2-hour delay doesn’t keep David Dongwoo Ko from his biggest WPT win

The young Canadian player captures his first WPT title in the WPT Montreal NLHE Main Event

David Dongwoo Ko is the 2024 World Poker Tour (WPT) Montreal CAD 3,500 No-Limit Hold ’em main event champion after overcoming 882 entrants at the Playground Poker Club in Quebec. It’s the first WPT title for the 23-year-old, who took home the US$319,217 winner’s prize. 

“I really wanted to prove to myself and to the world that I can compete in these higher level tournaments, and today I think I did,” said Ko after the win. “Being a WPT Champion is something that will last forever, you know, so that just by itself means a lot.”

The top 111 players split the $2,071,642 prize pool, and the final four earned at least a six-figure payday. Ko was the chip leader among the final six players. Charles Kassin ($65,326) was the first to the rail in sixth place after his queens fell to Tommy Nguyen’s pocket kings. Tamer Alkamli (5th for $85,878).would leave on the following hand after his pocket queens lost a coin flip to Ko’s A-K.

Rayan Chamas pushed all-in with K-7 vs. Ko’s A-9 a few hands later. Neither hand improved on the runout, sending Chamas home in fourth place with $113,770.

There were several hours of three-handed play before a storm knocked out power, halting the event for over two hours. Once play resumed, four more hours elapsed until the next elimination. Nguyen went all-in with Q-3 suited vs. Ko’s A-10. However, Ko hit a set on the flop, ending Nguyen’s tournament in third place with $150,470. 

On the final hand, both Ko and Dan Stavila had club flush draws after the flop. After all the chips were pushed in, Ko’s queen-high flush would take the pot, sending Stavila to the exit with $205,520 for second place.