Shawn Daniels wins WPT® Rolling Thunder Championship for $218,600

Lincoln, California (Mar. 19, 2025) – The World Poker Tour® (WPT®) made its highly anticipated return to Thunder Valley Casino Resort for the WPT Rolling Thunder Championship, and after three days of tournament play it was Shawn Daniels who was crowned WPT Champion, earning $218,600 for his efforts. In addition to the lion’s share of the prize pool, Daniels also earned a seat to the season ending WPT World Championship, and had his name forever engraved on the coveted Mike Sexton WPT Champions Cup.

“To get my name on the cup is very special,” said Daniels after his victory. “It’s just something that means a lot and that I’ll remember forever.

The WPT Rolling Thunder Championship event drew a field of 404 entrants and generated a prize pool of $1,292,800. The top 51 finishers earned a minimum cash payout of at least $6,400.

“The WPT Rolling Thunder Championship continues to be a highlight on the WPT schedule, attracting many talented players and producing exciting tournament action,” said WPT CEO Adam Pliska. “Congratulations to Shawn Daniels for his impressive victory, and a special thanks to Thunder Valley Casino Resort and to the players for another fantastic event.”

Finishing runner-up was Harvey Castro earning $193,600. The first and second place adjusted payouts are reflective of a prize pool chop arranged by the final two players during heads up play. Eric Afriat finished third taking home $122,000. Rounding out the final table were Paul Richardson (4th place – $91,000), David Ha (5th place – $69,000), and Benjamin Primus (6th place – $53,000).

Several other notable players made deep runs including WPT Season 11 Player of the Year Matt Salsberg (7th place – $40,500), 2023 WPT World Champion Dan Sepiol (11th place – $20,800), WPT Season 5 Player of the Year J.C. Tran (20th place – $11,800), 2019 WPT L.A Poker Classic Champion David “ODB” Baker (46th place – $6,400), WPT Season 8 Player of the Year Faraz Jaka (47th place – $6,400), and ClubWPT Gold and WPT Global Ambassador Xuan Liu (49th place – $6,400)

Up next on the WPT schedule, the Mike Sexton WPT Champions Cup will stop in Hollywood, Florida for the WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Championship. The $3,500 buy-in Championship event kicks off April 4th and runs through April 8th.

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.