Evan Benton and Alen Bakovic Newest Champions Crowned At 2024 World Series of Poker

There has already been more than $81 million in prize money paid out so far at the 2024 World Series of Poker across the 29 completed live bracelet events. Below is a look at the two most recent events that wrapped up at this year’s series.

2024 WSOP $1,500 No-Limit Hold’em Freezeout

Evan Benton was one of 2,317 players to take a seat in the $1,500 buy-in no-limit hold’em freezeout. The Louisiana resident had just $24,000 in prior tournament earnings to his name, with all seven of his previous cashes coming since the start of this year. While he began this event as a tournament newcomer, Benton came away as a WSOP champion.

“I used to play back then when I was like 12 years old, but I didn’t know anything. About a year and a few months ago, I just played with some friends and I was like, ‘man, this is kind of fun,’ and I just ran with it. I’m obsessed with it now. I play every day and study,” Benton told WSOP reporters.

Benton beat out a tough final table that included bracelet winner Nick Maimone (7th), three-time WSOP Circuit ring winner Mukul Pahuja (5th), and World Poker Tour champion Balakrishna Patur (2nd) to earn his first bracelet and the top prize of $412,484.

Benton also scored 1,080 Card Player Player of the Year points for the win. He now sits in 161st place in the 2024 POY standings presented by Global Poker.

Here is a look at the payouts and POY points awarded at the final table:

2024 WSOP $600 Mixed No-Limit Hold’em / Pot-Limit Omaha

The $600 buy-in mixed no-limit hold’em and pot-limit Omaha event attracted a sizable field of 3,351 entries, resulting in a $1,709,010 prize pool. The largest share of that money was ultimately awarded to Canada’s Alen Bakovic, who walked away with $207,064 and his first bracelet.

This was the largest score yet for the WSOP Circuit ring winner, topping the $34,783 he earned as the 127th-place finisher in the 2023 WSOP Online $5,000 main event.

Several notable players were among the 429 finishers that cashed in this event. Among those who made it down to the final handful of tables were 2014 European Poker Tour Prague champion Stephan Graner (43rd), Fernando Brito (41sT0, and bracelet winner Joseph Couden (7th).

Here is a look at the payouts and POY points awarded at the final table:

Visit the Card Player 2024 World Series of Poker page for schedules, news, interviews, and the latest event results. WSOP coverage sponsored by Global Poker.

Photo credits: WSOP / Rachel Kay Winter, Regina Cortina.

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