The 2021 World Poker Tour Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown was a record-breaking event. The $3,500 buy-in no-limit Hold’em event had a field of 2,482 players, which is a new record.
Brek Schutten was the winner of this massive event. He is a 32-year old ICU nurse that was on the front line, fighting COVID-19. So, winning this event can be seen as a “reward “ for all the hard work he’s put in.
The father of four from Grand Rapids, Michigan, earned a payout of $1,261,095.
While it might not be one of the biggest gambling wins, it’s a massive amount of money. Moreover, all final table players earned at least a quarter-million dollars. Here’s how much each made:
- Brek Schutten: $1,261, 095 —1,620 POY points
- Steven Snyder: $899,295 — 1,350 points
- Viet Vo: $593,140 — 1,080 points
- Sonny Franco: $438,500 — 810 points
- Albert Calderon: $326,750 — 675 points
- Ken Aldridge: $261,700 — 540 points
In addition to the money prize, Schutten will receive a WPT Champions Trophy, a Hublot Big Bang Steel Watch, and a set of Baccarat Crystal. The win moves him to 15th place in the 2021 POY race.
The event itself was record-breaking. The 2,482 entrants are the most for a WPT event. The previous record was the 2020 WPT Online Championship, with 2,130 entries. The largest live event prior was in 2014, and it attracted 1,795 entries.
The high entry numbers resulted in a prize pool of $7,942,400.
This win will surely help Brek Schutten establish himself as a top player. It might take him some time to reach Edward Thorpe, considered by many the most successful gambler in the world, but he is definitely on the right track.
