Larry Greenberg Wins First-Ever WPT Bellagio Elite Poker Championship for First-Ever WPT Title

Larry Greenberg can now call himself a World Poker Tour champion!

Greenberg topped a field of 126 entries in the first-ever WPT Bellagio Elite Poker Championship to capture his first WPT title and $378,879 in prize money. Included in Greenberg’s prize was a $15,000 seat to the season-ending WPT Tournament of Champions, where he will compete against fellow WPT Champions Club members for the chance to be crowned the true champion of champions.

WPT Bellagio Elite Poker Championship Final Table Results

1st: Larry Greenberg – $378,879*
2nd: Danny Qutami – $223,663
3rd: Jim Collopy – $146,644
4th: Adrian Garduno – $100,832
5th: Ryan Van Sanford – $78,221
6th: Cary Katz – $60,499

*First prize includes a $15,000 seat into the season-ending WPT Tournament of Champions.

Greenberg entered the final table second in chips with five players remaining. WPT Champions Club member Ryan Van Sanford was the first player to bust, and Greenberg was the one to send him packing. Van Sanford four-bet shoved with pocket jacks, but Greenberg was holding two aces and quickly snapped him off. The aces held to send Van Sanford out the door in fifth with a prize of $78,221.

With Van Sanford’s bust, a new WPT champion would be crowned. Next to go was Adrian Garduno in fourth place, and then Jim Collopy fell in third place. Both were eliminated by Greenberg to leave Greenberg and Danny Qutami heads up for the title.

Qutami was severely short, though, and the two quickly found the money in the middle. Greenberg had the and Qutami had the . The flop, turn, and river ran out and Qutami finished in second place.

For Greenberg, the score represented the second largest of his live tournament career and pushed him to more than $1.6 million in career live tournament earnings, according to HendonMob.com.

Photography by Jayne Furman / PokerPhotoArchive.com

Looking to win your way to a World Poker Tour event for your shot at becoming a WPT champion? Play for your chance on ClubWPT.com, where eligible VIP Members can play for over $100,000 in cash and prizes each month, including seats to WPT events, no purchase necessary.