Gonsalves wins WPT Gardens Poker Championship

(via Worldpokertour.com)

The WPT Gardens Poker Championship final table was originally scheduled for late March 2020. However, the final table was delayed because of the global pandemic. The wait was going to prove worthwhile for one of the six to make the final final, and it turned out to be just that for Markus Gonsalves, besting the total field size of 257 entries to win his first WPT title.

“I can say I won one,” said a relieved Gonsalves after the victory. “I honestly don’t play that many tournaments compared to these other guys, I play mostly cash games. But I’ll come out for the bigger ones, maybe I’ll start playing a little more.”

In addition to the first-place prize of $554,495, Gonsalves also receives a WPT Champions Trophy, a Championship Belt from The Gardens Casino, a Hublot Big Bang Steel Watch, and a set of Baccarat Crystal. Gonsalves will also have his name engraved on the Mike Sexton WPT Champions Cup alongside every WPT Champion from all 18 seasons of the World Poker Tour.

Gonsalves’ path to the final table back at The Gardens Casino in Hawaiian Gardens, California, in January 2020 was a relatively smooth one. After bagging an above-average stack on Day 1, Gonsalves was the overall chip leader of the remaining 48 players after Day 2. From there, he finished second in chips after both Day 3 and Day 4, bringing in the second largest stack to today’s final table.