From April 6-24, Wynn Poker played host to the Wynn Signature Series, which was comprised of a dozen events offering more than $1.5 million in guaranteed prize pools.
The series ultimately catered to a combined 4,401 entrants and awarded $2,324,655 in prize money. Among those to walk away with titles were Ben Palmer ($600 NLH $250K GTD for $58,262), Andrew Donabedian ($400 PLO Turbo $20K GTD for $9,772), and Tuan Mai ($400 NLH $40K GTD for $14,928), just to name a few.
Here’s a look at a few other big winners and stories from the 2022 Wynn Signature Series.
Alexander Mazzola Wins Main Event
The series concluded with a $1,100 buy-in, $500K GTD NLH tournament from April 21-24. That event attracted 767 entries who created a $747,825 prize pool that was paid out to the top 83 finishers including Jesse Lonis (66th - $2,707), Cole Ferraro (60th - $3,040), Patrick Eskandar (37th - $3,913), Ping Liu ((30th - $4,461), and final table bubble boy Nikhil Gera (10th - $11,833).
The final table was comprised of some familiar faces including Joey Weissman (7th - $19,817), 1997 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event runner-up John Strzemp (4th - $42,650), and Matt Affleck (3rd - $59,748).
The final two players agreed to an even heads-up chip that saw them each take home $110,376 in prize money. Jim Agate officially finished as runner-up while Alexander Mazzola claimed the trophy and title of champion.
Wynn Signature Series $1,100 NLH Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Hometown | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alexander Mazzola | Las Vegas, NV | $110,376* |
| 2 | James Agate | Las Vegas, NV | $110,376* |
| 3 | Matt Affleck | Las Vegas, NV | $59,748 |
| 4 | John Strzemp | Las Vegas, NV | $42,650 |
| 5 | Brandon Fujii | Las Vegas, NV | $31,857 |
| 6 | Raul Garza | Alton, TX | $24,678 |
| 7 | Joey Weissman | Las Vegas, NV | $19,817 |
| 8 | Peiwen Wang | Irvine, CA | $16,452 |
| 9 | Thomas Zanot | Las Vegas, NV | $13,874 |
Gary Simpson the Best Bounty Hunter
Another major event on the schedule was the $600 buy-in, $400K GTD Wynn Mystery Bounty event from April 13-17. That tournament attracted 1,247 entrants over four starting flights, which create a $648,440 prize pool, of which $249,400 was devoted to the mystery bounty pool.
The top 135 finishers got pair a piece of the regular prize pool including Eric Baldwin (52nd - $1,651), Nikhil Gera (27th - $2,382), Mark Seif (21st - $2,716), Eric Rivkin (8th - $7,682), and Anatolii Zyrin (4th - $19,952).
After Lam Dang Nguyen bowed out in third place for $28,172, the final two players worked a deal. Eight-time WSOP Circuit ring winner David Larson ended up taking second place for $48,575 while Gary Simpson of Rancho Santa Margarita, California claim the title and $54,469 in prize money.
Wynn Signature Series $600 Mystery Bounty Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Hometown | Prize (not including any bounties) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gary Simpson | Rancho Santa Margarita, CA | $54,469* |
| 2 | David Larson | Las Vegas, NV | $48,575* |
| 3 | Lam Dang Nguyen | Garden Grove, CA | $28,172 |
| 4 | Anatolii Zyrin | Russia | $19,952 |
| 5 | Sebastian Crema | Canada | $14,756 |
| 6 | Jose De Los Reyes | Las Vegas, NV | $11,512 |
| 7 | Robert March | Las Vegas, NV | $9,250 |
| 8 | Eric Rivkin | Laguna Woods, CA | $7,682 |
| 9 | Changliang Deng | Mountain House, CA | $6,482 |
Rex Clinkscales Wins $400 NLH Freezeout
On April 11, the $400 NLH Freezeout $25K GTD attracted 111 runners and offered up a $38,295 prize pool to the top 13 finishers. Among those to cash but fall short of the final table were Sascha Masloch (10th - $961), Gerald Ford (11th - $961), Adolfo Marquez (12th - $839), and Christopher Flint (13th - $839).
Some familiar names at the final table were Patrick Lacey (6th - $1,815), Mark Liedtke (5th - $2,259), and David “The Maven” Gutfreund (4th - $3,064). In the end, it was former poker pro Rex Clinkscales besting Stephen Decker in heads-up play to win the Wynn trophy and $11,149 top prize.
$400 NLH Freezeout Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Hometown | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rex Clinkscales | Las Vegas, NV | $11,149 |
| 2 | Stephen Decker | Denver, CO | $8,000 |
| 3 | Josephine Garcia Flint | UK | $4,481 |
| 4 | David Gutfreund | Las Vegas, NV | $3,064 |
| 5 | Mark Liedtke | Las Vegas, NV | $2,259 |
| 6 | Patrick Lacey | Marlton, NJ | $1,815 |
| 7 | Tyler Huculak | Las Vegas, NV | $1,524 |
| 8 | Robert McMillan | Prescott, AZ | $1,292 |
| 9 | Sascha Plath | Germany | $1,111 |
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2022 Wynn Signature Series Winners
| *Date | Tournament | Entries | Prize Pool | Winner | Hometown/Country | Prize* | ||||||
| 6-Apr | $400 Seniors NLH $40K GTD | 205 | $70,725 | Robert Goldstein | Las Vegas, NV | $16,256 | ||||||
| 10-Apr | $400 NLH $40K GTD | 146 | $50,370 | Mikal Smith | Chandler, AZ | $15,191 | ||||||
| April 7-10 | $600 NLH $250K GTD | 697 | $362,440 | Ben Palmer | Las Vegas, NV | $58,262 | ||||||
| 9-Apr | $400 PLO Turbo $20K GTD | 67 | $23,115 | Andrew Donabedian | Las Vegas, NV | $9,772 | ||||||
| 11-Apr | $400 NLH Freezeout $25K GTD | 111 | $38,295 | Rex Clinkscales | Las Vegas, NV | $11,149 | ||||||
| 13-Apr | $600 NLH Mystery Bounty $400K GTD | 1,247 | $648,440 | Gary Simpson | Rancho Santa Margarita, CA | $54,469 | ||||||
| 12-Apr | $400 Limit Omaha 8/B $25K GTD | 94 | $32,430 | Hicham Chami | Las Vegas, NV | $10,739 | ||||||
| 12-Apr | $400 NLH $40K GTD | 146 | $50,370 | Jeffrey Allen | Santa Rosa, CA | $12,605 | ||||||
| April 18-21 | $400 NLH $100K GTD | 562 | $193,890 | Vincent Freeman | Memphis, TN | $39,186 | ||||||
| 20-Apr | $400 NLH $3K Survivor $100 Bounty | 171 | $41,895 | 13 Winners | N/A | $3,000 | ||||||
| April 21-24 | $1,100 NLH $500K GTD | 767 | $747,825 | Alexander Mazzola | Las Vegas, NV | $110,376 | ||||||
| 24-Apr | $400 NLH $40K GTD | 188 | $64,860 | Tuan Mai | San Jose, CA | $14,928 |
