The victory included his first major WPT title and over $706,000
Argentina’s Nico Betbese claimed the top prize at the 2025 WPT Venetian Las Vegas Championship, earning $706,960 and capturing his first main tour title on the World Poker Tour. Betbese outlasted a field of 1,153 entries in the $5,000 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em event, held at The Venetian Resort. His win not only marked his largest live tournament cash to date but also secured him a spot in the season-ending WPT World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas and etched his name onto the prestigious Mike Sexton WPT Champions Cup.
Before this breakthrough, Betbese’s highest score was a $121,145 third-place finish in a 2023 event at MGM Grand. With this new title, his total recorded earnings now approach $1.6 million.
Betbese also collected 1,920 Card Player Player of the Year points, pushing his total for the year to 2,051 and moving him into the top 125 of the 2025 rankings. The event’s $4 million guarantee was shattered, with the prize pool exceeding $5.3 million and payouts reaching 145 players.
Nico Betbese Wins the @WPT Venetian $5,000 Championship for $696,560! 🏆
🔗 https://t.co/niehAEFafF pic.twitter.com/KWLr1WjgkS
— Venetian Poker Room (@VenetianPoker) July 18, 2025
The final table began with six players and Elvyn Bello in the lead. Betbese, starting in second chip position, gained early momentum when his ace-king overcame Jamie Flynn’s pocket jacks. That same hand matchup later led to Bello’s fifth-place exit.
The heads-up match between Betbese and Francis Cruz came after Betbese survived short-stack danger and won crucial pots during three-handed play. With Cruz initially holding a chip advantage, the two agreed to a deal before resuming. Betbese took the lead with a flush and never looked back.
On the final hand, Betbese moved all-in with pocket nines against Cruz’s king-queen. The board delivered a set for Betbese, locking up the title and handing Cruz the runner-up prize of $623,540—his biggest career cash.
