Artem Vezhenkov wins WPT® Cambodia Championship for $390,650

Phnom Penh, Cambodia (Feb. 24, 2025) – Season 23 of the World Poker Tour® (WPT®) is officially underway, and Artem Vezhenkov is the first player to add his name to the coveted Mike Sexton WPT Champions Cup in 2025 as the victor of the second edition of the WPT Cambodia Championship. Vezhenkov earned his first WPT title and took home a first place prize of $390,650.

“I am very happy,” said Vezhenkov after his victory. “I was surprised because it was the best tournament of my whole life. The best main event, the best structure, it’s perfect.”

The championship event drew a field of 750 entrants generating a prizepool of $2,400,750. The top 94 finishers earned a payout of at least $6,400.

“Thank you to all the players that came out to the beautiful NagaWorld Integrated Resort. The WPT Cambodia festival was the perfect start to the 23rd season of the World Poker Tour,” said WPT CEO Adam Pliska. “Congratulations to Artem Vezhenkov for adding his name to the Mike Sexton WPT Champions Cup and to Alexander Puchalski for his WPT Prime victory.”

Ronald Haverkamp finished in second place for a prize of $255,000 and Ankit Ahuja placed third for $189,000. Rounding out the rest of the final table was Supakit Anukoolpitaknil (4th place – $142,000), Dominik Nitsche (5th place – $107,000) and Daniel Charlton (6th place – $82,000).

Other notable players to cash the WPT Cambodia Championship include WPT Prime Paris Champion Hughes Girard (14th place), WPT Anchor Lynn Gilmartin (31st place), WPT Korea Champion Masato Yokosawa (66th place), and 2024 WPT Cambodia Champion Konstantin Held (87th place).

Another highlight of the festival, WPT Prime Cambodia, ran from Feb. 13-17 and drew a massive field of 1,484 entrants. Alexander Puchalski emerged victorious earning $233,680, his largest score to date, and a WPT Prime trophy. Puchalski’s first place prize also includes a $10,400 seat to the WPT World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas.

Next up for Season 23 of the World Poker Tour is WPT Prime Cyprus, which begins March 6. The highlight of the festival schedule is the $1,100 buy-in WPT Prime Cyprus Championship which kicks off March 13 and concludes with the crowning of a new WPT Prime Champion March 17.

All photos from WPT Cambodia can be accessed via our Flickr Page.

For more information regarding this and all World Poker Tour events, visit WPT.com

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About the World Poker Tour®

World Poker Tour® (WPT®) is the premier name in internationally televised gaming and entertainment with brand presence in land-based tournaments, television, online, and mobile. WPT has hosted live poker tournaments in 48 countries, drawn more than 400,000 total entries, and awarded more than $1.5 billion in prize money. Leading innovation in the sport of poker since 2002, WPT ignited the global poker boom with the creation of a unique television show, which has broadcast globally in more than 150 countries and territories and is currently producing its 22nd season. Season XXII of WPT is sponsored by ClubWPT.com. ClubWPT.com is a unique online membership site that offers inside access to the WPT, as well as a sweepstakes-based poker club available in 47 states and territories across the United States, Australia, Canada, France, and the United Kingdom. WPT also participates in strategic brand license, partnership, and sponsorship opportunities. In 2012, the WPT Foundation was launched, which has gone on to raise $45 million over 10 years and 50 events. For more information, go to WPT.com.