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
Alexander Mazzola
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
*Denotes heads-up deal.
Gary Simpson the Best Bounty Hunter
Gary Simpson
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
*Denotes heads-up deal.
Rex Clinkscales Wins $400 NLH Freezeout
Rex Clinkscales
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
Best Free to Play Slots
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
The Wynn released the schedule for the 2022 Wynn Summer Classic, which is scheduled to take place from May 31-July 20 alongside the 2022 World Series of Poker (WSOP) on the same dates. Click here for more details.
Chad Holloway
Executive Editor U.S.
Executive Editor US, PokerNews Podcast co-host & 2013 WSOP Bracelet Winner.
