Our players created a prize pool worth $628,500, and the last 53 players earned a piece of it coming back for Day 2. Ken O’Donnell returned with a huge chip lead, more than second and third-place stacks combined, but fell short in 12th place after a series of unfortunate hands.

Jiang took the lead when the field reached two tables, sporting a dominating stack, and she never lost until the heads-up battle with Kyle Sturgis. But that drop did not last long and she won the WPO title after a 45-minute match.

In addition to becoming our 2026 WPO Champion, Jiang is also the first female Championship/Main Event winner in Seminole Hard Rock Poker history, not just here in Tampa.

Congrats to Yan and thank you to everyone for making it such a great event!

PlaceFirst NameLast NameCityStatePrize Amount
1YanJiangWesley ChapelFL$133,430
2KyleSturgisTampaFL$82,440
3RafaelReisWinter GardenFL$59,470
4JustinFawcettGainesvilleFL$43,580
5BrandonPadulaOaktonVA$32,460
6RobertLeBeauTampaFL$24,570
7MichaelHollanderOcalaFL$18,910
8RobertCapoteNaplesFL$14,810
9BradleyRobertsonNew Port RicheyFL$11,790
10DmitriiShubPalatineIL$9,560
11MoAlhalwaniOrlandoFL$9,560
12KenO'DonnellSt PetersburgFL$9,560
13JohnPointerTampaFL$7,880
14ChrisDombrowskiWesley ChapelFL$7,880
15PatrickHopmanFort MyersFL$7,880
16ThadMcNultyJacksonvilleFL$6,620
17DrewDodgeSpring HillFL$6,620
18JohnTwo-BearsSebringFL$6,620
19MitchMitchellSatellite BeachFL$5,670
20JohnO'NealJacksonvilleFL$5,670
21YeYaoLutzFL$5,670
22MarkZhang$4,940
23CurtisKingTampaFL$4,940
24JosephOrsinoTampaFL$4,940
25BrianHarrisLongwoodFL$4,390
26JeanZabinMerritt IslandFL$4,390
27SandroVianna De SaWinter GardenFL$4,390
28ZacharyRogalskiLutzFL$3,980
29SudhirKantamaneniRiverviewFL$3,980
30BillSosciaBradentonFL$3,980
31JuanRodriguezSt PetersburgFL$3,680
32John TylerKennedyBoynton BeachFL$3,680
33MerrittKuhnSaint LouisMO$3,680
34TKMilesDavieFL$3,470
35JamesCalderaroEnglewoodFL$3,470
36GuillermoHamiltonMiamiFL$3,470
37StephenBureauBrooksvilleFL$3,350
38CharlieBurnsSebringFL$3,350
39NicholasSquitiroPalm HarborFL$3,350
40AaronSpeerClermontFL$3,350
41AnanthGanesanSaint PetersburgFL$3,350
42AdamWeingardTampaFL$3,350
43MitchellGarshofskyLas VegasNV$3,350
44AlejandroAranaWestonFL$3,350
45RyanHoganWinter GardenFL$3,350
46RileyPriceLargoFL$3,290
47JamesMcKinnonSaint PetersburgFL$3,290
48RonaldSurenkampPort RicheyFL$3,290
49GiancarloDisalvoTemple TerraceFL$3,290
50WilliamParkerMicanopyFL$3,290
51ArmandoFigueroaLand O LakesFL$3,290
52CorneliusWalkerOrmond BeachFL$3,290
53DanielKasperMinneolaFL$3,290
Yan Jiang

Championship: Yan Jiang ($133,430) Defeats Kevin Sturgis ($82,440)

$1,700 WPO Championship
Prize Pool:  $628,500  |  Structure  |  Payouts
Level 28:  75,000/150,000 with a 150,000 ante

Yan Jiang

Kevin Sturgis opened to 400,000 from the button and Yan Jiang three-bet to 1,200,000. Sturgis called, the flop was AcTh5d, and Jiang continued for another 1,200,000. Sturgis called, the turn was 4h, Jiang announced all in, and Sturgis folded.

Seat 4: Kyle Sturgis – 4,200,000 (28 bb)
Seat 7: Yan Jiang – 12,550,000 (84 bb)

Jiang kept the pressure on at the point and Sturgis dropped further. On the final hand, Jiang moved all in from the button and Sturgis called at risk for 2,925,000.

Jiang: AdQd
Sturgis: 7d7c

It was a fair fight and Sturgis needed his sevens to hold up to get back in the game. But Jiang took the lead when she paired her queen on the QsTd9s flop. Neither the Tc turn nor the Ts river were any help for Sturgis and he was eliminated in second place.

Jiang took the title and the $133,430 top prize.

1st: Yan Jiang – $133,430 + WPO Trophy
2nd: Kevin Sturgis – $82,440

Kyle Sturgis