Stephen Chidwick Is the Latest 2023 Poker Masters $25,000 Buy-In Tournament’s Champion

Stephen Chidwick is a skilled poker player who doesn’t shy away from facing tough opponents on the felt. He signed up for the 2023 Poker Masters’ recent $25,000 Buy-In tournament and advanced to its last day, holding over half of the event’s remaining chips.

The poker pro bagged the title after less than two hours when he knocked out four players at the final table. He received the $400,000 first-place prize and trophy.

It is his 41st poker title, and it increased his lifetime earnings to over $52.4 million after cashing 395 times. Besides, Chidwick is the world’s third-highest poker earner after Justin Bonomo and Bryn Kenny, who have $64,106,800 and $65,284,256, respectively. He was the 2019 and 2022 Card Player of the Year (POY) award winner.

His latest victory earned him 420 POY points, which improved his position on the leaderboard to sixth place and increased his points to 7,370. Yet, he garnered more PokerGO Tour (PGT) points and increased his total to 297 points while his position for the Poker Masters Purple Jacket competition improved to the top five.

ARIA Resort & Casino held the tournament at the PokerGO Studio. Day 1 attracted 50 entrants, who drastically reduced to six. Chidwick was the stack leader with 4.8 times more chips than Sam Soverel, the second player in the chip standings.

The Tournament’s Payouts and Prizes

1. Stephen Chidwick: $400,000; 420 POY points and 240 PGT points
2. Sam Soverel: $262,500; 350 POY points and 158 PGT points
3. Alex Foxen: $175,000; 280 POY points and 105 PGT points
4. Chris Brewer: $125,000; 210 POY points and 75 PGT points
5. Darren Elias: $100,000; 175 POY points and 60 PGT points
6. Chino Rheem: $75,000; 140 POY points and 45 PGT points
7. Isaac Haxton: $62,500; 105 POY points and 38 PGT points
8. Jason Koon: $50,000; 70 POY points and 30 PGT points

Chidwick’s Journey to Victory

Chidwick sent Chino Rheem and Darren Elias packing in sixth and fifth place, respectively, hence increasing his stack lead. Chris Brewer’s K-Q lost to Alex Foxen’s A-J, and he finished fourth with $125,000. It was the former’s 22nd final table finish in 2023.

He has won five titles so far and accrued almost $11.2 million in POY cashes. Statistics show that he is the third contender in the POY race.

Chidwick made two unsuccessful all-in moves in three-handed action. He used pocket aces to face Foxen’s A-K suited.

Foxen’s card lost, and he left the table in third place with $175,000. He amassed 280 POY points and increased his POY earnings to almost $2.7 million. Still, his elimination left Soverel and Chidwick battling it out for the title.

Soverel led by an 8,250,000:6,675,000 chip margin when their match began. QSpade Suit 9Spade Suit 9Diamond Suit 3Spade Suit completed the board as Chidwick used 6Spade Suit 2Spade Suit to get a flush while Soverel sought nines and queens with QClub Suit JHeart Suit.

The latter urgently required a nine or queen on the river to double up the former. Unfortunately, the KSpade Suit landed on the river, earning Chidwick the pot and top prize, while Soverel became the runner-up with $262,500.

Start Playing Online For Real Money!

Join one of our recommended sites and compete for real cash prizes.