The Aria Resort and Casino provided more alternative interest in Las Vegas Monday when the $565 buy-in WPT500 Party Poker Presents tournament concluded with a win of $330,000 for Las Vegas professional player Craig Varnell.
Varnell has been a busy man at the World Series of Poker at the nearby Rio this series, cashing for relatively small amounts in five events, but securing a $73,079 third placing in the first semi-online WSOP event last week (see previous reports).
The WPT 500 at the Aria turned out to be the biggest WPT event in history, attracting an impressive entry field of 5,113 and generating a prize pool of $2,55 million, with the lion’s share of $330,000 going to Varnell.
Adam Altwies, director of poker operations for the Aria said: “We are very proud of our hardworking staff members who efficiently sat more than 5,000 entries during the 10 starting flights, allowing our guests to late register with deeper stacks and a better opportunity to compete for this massive prize pool.”
When play reached the five-handed stage the remaining players agreed on a five-way chop involving Varnell, Lucio Antunes, Alexander Lakhov, Nick Binger and Chad Roudebush.
In the heads up Varnell, holding a solid chip lead, faced Brazilian player Lucio Antunes and made quick work of eliminating him to claim the main prize. Antunes left with the $223,000 agreed in the earlier chop.
The big win is Varnell’s largest, and brings his career tournament earnings to almost $620,000.
Final Table Payouts included:
3 Alexander Lakhov $150,700
4 Nick Binger $100,000
5 Chad Roudebush $75,000
6 Hunter Cichy $60,000
7 Bretty Mueller $50,000
8 Brent Berger $41,000
9 Milan Harper $33,000