Zak VanKeuren Caps Off a Stellar Year With $1.10 Million WPT Prime Championship Victory

Zak VanKeuren (cover image) has had a year for the ages. The American poker pro and holistic performance coach capped off an extraordinary 2024 by clinching the World Poker Tour (WPT) Prime Championship title at Wynn Las Vegas. This victory netted him a life-changing $1,162,350 in prize money, along with a golden ticket to next year’s WPT World Championship.

Outlasting a massive field of 9,670 entries, VanKeuren’s victory was a testament to his skill, strategy, and unwavering commitment to balance. This win obliterates his previous best score by over five times, boosting his total live tournament earnings to over $1.70 Million.

A new @WPTPrime Champion is CROWNED! 👑🏆@ZakVankeuren takes down the $1,100 @WPTPrime Championship @WynnLasVegas @WynnPoker, earning himself the title and $1,162,350 including a seat to the @WPT World Championship!

Congratulations to our newest @WPTPrime Champion! pic.twitter.com/SJnduCUoQq

— WPT Prime (@WPTPrime) December 15, 2024

The $1,100 No-Limit Hold’em event was a monster, drawing a $9,379,900 prize pool, crushing its $5 Million guarantee by nearly $4.40 Million. While it didn’t quite break records, it solidified VanKeuren’s place among poker’s rising stars. This was the third year of this event, and it’s safe to say VanKeuren has etched his name among poker’s elite. Past winners like Calvin Anderson (2023) and Stephen Song (2022) set a high bar, and now VanKeuren has found his place in this elite company!

VanKeuren entered heads-up play with a commanding 3:1 chip lead over fellow pro James Casement. In a mere 19 hands, he sealed the deal. The final hand saw Casement shove all-in with , but VanKeuren’s proved too strong. The board ran out , giving both players a pair of kings, but VanKeuren’s ace kicker got him the win and the coveted trophy. Casement finished as runner-up, pocketing a well-deserved $759,890.

The overwhelming turnout for this $1,100 buy-in event highlighted its growing prestige, attracting poker enthusiasts and professionals from around the globe, even while other major series like the 2024 WSOP Paradise and EPT Prague were running. A staggering 1,206 players cashed, each locking up at least $1,940 for their deep runs.

Indian players made a strong showing at the WPT Prime Championship, with at least six players making it past the money bubble. Notable performances included Young Gun Sanat Mehrotra (581st for $2,920 ~₹2.48 Lakhs), Vasu Amarapu (630th for $2,480 ~₹2.11 Lakhs), WSOP bracelet winner Abhinav Iyer (696th for $2,480 ~₹2.11 Lakhs), Aditya S (713th for $2,480 ~₹2.11 Lakhs), WSOP bracelet winner & 2024 POY frontrunner Tarun Goyal (788th for $2,140 ~₹1.82 Lakhs), and three-time bracelet winner Nipun Java (1,126th for $1,940 ~₹1.65 Lakhs).

“I have dreams sometimes where I’m playing poker in a big tournament or something, and then I wake up,” VanKeuren shared with WPT reporters, his excitement palpable. “I guess I’m just thinking I’m in a lucid dream right now, and I’m just gonna wake up soon. Hopefully, it’s still real life in about an hour.”

But Saturday night’s triumph was no illusion. Dominating the final table, VanKeuren delivered six of the eight eliminations, sealing his victory with composure and style.

Zak VanKeuren’s 2024 has been a whirlwind of success: a WSOP bracelet in a $3,200 buy-in online No-Limit Hold’em event in July for $219,450 July, a near-miss at another bracelet, and now this monumental WPT Prime Championship win. However, the real story lies in his relentless pursuit of improvement and balance.

“I have been studying with the right people the last few years, players who are really, really good – levels above me,” VanKeuren explained. “Learning from them, spending more time with them… Bouncing some hands off them, going through certain courses online. And that’s only the poker technical aspect.”

As a holistic wellness and peak performance coach, VanKeuren credits his mindset and lifestyle for his consistent success.

“Just feeling great – physically, mentally, in a weird metaphysical way, just having good intentions and the highest intention to win,” he said. “It’s funny. The moments where I really don’t care what happens, when I’m just happy either way, things tend to go better.”

VanKeuren’s commitment to balance and self-improvement extends beyond the felt. He prioritizes time management, regular poker study, coaching, fitness, and overall well-being.

“[Mastering] time management, making time each week to study some poker, and then also expanding my coaching business, getting certifications, going to the gym, staying healthy – it’s an everyday challenge,” he added.

VanKeuren’s incredible 2024 is a testament to the power of hard work, timing, and a balanced approach to life. It proves that poker success can coexist with personal fulfilment. As he looks to the future, he plans to reinvest his winnings in both personal and professional endeavours, creating a life where dreams aren’t confined to the poker table.

For now, VanKeuren is savouring his well-deserved victory. “To run deep in an event like this, you try to play good, but so many things outside of your control have to happen,” he reflected. “Letting go, being present, playing well… and then the stars still have to align.”

With celebrations planned alongside friends and supporters, VanKeuren’s gratitude shines through. “To be surrounded by all my friends, so many people who have supported me, encouraged me, and helped me get better in this game… I love you guys, and I’m super blessed to play this game,” he shared.

You can watch the replay of the final table action streamed on WPT`s YouTube channel below.

Final Tabel Chip Counts

1. Kevin Calenzo – 80,800,000 (81 BB)
2. James Casement – 64,600,000 (65 BB)
3. Colin Hong – 51,700,000 (52 BB)
4. Joseph Ozimok – 43,600,000 (44 BB)
5. Zak VanKeuren – 42,600,000 (43 BB)
6. Malik Zaman – 42,500,000 (43 BB)
7. Justin Young – 34,600,000 (35 BB)
8. Ryan Stiner – 13,800,000 (14 BB)
9. Ralph Marquez – 13,000,000 (13 BB)

Final Table Recap

The final table was a swingy ride, with fortunes shifting with every hand. Early on, a seasoned Las Vegas high-stakes player and former WPT champion, Justin Young, found himself in a devastating situation. His ace-king was no match for Kevin Calenzo’s pocket aces, and just like that, Young’s 30-big blind stack vanished. He was out in ninth place, taking home $114,000.

The action was relentless. Ralph Marquez, short-stacked and desperate, pushed all-in with queen-ten only to be called by VanKeuren holding king-jack. The board offered no help, and Marquez was eliminated, adding $145,000 to his bankroll.

Colin Hong followed soon after, falling victim to VanKeuren’s quad eights and collecting $186,000 for his efforts.

VanKeuren was on fire, riding a wave of momentum. Ryan Stiner became his next casualty, his jack-ten no match for VanKeuren’s ace-queen. Stiner exited in sixth place, taking home $240,000.

Then came a pivotal hand. James Casement found himself in a do-or-die situation against Calenzo. Casement’s ace-queen was up against Calenzo’s ace-king, and the tension was palpable. But fate intervened – a queen appeared on the board, giving Casement a crucial double-up and keeping his hopes alive.

VanKeuren continued his relentless pursuit, narrowing the field to the final four. Joe Ozimok was the next to fall, his queen-nine unable to improve against VanKeuren’s king-four. But just when it seemed like VanKeuren was unstoppable, Calenzo struck back, cracking VanKeuren’s kings to double up.

The battle raged on. Malik Zaman, holding jack-ten, was poised for a double-up when the flop brought him jacks and sevens. But VanKeuren, holding seven-five, had flopped trips. All the chips went in on the turn, and VanKeuren’s hand held up, sending Zaman to the rail.

The three-handed play saw VanKeuren steadily increase his chip lead. Casement then delivered a knockout blow, eliminating Kevin Calenzo in third place for $560,000.

Heads-up play began with VanKeuren holding a commanding 3-to-1 chip advantage. James Casement managed to double up once, but VanKeuren’s lead proved insurmountable. Finally, the moment of truth arrived on the 141st hand of the final table. Casement moved all-in with king-jack, and VanKeuren called with ace-king. The board ran out clean, and just like that, it was over. Casement finished as runner-up, earning a respectable $759,850.

Zak VanKeuren, the newly crowned champion, raised his arms in victory. As his boisterous rail cheered through the room, VanKeuren took a moment to acknowledge their unwavering support. It was a fitting end to an incredible journey; a victory made even sweeter by the presence of his friends and fellow players.

Final Table Results (USD)

1. Zak VanKeuren – $1,162,350
2. James Casement – $759,850
3. Kevin Calenzo – $560,000
4. Malik Zaman – $420,000
5. Joe Ozimok – $320,000
6. Ryan Stiner – $240,000
7. Colin Hong – $186,000
8. Ralph Marquez – $145,000
9. Justin Young – $114,000

Content & Images Courtesy: World Poker Tour

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