2021 World Poker Tour Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown 3 $, 500 buy-in main event set the record for largest main event field in History of WPT , with a huge attendance of 2,482 entries.

In the end, only one player could walk away as the champion of this record breaking event. That player is Brek Schutten, 32 years old ICU nurse and father of four from Grand Rapids, Michigan. Schutten earned 1 $, 261,095 as champion.

"You play in a tournament and everyone but one person is disappointed in the end and this time, I'm the person who isn't disappointed," Schutten said. WPT reporters after reaching the top.

As a nurse, Schutten was at the forefront of the lines COVID – 27th pandemic in the last year.

"It's just satisfying in that sense," he said when asked what it was like to secure a big poker win after such a difficult period. “I spent time in the hospital and I saw COVID quite a lot first hand. Then everything starts to open up and come down to Florida and win this amazing feeling. "

In addition to the title and money, Schutten also received 1,620 Card player Player of the Year Points. It was his first POY - qualified result of the year, but that alone was enough to see him climb to 15th in 2021 POY race sponsored by Global Poker.

Previous record for The size of the WPT field was set in 2020 WPT Online Championship, which had 2,130. The largest live WPT the main event field before this event was the 2014 run of this event which resulted in 1,795 entries.

The incredible attendance this year resulted in a prize pool of $7,942,400, with the top six players earning over a quarter of a million dollars. The televised final table was set at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood on April 27. The final six made their way to Las Vegas to face the champion at the PokerGO Las Vegas studio, with Sonny Franco leading in chips and Schutten finishing second.

World Series of Poker bracelet winner Ken Aldridge was the first to hit the barrier. The 69-year-old former teacher from Burlington, North Carolina, fell to the bottom of the list after doubling Albert Calderon. He then made his final five big blinds in K 9 against Schutten's pocket fives. The five on the flop gave Schutten a lead he never relinquished, and Aldridge was eliminated in sixth place ($ 261, 700).

Schutten took the lead soon after and extended his lead by knocking out Calderon in fifth place. Calderon only pushed 12 big blinds with A 9 As first. Schutten moved all-in again with A K. from the button and they both saw K. J. 3 5 5 end. Calderon earned $ 326,750 for his strong showing in this

Sonny Franco entered the final table as the chip leader. In a four-way action, he tried to bluff with air, but Schutten moved all-in, re-raising pocket queens to win a huge pot and extend his lead. As a result, Franco dropped to third place on the leaderboard. He eventually got all-in for just over 11 big blinds with A 9 against Q Q Steven Snyder, who flopped top set and had from there. Franco received $ 438.500 as he finished fourth.

Viet Vo started the day as the smallest stack with just over 10 big blinds. He survived to the final three, but his run came to an end when his 7th 7 couldn't stand 10 8 Schutten. The ten on the flop gave Schutten the advantage, and Vo got no help on the river. 2018 WPT Choctaw scored second with a $ 593, 140 for this latest deep run.

With this, Schutten took 61,800,000 heads-up against Snyder, who was sitting with 37,500,11. The two battled for 61 hands, with Schutten retaining the lead all the way. In the final hand, Schutten raised to 2.5 million on the button with 8 5 . Snyder bet the 1.5 million needed to call from the big blind with A 2 and the flop came 12 5 5 . Snyder called his flush draw and Schutten bet 2 million with his trip fives. Snyder raised to 4.8 million and Schutten called. The turn came 7 . Snyder laid off another 5.2 million. Schutten moved all in and Snyder called his last 21.9 million with his flush draw. Schutten had the advantage and 2 in the end it secured him the pot and the title. Snyder was awarded $ 899, 295 as second place in this record breaking event.

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

Photos: WPT / Joe Giron.

Place	Player	Earnings	POY Points
1	Brek Schutten	$ 1, 261, 095	1620
2	Steven Snyder	$ 899, 295	1350
3	Viet Vo	$ 593, 140	1080
4	Sonny Franco	$ 438, 500	810
5	Albert Calderon	$ 326, 750	675
6	Ken Aldridge	$ 261, 700	540