Harvey Castro Wins Inaugural WPT Prime Lodge Championship

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Harvey Castro Wins Inaugural WPT Prime Lodge Championship

Harvey Castro captured the inaugural WPT Prime Lodge Championship title after outlasting a competitive final table to earn $225,020 and his first WPT Prime trophy. 

The Texas-based player showcased patience, precision, and composure throughout the final day, navigating several momentum swings to secure the win.

Harvey Castro: His Run in the Final Table

Castro’s path to victory began with the elimination of Hai Pham in ninth place ($21,400), when his turned two pair outpaced Pham’s flopped two pair. Esther Taylor then surged up the counts after flopping a set of threes to crack David Sollee’s pocket queens, sending Sollee out in eighth place ($27,500).

Castro extended his lead when his A♠Q♦ outdrew Martin Torres’ A♥K♣, finding a Q♥ on the flop to eliminate Torres in seventh ($35,000). Shortly after, Rafael Reis shoved all in and ran into a three-way pot against Castro and Steve Hwang. 

All three revealed aces by the river, but Hwang’s A♠K♣ topped Castro’s A♥Q♥ and Reis’ A♦10♦, knocking Reis out in sixth ($45,500).

A few hands later, Taylor opened on the button with Q♠Q♣, and Castro called from the big blind with A♣10♠. Castro’s verbal inquiry about Taylor’s stack sparked minor debate online, though the hand ultimately checked down a king-high board, with Taylor taking a small pot.

Hwang soon eliminated Nicholas Scott in fifth place ($60,000) after flopping top two pair with K♥Q♥. Castro then leveraged his growing stack, open-shoving with A♥7♥ to apply pressure. Hwang called all in with J♥J♣, and Joshua Stewart re-shoved with K♠K♣. A jack on the flop tripled Hwang into the lead, leaving Stewart and Taylor short.

Castro quickly regained control, bluffing Hwang off trip eights in a pivotal hand. Stewart doubled through Hwang with a runner-runner straight before eliminating Taylor in fourth ($79,000). Taylor’s A♠K♥ held against K♣J♥, adding another deep finish to her $3.2 million in career earnings.

With three players left, Castro controlled more than half the chips. He eliminated Hwang in third ($106,000) after turning a Broadway straight against Hwang’s two pair.

Heads-up play began with Castro holding a 2:1 lead over Stewart. Although Stewart briefly narrowed the gap after catching a rivered flush, Castro quickly restored dominance. In the final hand, Stewart moved all in with J♦10♣, and Castro called with 9♠9♦. The board ran out K♠Q♠Q♦Q♥6♥, giving Castro a full house and the championship title.

A Strong Debut for the WPT Prime Lodge Championship

The inaugural WPT Prime Lodge Championship attracted 1,276 entries, a remarkable debut that exceeded expectations. The Lodge Card Club in Texas earned praise for its professional organization, player-friendly structure, and welcoming atmosphere.

Notable names from both live circuits and US online poker sites joined the field, underscoring the event’s growing appeal and the crossover between online and live poker communities. 

The tournament showcased rising talents and seasoned pros alike, highlighting the WPT’s continued success in building opportunities for mid-stakes players.

With Castro’s commanding victory and an impressive turnout, the WPT Prime Lodge Championship has firmly established itself as a must-play stop on the tour calendar, setting a strong foundation for even greater editions ahead.