The win turns into a $209K payday and his biggest cash to date
Tommy Zhang secured his win at the 2024 Champions Club Winter Poker Open $1,500 Main Event in dramatic fashion after beating Spencer Champlin in a lengthy heads-up battle. With that, he took the trophy and the $209,730 first-place prize, with Champlin securing $164,430 as runner-up.
The UK-born Shanghai resident was working as a private equity broker in nearby Missouri City when he decided to enter. It was a wise choice, as Zhang recorded his biggest career cash and quadrupled his tournament winnings from $70,000 to $280,000.
The Houston tournament drew 1,033 entrants in six starting flights and smashed the $1 million guarantee with a total prize pool of $1,363,560. Charles’ Big Cat’ Sinn (9th for $24,020) and Chris Staats (8th for $31,920) were the first to fall at the final table, just ahead of David “Lefty” Diaz (7th for $40,000). Next to go to the rail was Cedric Trevino (6th for $48,150), who was short-stacked after being bluffed by Zhang in a big pot.
Adam Hendrix was then eliminated in fifth ($59,910) after his pocket sevens ran into the ace-ten of Zhang, who also eliminated Jerry Yen in fourth ($78,750). Zhang, Champlin, and Andrew Esposito were even in chips at one point and agreed to take $25,000 from the first-place prize and add it to third place.
Esposito was eliminated after doubling up vs. Zhang and losing with king-queen against the ace-queen of Champlin to take home $131,540 for third place. Zhang and Champlin then battled for more than three hours before Champlin moved in with pocket deuces, and Zhang called with ace-five offsuit. However, a five on the river gave Zhang a pair for the win and sent Champlin home as runner-up.
