Alexander Yen Picks the Right Time to Win His First Tournament, Earning $975,240 and a WPT Title

2022 Seminole Hard Rock Lucky Hearts Poker Open
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Hollywood, Florida
$3,500 WPT LHPO Championship
$2,000,000 Guaranteed
Entries:  1,982
Prize Pool:  $6,342,400
January 20-26, 2022

Alex Yen
WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open Champion Alexander Yen

On Wednesday evening, Alexander Yen outlasted the second largest field in World Poker Tour history to earn his own place in history as the 2022 WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open champion, winning $975,240 and getting his name engraved on the one-and-only Mike Sexton WPT Champions Cup.

“It feels absolutely incredible,” said Yen. “I’ve never won a live tournament before. I don’t even think I’ve won online, so this is a pretty unreal feeling.”

There were 1,982 entries in this event, more than tripling the $2 million guarantee to create a prizepool worth more than $6.3 million.

The final table began with the final six players, and they played for nearly an hour before the first elimination. Omar Lakhdari moved all in with KsQs, but couldn’t outrace the 9d9c of Daniel Lazrus, who flopped a set of nines. Lakhdari was out in sixth place, earning $208,025.

The next elimination was a surprise, as Josh Kay came into the final table with the second largest chip stack (91 big blinds!), but about 90 minutes into the final table, Kay hit a horrible streak where nothing seemed to go right. Kay lost an all-in-preflop race against Nicholas Verderamo, followed almost immediately by losing a preflop race against Anton Wigg. Eventually, Kay got it all in with AcJc, but it failed to hold up against Wigg’s KdQh with two queens on the flop, and Kay was out in fifth place, earning $272,830.

Verderamo began the final table as the short stack, but he moved up two spots in the payouts before he shoved Ad8s into Yen’s QsQd. The queens held up to eliminate Verderamo in fourth place, where he earned $361,130.

At that point, Daniel Lazrus was the clear short stack, struggling to tread water at the bottom of the leaderboard. Lazrus scored some small double-ups, but never seemed to get above 20 big blinds. Eventually, Lazrus got it all in with 6s6c against Yen’s KdJs, but a jack on the flop ended his tournament in third place, where Lazrus earned $482,380.

Yen began heads-up play with 2.6x as many chips as Wigg, though they were both quite deep, and Wigg could be patient with 54 big blinds in his stack. Wigg also had experience on his side, with nearly $3.3 million in career earnings, most of it coming in no-limit hold’em.

“He’s an incredible player,” said Yen about Wigg. “I don’t play very much hold’em. Most of my experience right now is Omaha cash, so he definitely had the skill advantage.”

Wigg nearly evened things up when Yen bluffed all in after a flop of 10s8h6d with KcQh, but Wigg called him with Ad10c — top pair, top kicker — and it held up. Yen still had the lead, but not by much.

Wigg did take the heads-up chip lead at one point, but he held it for less than 10 minutes before Yen took it back.

Then they built up a sizable pot on a board of QhJd4s2c10d, and Wigg made a big bet on the river. Yen called with Jc8c for second pair, and it was good — Wigg had been bluffing with 7h2s.

That pot gave Yen a 2-to-1 chip lead again, and the tournament would end about 10 minutes later when, in Yen’s own words, “I hit the dream flop and won.”

Yen limped, Wigg raised with QdQc, and Yen called. The flop of 10d8c6c looked safe for Wigg’s queens, but little did he know that Yen had 9c7c, and flopped a straight with a straight-flush draw.

Wigg shoved the 6d turn, not knowing he had only four outs to stay alive. Yen snap-called, and the 4d on the river gave Yen the Championship.

Wigg earned $650,180 for second place, while Yen’s first prize of $975,240 more than tripled all of his career earnings before this.

So what does Yen plan to do with this windfall?

“I really don’t know yet,” said Yen. “Maybe a little real estate, a little investing, and a little fun.”

Alex Yen
WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open Champion Alexander Yen with Seminole Hard Rock Poker Staff

Final Table Results:

1st:  Alex Yen  –  $975,240
2nd:  Anton Wigg  –  $650,180
3rd:  Daniel Lazrus  –  $482,380
4th:  Nicholas Verderamo  –  $361,130
5th:  Josh Kay  –  $272,830
6th:  Omar Lakhdari  –  $208,025

Championship: Alex Yen Wins! ($975,240) Anton Wigg Finishes as Runner-Up ($650,180)

$3,500 WPT LHPO Championship
$2,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 34:  300,000/500,000 with a 500,000 ante

Alex Yen
WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open Champion Alex Yen

Alex Yen limped for 500,000 with 9c7c, Anton Wigg raised to 2,000,000 with QdQc, and Yen called.

The flop came 10d8c6c, Wigg bet 4,500,000, and Yen thought for a while before he called.

The turn card paired the board with the 6d, Wigg moved all in with his pocket queens, and Yen snap-called with his flopped straight.

Wigg needed a queen or a six on the river to stay alive.

The river card was the 4d, and Yen won the pot — and the WPT title — with a ten-high straight.

Anton Wigg finished as the runner-up, earning $650,180.

Alex Yen won the 2022 WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open Championship, earning $975,240, a Lucky Hearts Poker Open Trophy, and a WPT Champions Cup. Yen’s name will also be engraved on the one-and-only WPT Champions Cup, along with all of the other WPT Champions in the tour’s history.

Congratulations to Alex Yen!

1st:  Alex Yen  –  $975,240
2nd:  Anton Wigg  –  $650,180
3rd:  Daniel Lazrus  –  $482,380
4th:  Nicholas Verderamo  –  $361,130
5th:  Josh Kay  –  $272,830
6th:  Omar Lakhdari  –  $208,025

Anton Wigg
Runner-Up Anton Wigg

Championship: Alex Yen Takes a 2-to-1 Lead Over Anton Wigg

$3,500 WPT LHPO Championship
$2,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 34:  300,000/500,000 with a 500,000 ante
Players Remaining:  2 of 1,982

Alex Yen
Alex Yen

Anton Wigg limped for 500,000 with 7h2s, and Alex Yen checked his option with Jc8c.

The flop came QhJd4s, Yen checked, Wigg bet 500,000, and Yen called.

The turn card was the 2c, Yen checked, Wigg bet 2,800,000, and Yen called.

The river card was the 10d, Yen checked, Wigg bet 6,400,000, and Yen called with his pair of jacks to win the pot and increase his lead to more than 2-to-1.

Alex Yen  –  54,400,000  (109 bb)
Anton Wigg  –  24,900,000  (50 bb)

1st:  $975,240
2nd:  $650,180

3rd:  Daniel Lazrus  –  $482,380
4th:  Nicholas Verderamo  –  $361,130
5th:  Josh Kay  –  $272,830
6th:  Omar Lakhdari  –  $208,025

Championship: Alex Yen Retakes a Solid Lead with Two in a Row

$3,500 WPT LHPO Championship
$2,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 33:  200,000/400,000 with a 400,000 ante
Players Remaining:  2 of 1,982

Alex Yen
Alex Yen

Alex Yen raised to 1,000,000 with KhKd, Anton Wigg reraised to 4,000,000 with 8c7c, and Yen check-raised to 9,500,000. Wigg quickly folded, and Yen took the pot.

Alex Yen  –  42,300,000  (106 bb)
Anton Wigg  –  37,000,000  (93 bb)

The next hand, Wigg raised to 1,000,000 with KcJd, and Yen called with 10c9h.

The flop came 10s10d4h, Yen checked, Wigg bet 500,000, and Yen check-raised to 1,300,000. Wigg called.

The turn card was the 2h, Yen bet 2,500,000, and Wigg quickly folded.

Alex Yen  –  45,000,000  (113 bb)
Anton Wigg  –  34,300,000  (86 bb)

1st:  $975,240
2nd:  $650,180

3rd:  Daniel Lazrus  –  $482,380
4th:  Nicholas Verderamo  –  $361,130
5th:  Josh Kay  –  $272,830
6th:  Omar Lakhdari  –  $208,025

Championship: Anton Wigg Takes the Lead Over Alex Yen

$3,500 WPT LHPO Championship
$2,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 33:  200,000/400,000 with a 400,000 ante
Players Remaining:  2 of 1,982

Anton Wigg
Anton Wigg

Alex Yen raised to 1,000,000 with Qs7s, and Anton Wigg called with KcQh.

Both players checked to the turn on a board of Js8c4d10s, Wigg bet 1,600,000, and Yen called.

The river card was the Kd, Wigg checked, Yen bet 3,000,000, and Wigg quickly called with his pair of kings to win the pot — and take the chip lead.

Anton Wigg  –  42,400,000  (106 bb)
Alex Yen  –  37,000,000  (93 bb)

1st:  $975,240
2nd:  $650,180

3rd:  Daniel Lazrus  –  $482,380
4th:  Nicholas Verderamo  –  $361,130
5th:  Josh Kay  –  $272,830
6th:  Omar Lakhdari  –  $208,025

Championship: Anton Wigg Doubles Thru Alex Yen

$3,500 WPT LHPO Championship
$2,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 33:  200,000/400,000 with a 400,000 ante
Players Remaining:  2 of 1,982

Anton Wigg
Anton Wigg

Anton Wigg raised to 1,000,000 with Ad10c, Alex Yen reraised to 4,000,000 with KcQh, and Wigg thought for a while before he called.

The flop came 10s8h6d, Yen moved all in for 57.2 million, and Wigg called all in for 13.7 million with top pair, top kicker. Wigg needed his hand to hold to stay alive.

The turn card was the Jh, giving Yen additional outs with a gutshot straight draw, and the river card was the 5s. Wigg won the pot with his pair of tens to double up in chips.

Anton Wigg  –  36,000,000  (90 bb)
Alex Yen  –  44,000,000  (110 bb)

1st:  $975,240
2nd:  $650,180

3rd:  Daniel Lazrus  –  $482,380
4th:  Nicholas Verderamo  –  $361,130
5th:  Josh Kay  –  $272,830
6th:  Omar Lakhdari  –  $208,025

Championship: Daniel Lazrus – 3rd Place ($482,380)

$3,500 WPT LHPO Championship
$2,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 33:  200,000/400,000 with a 400,000 ante
Players Remaining:  2 of 1,982

Daniel Lazrus
Daniel Lazrus

Daniel Lazrus moved all in from the small blind for about 6.4 million with 6s6c, and Alex Yen called from the big blind with KdJs. Lazrus needed his hand to hold to stay alive.

The board came Jd7h5c5s9c, and Yen paired his jack on the flop to win the pot and eliminate Lazrus in third place.

Daniel Lazrus  –  Eliminated in 3rd Place  ($482,380)

Here are the updated chip counts for the start of heads-up play. Remember, in heads-up play the button has the small blind and acts first before the flop.

Alex Yen  –  57,625,000  (144 bb)
Anton Wigg  –  21,650,000  (54 bb)

1st:  $975,240
2nd:  $650,180

3rd:  Daniel Lazrus  –  $482,380
4th:  Nicholas Verderamo  –  $361,130
5th:  Josh Kay  –  $272,830
6th:  Omar Lakhdari  –  $208,025

Championship: Daniel Lazrus Doubles Thru Alex Yen

$3,500 WPT LHPO Championship
$2,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 33:  200,000/400,000 with a 400,000 ante
Players Remaining:  3 of 1,982

Daniel Lazrus
Daniel Lazrus

Daniel Lazrus moved all in from the small blind for about 3.5 million with Jh10c, and Alex Yen called from the big blind with Ac9c. Lazrus needed to improve to stay alive.

The board came QhJd2c8h3d, and Lazrus paired his jack on the flop to win the pot and double up in chips.

Daniel Lazrus  –  7,550,000  (19 bb)
Alex Yen  –  49,000,000  (123 bb)

With three players remaining from a field of 1,982, the average chip stack is about 26.4 million (66 big blinds), and the next player to be eliminated will earn $482,380.

Championship: All In and a Chop; Updated Chip Counts at the Break

$3,500 WPT LHPO Championship
$2,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 32:  150,000/300,000 with a 300,000 ante
Players Remaining:  3 of 1,982

Alex Yen raised from the button to 600,000 with Kd10h, Daniel Lazrus moved all in from the big blind for about 4.3 million with QcJc, and Yen called.

Lazrus needed to improve to stay alive.

The board came AsJs4s7s2s, and since neither player had a spade, it was a chopped pot.

There was one more hand played, and then they took a 15-minute break. These were their updated chip counts with the blinds increasing to 200,000-400,000:

Seat 1.  Anton Wigg  –  23,250,000  (58 bb)
Seat 4.  Daniel Lazrus  –  4,375,000  (11 bb)
Seat 5.  Alex Yen  –  51,650,000  (129 bb)

1st:  $975,240
2nd:  $650,180
3rd:  $482,380

4th:  Nicholas Verderamo  –  $361,130
5th:  Josh Kay  –  $272,830
6th:  Omar Lakhdari  –  $208,025

Championship: Alex Yen Wins a Big Pot Against Anton Wigg

$3,500 WPT LHPO Championship
$2,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 32:  150,000/300,000 with a 300,000 ante
Players Remaining:  3 of 1,982

Alex Yen
Alex Yen

Anton Wigg raised from the button to 600,000 with Ac10h, and Alex Yen called from the big blind with Ah4d.

The flop came Kc4c4h, Yen checked, Wigg bet 350,000, and Yen called.

The turn card was the Ad, Yen checked, Wigg bet 1,200,000, and Yen called.

The river card was the 3h, Yen checked, Wigg bet 2,100,000, and Yen thought for a while before he check-raised to 5,500,000. Wigg used two of his Time Chips to tank for more than a minute before he called with his two pair, aces and fours.

But Yen turned over his full house, fours full of aces, to win the pot and increase his chip lead to more than twice as much as either of his opponents.

Alex Yen  –  51,425,000  (171 bb)
Anton Wigg  –  24,000,000  (80 bb)

With three players remaining from a field of 1,982, the average chip stack is about 26.4 million (88 big blinds), and the next player to be eliminated will earn $482,380.