Josh Reichard Reigns Supreme in WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown, Defeats Landon Tice Heads-up to Win $839,300

The poker world was on the edge of its seat as the long-anticipated World Poker Tour (WPT) Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown final table, paused in April, finally resumed at the HyperX Arena at Luxor in Las Vegas on May 29. Under the dazzling lights of the WPT television production, six finalists returned to battle for the prestigious title and a significant payday.

Wisconsin’s poker sensation, Josh Reichard (cover image), a 15-time WSOP Circuit ring winner and an MSPT Hall of Famer, emerged victorious after an intense nine-hour grind. This monumental win not only earned Reichard a career-best $839,300 but also etched his name onto the esteemed Mike Sexton WPT Champions Cup. With this victory, Reichard secured his seat in the WPT World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas in December and positioned himself as a strong contender for the WPT Player of the Year.

“All of my titles are minor league titles, but this is a major league title,” said Reichard after winning the tournament. “It feels good to finally break through and have one of this magnitude.”

As the newest member of the WPT Champions Club, Reichard navigated a final table filled with high-calibre competitors. The action at HyperX Arena was electric, with each finalist already guaranteed at least $176,000. The chip lead swung dramatically throughout the night, with thrilling all-ins and gut-wrenching bad beats keeping spectators enthralled.

Reichard faced off against the talented Landon Tice in a heads-up duel that secured Tice a commendable $550,000 for his second-place finish. Preceding him to the rail were Aaron Kupin (6th for $176,000), Dylan Smith (5th for $305,000), Alex Queen (4th for $305,000), and Jesse Lonis (3rd for $410,000).

Reichard’s impressive streak began in 2013 with his first WSOPC ring, and he has been a consistent force on the circuit, achieving wins annually until 2019. After a brief hiatus, he returned with a vengeance, winning the 2022 WSOP Circuit Horseshoe Council Bluffs Main Event and the 2023 WSOP Circuit Grand Victoria Casino Main Event. His latest triumph at the WSOP Circuit Grand Victoria $400 No-Limit Hold’em in November last year marked his 15th WSOPC gold ring.

With this breakthrough WPT victory, Reichard has surpassed $4 Million in total live earnings, according to the Hendon Mob, placing him fourth on Wisconsin’s all-time money list.

The $3,500 buy-in tournament attracted 1,869 entrants, creating a substantial prize pool of nearly $6 million ($5,980,800). Cash prizes were awarded to the top 234 finishers, with notable players in the money including WPT champion Dylan Linde (7th for $136,000), who bubbled the TV final table, Season XII WPT Player of the Year Mukul Pahuja (19th for $47,500), 2021 WSOP POY Josh Arieh (44th for $23,100), WPT Ambassador Brad Owen (57th for $16,300), WPT champion and two-time WSOP bracelet winner Chris Moorman (76th for $13,800), and three-time WPT Champion Eric Afriat (93rd for $11,500) who is set to compete on the WPT Choctaw final table at HyperX on May 30.

The final table atmosphere was electric, with Reichard’s passionate supporters creating one of the most enthusiastic crowds in WPT final table history. Their unwavering encouragement undoubtedly fueled his determination throughout the gruelling nine-hour battle.

“It’s unbelievable how many people care and love me and want to see me do well,” the champion remarked, expressing gratitude for the massive support.

Final Table Chip Counts

1. Dylan Smith – 28,400,000
2. Josh Reichard – 20,575,000
3. Landon Tice – 13,700,000
4. Alex Queen – 13,450,000
5. Jesse Lonis – 12,350,000
6. Aaron Kupin – 4,925,000

Final Table Recap

All six finalists were guaranteed $176,000 when they departed from Hard Rock in April. Each player aimed to significantly increase that sum at the final table.

The first casualty of the night was Aaron Kupin, who exited about an hour into play without any additional earnings, finishing sixth for $176,000. The pace of eliminations slowed considerably after Kupin’s departure, with over three hours passing before the next player was sent to the rail.

Dylan Smith was the second to fall, his succumbing to a brutal bad beat by Reichard`s . Smith’s elimination in fifth place for $230,000 was a turning point, propelling Reichard into a dominant position with more than half the chips in play while the game was still four-handed.

Jesse Lonis, who entered the final table with over $8 million in live tournament earnings, found himself on the ropes down to around 10 big blinds. But Lonis, a true poker warrior, wasn’t ready to throw in the towel. In a breathtaking display of resilience, he staged a remarkable comeback, culminating in a pivotal three-way all-in confrontation. Lonis’s held firm against Reichard’s and Alex Queen’s , both with ace-queen. The board ran , and Lonis’s hand held up, eliminating Queen in fourth place for $305,000.

However, Lonis’s resurgence was short-lived. In a dramatic preflop all-in clash, his king-queen ran into the pocket aces of Josh Tice. The board provided no assistance to Lonis, resulting in a significant shift in the dynamics among the remaining three competitors. This hand left Tice in the lead, igniting a passionate “Go Josh Go” chant from Reichard’s supporters in the HyperX Arena.

But Reichard refused to be outdone. He meticulously clawed his way back into contention, eliminating Lonis and setting the stage for a final heads-up showdown against Tice. In the hand in question, Reichard raised to 1.60 Million from the button, and Lonis, in a bold move, went all-in for 11.80 Million from the small blind with . Reichard quickly called with . The board ran , eliminating Lonis third for $410,000 and initiating the heads-up play with Reichard holding a slight lead.

Early in the heads-up play, Reichard methodically chipped away at Tice’s stack, establishing a commanding lead that Tice struggled to counter. The decisive final hand saw Reichard going all-in with on a board showing . Tice, facing a 6-1 chip disadvantage, called with , but the hand did not improve his position, sealing his runner-up finish with a career-best $550,000.

Final Table Results (USD)

1. Josh Reichard – $839,300
2. Landon Tice – $550,000
3. Jesse Lonis – $410,000
4. Alex Queen – $305,000
5. Dylan Smith – $230,000
6. Aaron Kupin – $176,000

Images and Content Courtesy: WPT