Michael Wang Wins WPT® Playground Championship for CAD $412,300

Kahnawake, QC (October 30, 2024) – Michael Wang soared to his first World Poker Tour^® title by winning the WPT^® Playground Championship for CAD $412,300, which includes a seat to the 2024 WPT World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas. The championship tournament was one of three events that highlighted the WPT Playground festival.

“Right now, it still feels a little surreal. I’m sure it will hit me a little more when I go home or take in in a little more,” said Wang after his victory. “I’ve been coming to WPTs for so many years and haven’t had a final table… so it means the world to me. I can’t believe it happened.”

The WPT Playground Championship, with a buy-in of CAD $3,500, attracted a field of 840 entrants through three starting flights. A sum of CAD $2,688,000 (US $1,934,857), which awarded a cash to the top 105 finishers.

“Thank you to Playground and the wonderful player base that made for another spectacular festival in Montreal,” said WPT CEO Adam Pliska. “Congratulations to Michael for cementing his name in the WPT Champions Club, and good luck to him at Wynn in December.”

Santiago Plante finished as the runner-up, earning CAD $265,000. He was preceded by his fellow final tablists Baron Ma (3rd place – CAD $196,000), Jordan Grant (4th place – CAD $146,000), Zachary Fischer (5th place – CAD $111,000), and Amirpasha Emami (6th place – CAD $84,000).

“We are incredibly grateful and thrilled to see the WPT and Playground collaboration deliver yet another exceptional series this year,” said Ryan Bevens, VP of Gaming Operations at Playground. “This partnership continues to grow stronger, and we eagerly anticipate building on this success together in 2025.”

Other notable players claiming a cash in the WPT Playground Championship were four-time WPT Champion Darren Elias (31st place), Dan Stavila (76th place), who finished as the runner-up in the WPT Montreal Championship back in May, and WPT Global* Ambassador Patrick “Egption” Tardif (101st place).

Two other WPT victors shined during the festival. The WPT 500 Playground event, which produced 1,598 total entries, saw Travis Macmillan score the CAD $100,860 cash prize for first place. WPT Prime Playground ran from Oct. 20-25 and drew another massive field – 1,587 entrants. In the end, Yunkyu Song walked away with the top prize of CAD $227,270. Both Macmillan and Song also earned a WPT World Championship seat on top of their respective payouts.

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

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

*WPT Global is not available to persons physically located in the United States nor is there any intention to induce you or any other person located in the U.S. into engaging in any gambling with WPT Global or violating any local, tribal, state, federal, or national law or regulation. Recognizing that the laws and regulations involving online gambling are different everywhere, you expressly acknowledge and agree that it is your sole responsibility and obligation to ensure that any online gambling activities that you undertake are legal in your relevant jurisdiction.

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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 43 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.