Laplante, Cheong & Costa Among Early 2023 Wynn Million Side Event Winners

The 2023 Wynn Millions kicked off on February 20 and is slated to run through March 19. While the $3,500 buy-in, $3 million GTD Wynn Millions Main Event, which kicks off today, is capturing the big headlines, there have been a series of side events playing over the past couple of weeks.

Ryan Wolfson Wins Big in $1,600 Mystery Bounty Event

From February 23-26, the $1,600 buy-in, $1.5 million GTD Mystery Bounty took place. With 1,270 entrants competing over three starting days, a $2,463,800 prize pool was created. Among those to make relatively deep runs and earn a piece of the regular prize pool were Nipun Java (14th - $12,303), Eric Baldwin (15th - $12,303), Qing Liu (18th - $9,300), Ben Palmer (21st - $8,125), and Adam Hendrix (22nd - $8,125).

A deal was worked at the final table that ultimately saw Ryan Wolfson of Westbury, New York take $130,080 in prize money plus nine bounties for a total of $163,580 in prizes.

Wynn Millions $1,600 Mystery Bounty Final Table Results

As for those who captured big bounties, check out this PokerNews Twitter thread for videos of some of the biggest moments:

Ryan Laplante Finally Captures Long-Awaited Wynn Trophy

In the $600 H.O.R.S.E. tournament, 92 runners generated a $47,380 prize pool awarded to the top 11 finishers. Two players to cash for $1,279 apiece but fall just short of the final table were Svetlana Gromenkova (10th place) and Ke Chen (11th place).

It was the 19th final table appearance in a Wynn tournament by poker pro Ryan Laplante, but amazingly he had never taken home a coveted trophy. That all changed when he closed out the tournament to the tune of $12,401 after a heads-up deal with Tony Phan, who claimed $12,400 in prize money.

Wynn Millions $600 H.O.R.S.E. Final Table Results

Joseph Cheong Nabs Early Title in $600 NLH

From February 21-23, the $600 NLH $200K GTD saw 805 entrants generate a $414,575 prize pool, which was reserved for the top 88 finishers. Among those to cash but fall short of the final table were Tuan Mai (13th - $5,511), Chris McNulty (18th - $3,608), Cole Ferraro (20th - $3,608), Jeremy Pekarek (29th - $2,412), Ben Palmer (35th - $2,412), and Rachel Whetstone (39th - $2,118).

The final table contained several well-known poker players including Elvis Toomas (7th - $10,737), David Jackson (4th - $23,258), and James Van Alstyne (3rd - $32,876). In the end, it was Joseph Cheong defeating Vinny Pahuja in heads-up play to win the tournament for $74,670.

Wynn Millions $600 NLH $200K GTD Final Table Results

Former Aussie Millions Champ Peter Costa Wins $1,100 Seniors Event

From February 27-28, the $1,100 Seniors NLH $100K GTD saw 240 entrants generate a $232,800 prize pool, which was reserved for the top 27 finishers. Among those to cash but fall short of the final table were Michael Ruter (10th - $4,598), Danny Bigelow (14th - $3,562), Cy Williams (19th - $2,863), and Arnie Friedman (25th - $2,363).

At the final table, a three-way deal was struck that ultimately saw Peter Costa win the tournament for $44,179. If that name sounds familiar, it’s probably because you recognize Costa as the winner of the 2003 Aussie Millions Main Event for $221,862.

“Just before the mass shutdowns due to COVID in 2020, I decided that I had unfinished business with poker,” Costa shared on social media. “It was just a matter of when rather than if, regardless of the fact that I was not getting any younger … This year, I was determined that the unfinished business needed to be finished.”

He continued: “Looking back at this event, it really was fun seeing the numbers dwindle down with me and my short stack being mere bystanders for the most part … I was just enjoying the moment for it was - a fun time with really nice people.”

Some of his accomplishments that year included victories in the $300 Limit Hold’em event at the California State Poker Championship for $115,662; Bellagio’s $2,500 Limit Hold’em for $112,000; $5,000 Championship Event at the 2002 Hall of Fame Poker Classic for $101,520; a pair of victories at the 2002 Four Queens Poker Classic for nearly $40,000; and winning the Late Night Poker Series 6 Grand Final for $78,275.

Wynn Millions $1,100 Seniors NLH $100K GTD Final Table Results

2023 Wynn Millions Winners Thus Far