WPT Tampa

2022 WPT Tampa in Review

The 2022 WPT Tampa series played out over two weeks with record-setting fields and huge money at stake. The schedule had 31 primary events and was headlined by the WPT Tampa Championship.

Events: 31
Entries: 10,489
Guarantees: $2,830,000
Prize Money: $10,539,275

For the first time in our history, the series drew more than 10,000 entries and awarded more than $10 million in prize money, two huge records. The opening event drew 1,102 entries for Flight E, another record; this time it was the biggest $600 starting flight in state history.

Corey Wade, 2022 WPT Tampa Champion (Photo: Drew Amato/WPT)

The 2022 WPT Tampa Championship drew 1,165 entries over two starting flights to create a prize pool worth $3,728,000. Both numbers are exactly the same as the 2021 Championship and tied for the biggest in our history.

Corey Wade outlasted a tough table that included locals Fred Paradis and David Tuthill to take the top spot for $471,686.

Other notable victories include Raminder Singh capturing two titles during the series, reigning WPT Player of the Year Jake Ferro winning the $2,200 title, and local favorite John Racener winning our first-ever $25K High Roller (then finished third in the $10K High Roller).

Clemen Deng took home WPT Player of the Festival honors with a win in the $10K High Roller plus a second and fifth place finish earlier in the series.

Record crowds and memorable moments highlighted the two-week series. We could not have done it without our old friends and the new ones we made.

Thank you to everyone for coming out, and we look forward to seeing everyone again for the 2022 Pinktober Poker Open!

WPT Tampa Championship: Corey Wade $471,686
Event 1 ($600 Multi-Flight): Adam Quimby – $240,254
Event 2 ($400 PLO): Vinny Monteiro – $13,135
Event 3 ($1,100 6-Handed): Ken Fishman – $21,980
Event 4 ($250 Ladies Event): Nikita Patalinghug – $6,566
Event 5 ($1,100 NLH): Clyde Maliauka – $30,730
Event 6 ($400 Turbo): Raminder Singh – $7,086
Event 7 ($400 O8): Ardit Bitincka – $9,666
Event 8 ($400 NLH): Michael Hermoza – $21,890
Event 9 ($1,100 NLH): Kevin Oakes – $31,186
Event 10 ($400 Turbo PLO): Nick Yuryev – $12,460
Event 11 ($400 OE): Jon Miller – $9,455
Event 12 ($400 Multi-Flight): Carlos Rodriguez – $55,085
Event 13 ($600 NLH): Raminder Singh – $22,475
Event 14 ($400 H.O.R.S.E.): Kris Lord – $7,045
Event 15 ($1,100 NLH): Brandon Wong – $33,190
Event 16 ($400 Seniors): Jeffrey Nemes – $20,383
Event 17 ($1,700 NLH): Alex Foxen – $53,980
Event 18 ($25K High Roller): John Racener – $246,990
Event 19 ($2,200 NLH): Jake Ferro – $94,490
Event 20 ($1,100 Turbo PLO): Sean Troha – $31,740
Event 23 ($250 Triple Stack): Alex Alvarez – $6,611
Event 24 ($600 Quad Stack): Kodi McDaniel – $12,430
Event 25 ($400 NLH): Daniel Tanco – $18,800
Event 26 ($1,700 NLH): Brett Bader – $60,440
Event 27 ($1,100 Survivor)
Event 28 ($600 NLH): Brendon Shiller – $50,330
Event 29 ($1,100 NLH): John Gallaher – $28,610
Event 30 ($10K High Roller): Clemen Deng – $158,778
Event 31 ($180 Triple Stack): Collin Wilson – $6,495
Event 32 ($5,000 NLH): Jim Collopy – $87,346

Corey Wade Wins the Championship Event to Bring the WPT Tampa Series to a Close

2022 WPT Tampa
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Tampa, Florida
Event 21
$3,500 No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed
Entries:  1,165
Prize Pool:  $3,728,000
September 2-7, 2022

WPT TAMPA

The 2022 WPT Tampa Championship headlined the two-week festival and the $3,500 buy-in tournament featured a $1,000,000 guaranteed prize pool. After a tough final table, Corey Wade took the Championship title and earned $615,050.

“It feels absolutely amazing, I got heads-up for a bracelet this summer and fell short with a big chip lead, and this time I came through and got lucky on the river, I’m really excited. It felt so good, it’s a surreal feeling,” said Wade right after the victory.

“I was to Brock Wilson’s left, and he was the best player at the table, and I didn’t have a lot of big stacks on my left so I was able to open more than I would have otherwise than not open. I was able to maneuver more than the stack size I had should have been able to do. I was able to open up my range a little bit and find some spots that were good to take,” said Wade when he was asked about his journey through the final table.

“This is the first time I’ve ever been here, and the casino is really big and really nice, I enjoyed it. The room service was great, the tournament ran perfect. I only have good things to say, I had a great time,” said Wade.

Wade took some tough beats earlier in the tournament, and here is his answer about how he persevered, “I wear my emotions on my sleeve, and it really got to me for a while. I had to call a couple people to calm me down. I tried to just tell myself, whatever happens, happens, so just be happy.”

The tournament drew a record-tying 1,165 entries over two starting flights to create a prize pool worth $3,728,000. Both numbers tied the 2021 WPT Tampa Championship turn out as the biggest in our history.

The last 146 places were paid with the tournament reaching the money before the end of Day 2. They played down to 16 players on Day 3 with Wade leading the way, and the Championship hit the final table early on Day 4.

Local favorite Fred Paradis (who won his seat in the Championship Event in a $550 satellite) had the big stack at the tough six-handed WPT final table, featuring Wade, David Tuthill, Seth Berger, Steven McKoy, and high roller specialist Brock Wilson.

That brings the WPT Tampa series to a close and concludes our coverage. Congratulations to all the trophy winners, and thanks to all the players that made the last two weeks a success.

Here are the results from the final table today:

PlaceFirst NameLast NamePrize Payout
1CoreyWade$471,686
2FredParadis$441,686
3BrockWilson$411,678
4StevenMcKoy$226,000
5SethBerger$170,000
6DavidTuthill$130,000

Championship: Corey Wade Wins ($471,686); Fred Paradis – 2nd Place ($441,686)

$3,500 WPT Tampa Championship (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 34:  300,000/500,000 with a 500,000 ante
Players Remaining: 1 of 1,165

Corey Wade

Fred Paradis raised to 1.6 million on the button, Corey Wade reraised all in, and Paradis called all in. The two players then flipped over their cards.

Wade: Qc9c
Paradis: Ad5d

Board: AcQh10d5sQs

Paradis was eliminated in second place, good for $441,686, and Wade won the hand and the tournament to take home the top prize worth $471,686, the Guitar Trophy, and he added his name to the WPT Champions Cup thanks to the queen on the river.

Stay tuned for a recap of the final day, a winner photo, and interview with the champion.

Fred Paradis

Championship: Brock Wilson – 3rd Place ($411,678)

$3,500 WPT Tampa Championship (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 34:  300,000/500,000 with a 500,000 ante
Players Remaining: 2 of 1,165

Brock Wilson

Brock Wilson limped preflop, Corey Wade raised to 1.7 million from the big blind, and Wilson called before the flop was dealt Jd7c5h. Wade bet 2.2 million, and Wilson check-called before the turn fell Kd.

Wade bet 5.1 million, and Wilson check-raised all in for about 11 million. Wade called to cover so they flipped over their cards.

Wade: KcQc
Wilson: 9h7h

The river delivered the 8c, and Wade won the hand to stack up 37.2 million after collecting the pot. Wilson was eliminated in third place, good for $411,678.

Corey Wade – 37,200,000 (74 bb)
Brock Wilson – Eliminated in Third Place ($411,678)

Championship: Steven McKoy – 4th Place ($226,000)

$3,500 WPT Tampa Championship (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 34:  300,000/500,000 with a 500,000 ante
Players Remaining: 3 of 1,165

Steven McKoy

Corey Wade raised to 1 million on the button, and Steven McKoy reraised all in for 8.7 million from the small blind. Wade called to cover him so they flipped over their cards.

Wade: 7c7s
McKoy: KdQh

Board: Js4d3s10s5h

McKoy was eliminated in fourth place, good for $226,000, and Wade stacked up 22.7 million after collecting the pot.

Corey Wade – 22,700,000 (45 bb)
Steven McKoy – Eliminated in Fourth Place ($226,00)  

Jim Collopy Wins Event 32 to Claim one of the Last Trophies of the Series

2022 WPT Tampa
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Tampa, Florida
Event 32
$5,000 No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Entries:  77
Prize Pool:  $365,750
September 6, 2022

Jim Collopy

Jim Collopy won Event 32 tonight to take home one of the last WPT Trophies of the tournament series here in Tampa. He topped a talented field to take home the top prize worth $87,346.

“Pretty good, this series is a nice series. I’m looking forward to seeing Tampa start to rival Hollywood as a new Florida scene,” said Collopy right after the win.

“I think that some kind of POY or contest, the same way the Cali Swing used to have would be a good idea. I don’t know if the East Coast Swing was as good as the Cali Swing, but I think a Florida Swing would be real nice. Regional leader boards are the key to domestic success,” said Collopy when he was asked about playing at both the Hollywood and Tampa series at Seminole properties these past few weeks.

When he was asked about his journey on the final day of the tournament, Collopy replied, “I got off to a good start with eliminating the player that resulted in the final table, and then I drew a seat to the direct left of the other big stack so I think that my table and seat draw winded up quite well for me.”

“I think all events have their own appeal. I liked mixed-game events, any rotation event is my favorite kind of event. Less about mixed or limits specifically, but what I really like is rotational. I like half hold’em, half Omaha. Any sort of half and half is a fun variation to tournament poker,” said Collopy.

When he was asked how he was going to celebrate, he had a very fitting reply for Florida: “I’m going to Disney World.”

PlaceFirst NameLast NamePrize Payout
1JimCollopy$87,346+ + WPT Trophy
2StephenSong$76,443*
3MichaelRossitto$72,821*
4JustinSaliba$34,620
5PaulBrooks$25,120
6JavierZarco Sanchez$19,080
7AJKelsall$15,190
8JustinZaki$12,710
9JamesCalderaro$11,210
10JenniferShahade$11,210

*: Denotes payouts based upon the three-way chop that ended play.

Championship: Chip Count Update

$3,500 WPT Tampa Championship (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 33:  200,000/400,000 with a 400,000 ante
Players Remaining: 4 of 1,165

Here is a look at the updated chip counts from the previous break in play for the Championship Event.

Seat 1:  Fred Paradis  –  28,200,000  (56 bb)
Seat 2:  Brock Wilson  –  8,100,000  (16 bb)
Seat 3:  Corey Wade  –   13,000,000  (26 bb)
Seat 4:  Steven McKoy  –  8,700,000  (17 bb)

Championship: Seth Berger – 5th Place ($170,000)

$3,500 WPT Tampa Championship (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 33:  200,000/400,000 with a 400,000 ante
Players Remaining: 4 of 1,165

Seth Berger

Corey Wade limped on the button, Seth Berger raised all in for 3.6 million from the small blind, and Wade called to cover him so the two players flipped over their cards.

Berger: QdQc
Wade: Ad8h

Board: 10h6s5s4h8d

Berger was eliminated in fifth place, good for $170,000, and Wade stacked up 18.6 million after the hand.

Corey Wade – 18,600,000 (46 bb)
Seth Berger – Eliminated in Fifth Place ($170,000)

Championship: David Tuthill – 6th Place ($130,000)

$3,500 WPT Tampa Championship (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 33:  200,000/400,000 with a 400,000 ante
Players Remaining: 5 of 1,165

David Tuthill

Brock Wilson raised to 800,000 preflop UTG, and David Tuthill got all in preflop for about 7.4 million from the small blind with KsKd, and Fred Paradis reraised over the top of him holding AcAd on the big blind.

Wilson got out of the way before the board ran out QsJh7h5s8d, and Tuthill was eliminated in sixth place thanks to the ill-timed cooler to take home $130,000. Paradis stacked up over 15 million after collecting the pot.

Fred Paradis – 18,200,000 (46 bb)
David Tuthill – Eliminated in Sixth Place ($130,000)