With the World Poker Tour’s 20th anniversary coming to a conclusion in December, Chad Eveslage emerged as Season XX player of the year this week.
The Champions Club member from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, topped the points leaderboard to earn the title. In 2022, Eveslage produced four cashes including a win and a third-place finish. He’s already looking ahead to jumping in the action this year.
“I’m honored to add my name to the list of players who have won WPT Player of the Year,” Eveslage said in a news release. “2022 was an amazing run for me and to add the player of the year to my WPT title just made the year even more special. I can’t wait to get back in action and try to defend this title.”
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An impressive year on the WPT
Eveslage was already a tour champion coming into 2022 after taking down the WPT Venetian a year earlier for $910,370. The poker pro secured his second WPT win at the Five Diamond World Poker Classic in October, taking home just over $1 million.
In November, he added the third-place finish at the Seminole Rock ‘N’ Roll Poker Open for $390,000. In total, Eveslage collected almost $1.5 million during the 20th season.
“Chad put on an impressive performance throughout the course of Season XX,” WPT CEO Adam Pliska said of his performance. “His player of the year title is well deserved. It was a momentous 20th anniversary season for WPT, and Chad’s accomplishment will live on as a part of that legacy, as will the effort of all players throughout 2022.”
Rounding out the standings, looking ahead
Eveslage finished with a total of 2,325 points and the Indiana native also collected the tour POY trophy and a WPT Passport worth $15,000. The prize can be used to enter any Season XXI event.
Steve Buckner, who finished the season with two runner-up finishes and just 50 points behind Eveslage, earned a $10,000 Passport.
Josh Kay, who scored a runner-up and fifth-place finish last season, scored a $5,000 Passport.
Season XXI of the WPT begins in late January with a Prime series in Paris, France. The first Main Tour stop, WPT Rolling Thunder at the Thunder Valley Casino in California, is set for April 1-4.
Here’s a look at the WPT’s early schedule including several international stops.
| Event | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Prime Paris | Jan. 31– Feb. 5 | Club Circus Paris, France |
| Prime Gold Coast | March 2-6 | The Star Gold Coast, Australia |
| Prime Cambodia | March 16-20 | Naga World Integrated Resort, Cambodia |
| Prime Amsterdam | March 29 – April 1 | Holland Casino, Netherlands) |
| Rolling Thunder | April 1-4 | Thunder Valley Casino, California |
| Prime India | April 13-17 | Deltin Royale Casino, India |
| Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown | April 28 – May 2 | Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Hollywood, Florida |
| Choctaw | May 5-8 | Choctaw Casino Resort, Durant, Oklahoma |
| Prime Slovakia | May 11-15 | Card Casino Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia |
| Gardens Poker Championship | May 21-25 | The Gardens Casino, Hawaiian Gardens, California) |
| Prime Vietnam | May 25-29 | Crown Poker Club, Vietnam |
| Prime Sanremo | Jun 7-11 | Casinò di Sanremo, Sanremo, Italy |