Jake Ferro Wins World Poker Tour Season XIX Player of the Year Title

The most recent season of the World Poker Tour, Season XIX, has been one of the most closely fought Player of the Year races in recent years. After a stunning run in the WPT Five Diamond World Poker Tour Classic in December Jake Ferro was crowned the winner, as his points edged him past some of the biggest names in poker for a thrilling victory.

Ferro Delighted to Secure the Series Win

Ferro’s late charge to the title was stunning but shouldn’t take away from his overall consistency that put him in the position to make that sprint for the line. Winning 300 POY points for his 14^th-place finish in the 716-entry WPT Five Diamond Classic event, Ferro’s result may only have been worth $80,245, but the points gave him the WPT Player of the Year title, one that he treasures.

“I’m thrilled to have won WPT Player of the Year for Season XIX and am definitely looking forward to playing more World Poker Tour events in 2022,” Ferro told the World Poker Tour.

Despite winning enough points in his three tournament cashes to take the win, Ferro missed out on claiming a Main Event title and he’s desperate to do so in the coming 20^th season of action on the WPT.

“It would have been a dream come true to have etched my name on the Mike Sexton WPT Champions Cup, but coming so close only makes me hungrier for the coming season.” He said.

Ferro’s prize will give him a great chance of doing so, with the Season XIX Player of the Year award being a WPT Passport worth $15,000 for entries into Season XX events. In addition to this prize, Ferro will be afforded the best preparation for success, with complimentary accommodation and ground transportation at WPT events in the coming year.

World Poker Tour Still the Stellar Tournament Series

The WPT Player of the Year race was as exciting as ever, and being co close, made for many poker fans’ excitement in the final stages.

“The WPT Player of the Year race came down to the wire and Jake’s determination in the final event makes him a fantastic winner,” WPT CEO Adam Pliska said as Ferro broke the tape. “It was an exciting way to close out Season XIX and certainly raises the bar for what will be a historic 20th anniversary season.”

With Ferro’s three cashes worth an outstanding $669,540, his biggest score wasn’t his Five Diamond Classic run to 14^th. Ferro got oh-so-close to having his name etched on that world-famous Mike Sexton Champions Cup, coming second of 1,566 entries in the 2021 WPT Seminole Rock ‘N’ Roll Poker Open for a score of $573,605. That remains the biggest score of his poker career by far, contributing to almost half of his $1.2 million career earnings.

Ferro may not have won a huge amount by finishing 39^th in the WPT Seminole Hard Rock Main Event in Tampa in June, but still earned $15,690 and 50 POY points in an event Brian Altman won. As it happened, Ferro didn’t need that result, winning with 1,550 points from three players who tied on 1,450 points in Rok Gostisa, Chad Eveslage and Altman himself, who was the only other player in the top 10 to cash three times. Incredibly, Christian Rudolph cashed four times, but could only finish eighth on the list with 1,250 POY points.

Who Was the Biggest WPT Winner and What Event is Next?

Incredibly, Taylor Black was the biggest winner in the 19^th season of the World Poker Tour. Black, who won the WPT Five Diamond World Poker Classic title for $1,241,430 only cashed that once on the WPT during the season, meaning he finished in fifth place on the overall leaderboard with 1,400 points.

Elsewhere on the WPT in Season XIX, David Peters was the player with the biggest reputation who made the top 10. His 10^th-placed finish for an overall haul of $660,482 and 1,200 WPT POY points managed to give him the leaderboard place and will inspire the poker great to go even higher in 2022

The 20^th season of the World Poker Tour begins later this month as Jake Ferro gets the chance to go one better than last season and claim the Main Event title that he craves at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. The WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open Main Event takes place between January 21^st – 26^th and costs $3,500 to enter.