Championship Warm Up ($600)

After three days of intense play, German pro Martin Sedlak emerged victorious over this season's WPT Cambodia Championship Warm Up, claiming his first-ever WPT title. Sedlak came out on top of the 527-entry field, taking with him $45,578 in winnings, plus a WPT Prime seat worth $1,100, following a heads-up deal with Kazakhstan’s Ilya Firstov.

"Normally, I don't make heads-up deals. I prefer to play it out," said Sedlak. "But I underestimated how deep the stacks still were and how slow the structure was. After an hour and a half, we still had the same stacks, so we decided to make the deal. But I wanted to try at least."

The final day began with eight players returning back to the scene, all stacking above the 30 big blind mark. While a lot of room for play was expected, the first elimination came just two hands in, as Thomas Eychenne was knocked out after taking a bad beat from Ali Hassan. The next four eliminations were all delivered by Firstov, putting him at a great advantage once the payouts bore more weight. Sedlak on the other hand, found his turning point once the field was down to the final three, having won a crucial flip against Hassan for over sixty big blinds. This sprung Sedlak just ten big blinds behind Firstov onto the final duel.

The two battled back and forth for over an hour, with Sedlak gaining a 3:1 lead at one point. Firstov however, managed to bounce back in the game, leaving both to finally cut an even chop, which guaranteed both $44,000 each in winnings, while leaving the remaining $1,578, the coveted WPT trophy, along with the WPT Prime entry on the table. Another hour of play followed, with Sedlak gradually wearing down his opponent. The final hand eventually saw Firstov go all-in with king-eight for his last sixteen big blinds, only to be called by Sedlak with king-queen. No help came on the board, denying Firstov a career maiden win, and securing Sedlak the final victory.

When asked about his first time playing in WPT, Sedlak replied "So far, it's very nice. I really like the casino. I like Cambodia a lot. It's very nice place."

Championship Warm Up

Date/s: February 7-10, 2025

Buy-in: USD 600

Guarantee: USD 150,000

Entries: 527

Prize pool: USD 274,943

ITM: 66 places

Final Table Results

Ilya Firstov open jammed his remaining 9,750,000 (16 BB) in and was looked up by final opponent Martin Sedlak.

Firstov in rough shape, settled for a runner up finish after board 2♠ J♥ A♦ 5♦ 2♥ failed to save him from his demise.

Another limp pot between Martin Sedlak and Ilya Firstov saw action on board 8♣ 4♣ 2♠ 5♣ 9♣ check all the way down to the river. Firstov led a final 700,000, called by Sedlak to showdown.

Firstov showed flush 3♦ 2♣ and won the pot after Sedlak revealed no clubs K♠ 9♠ .

Martin Sedlak limped in on the button and Ilya Firstov checked his option.

On board Q♠ Q♣ 2♠ 7♥ , Sedlak double barreled - 500,000 and 1,500,000, and left Firstov unable to continue by the turn.

A limp pot between Ilya Firstov and Martin Sedlak dealt a flop of 3♥ 2♥ 9♣ . Both players checked to turn 6♦ , where Sedlak bet 2,000,000 checked to him once more. Firstov didn't hesitate to give up the fight and dropped down below the 10 million mark.

Another limp pot rolled a flop of J♣ 6♥ 4♥ . Action checked to turn 7♣ , where Ilya Firstov led for 1,200,000. Martin Sedlak called behind, and fired an overbet of 3,500,000 on river 4♣ , checked to him. Firstov snap folded, shipping his opponent the lead once more.

Martin Sedlak limped in on the button and Ilya Firstov checked his big blind option.

Action on flop A♠ 7♦ 9♦ was checked round to turn 5♣ , where Firstov check called 600,000 from his opponent. On river 6♥ , Firstov went ahead and led 2,000,000, enough to get Sedlak to lay it down.

Martin Sedlak has been picking up the blinds and antes over the past three deals, and secured another one after a limp pot saw Ilya Firstov check fold right on the flop.

Martin Sedlak limp called Ilya Firstov's all-in for 6,250,000 (15 BB), putting his opponent at risk.

Sedlak dominated, turned the tables as board T♣ 8♠ 5♠ T♠ ran him trip tens, up until the river 9♣ landed Firstov a straight to take it down.

Ilya Firstov limped in on the button and was met with a 900,000 raise from Martin Sedlak on the big blind. Firstov responded with an all-in for 6,250,000 (21 BB) and picked up the pot unchallenged.

Ilya Firstov limped in on the button and Martin Sedlak checked his option. On board A♣ Q♣ Q♦ 9♦ , Firstov double barreled - 300,000 and 1,000,000, with Sedlak check calling both streets. Firstov decided to slow down on river T♣ , checking it back for a showdown.

Sedlak showed two pair K♣ 9♠ , no good against Firstov's trip queens Q♥ 6♣ .

Another limp pot went underway, dealing a flop of 4♦ 4♣ J♦ . Ilya Firstov check called a 300,000 bet from Martin Sedlak and moved on to turn J♥ . Both checked it through to river 6♣ , pushing Firstov to fire 850,000. Sedlak slipped the fold and gave up the pot to his opponent.

Following two small pot wins, Martin Sedlak shipped another after a limp pot against Ilya Firstov rolled a flop of T♦ 2♦ 8♥ . Sedlak check called a 450,000 bet and arrived at showdown after no more bets went in on either turn 8♠ or river 2♣ .

Sedlak showed ace-high A♥ 7♠ and raked in another boost.

Ilya Firstov defended his big blind against Martin Sedlak's 500,000 button open, and check called another 750,000 on flop 5♠ 3♥ T♣ . Both checked turn A♠ through to river T♠ , where Sedlak fired a hefty 3,775,000 bet.

Firstov went deep in the tank and eventually made the call, only to muck as Sedlak revealed backdoor flush 7♠ 6♠ for the win.

Ilya Firstov completed his big blind vs Martin Sedlak's 500,000 button open, and headed to flop K♥ 9♥ 3♣ . Both checked to turn Q♦ , where Firstov led 800,000. Sedlak called behind, and checked back river Q♣ to showdown.

Firstov showed two pair K♣ 9♣ , inching the gap between the final two.

Martin Sedlak defended his big blind against Ilya Firstov's 500,000 button open, and went on to check call another 600,000 on flop 6♠ 9♦ 4♦ . On turn 4♠ , Sedlak led out a bet of 1,800,000, followed by a final 1,500,000 on river T♦ . Firstov called him down both streets, and mucked as Sedlak showed trip fours 4♣ 3♣ .

Martin Sedlak defended his big blind against Ilya Firstov's 500,000 button open, dealing a flop of A♦ 8♦ 9♣ on the felt. Both checked it through to turn 9♠ , where Firstov fired 400,000. Sedlak check called, and arrived at showdown after Firstov checked back river A♥ .

Sedlak showed a boat 9♦ 8♣ , leaving Firstov to muck behind.

Ilya Firstov limped in on the button and Martin Sedlak checked his option.

Action on flop 9♣ 6♠ 5♠ was checked through to turn 9♥ , where Firstov bet 300,000. Sedlak check called, and arrived at showdown shortly after no more bets went in on river A♣ .

Sedlak showed two pair A♦ 4♥ and raked in the pot.

Martin Sedlak defended his big blind against Ilya Firstov's 500,000 button open, yet folded after Firstov continued for 600,000 on flop 9♠ 3♦ 2♣ .

Only two players out of the 527-entry field remain in the running for this WPT season's Championship Warm Up games. Listed up top is $52,383 along with a seat to WPT Prime worth $1,100.

28 minutes is left on the Level 30 clock with blinds down to 20 minutes thereafter.

Chip Counts

Ali Hassan opened on the button and called off for his 2,175,000 (11 BB) stack after Martin Sedlak put him all-in.

Hassan in search of an ace, found none on board Q♣ 7♦ Q♥ 5♠ T♥ , shipping Sedlak the boost into heads up play while he headed for the rails.

Another blind vs blind confrontation saw Martin Sedlak limp call a 650,000 raise from table captain Ilya Firstov.

Sedlak check called 300,000 on flop K♦ K♣ 2♥ , revealing turn 2♣ . Both checked it through to river J♦ , where Firstov went for a final 1,050,000. Sedlak called down with two pair 5♦ 5♠ and shipped the win after Firstov played the board - 8♥ 4♦ .

A blind vs blind battle saw Martin Sedlak limp call a 650,000 raise from Ilya Firstov right behind. On flop T♠ 8♥ 3♠ , Firstov continued for 400,000, and shipped the pot straight away after Sedlak was unable to find a call.

Two deals later, Sedlak defended his big blind against Firstov's 450,000 button, and check called another 300,000 on flop J♦ 8♣ 5♠ . Firstov however, followed with 450,000 on turn K♠ , earning him the pot once more after a quick fold from Sedlak.

Ilya Firstov opened utg, followed by a three bet to 850,000 from Ali Hassan. Martin Sedlak on the big blind, squeezed all-in for 4,425,000 (30 BB) and saw Hassan rise to the challenge.

A crucial flip, Sedlak immediately gained the advantage, having flopped top pair on board Q♣ 3♥ 2♦ 7♠ 8♥ to continue on.

A blind vs blind limp pot between Ali Hassan and Martin Sedlak read a flop of K♥ J♦ 4♣ . Hassan check called 150,000 and proceeded to turn Q♣ . Both checked it through to river 7♣ , where Sedlak went for a final 375,000.

Hassan looked him up with midpair Q♥ 9♦ and was awarded the pot after Sedlak flipped over bluff 8♣ 2♥ .

Martin Sedlak defended his big blind against Ilya Firstov's 325,000 button open, and went on to see flop Q♥ 6♦ 9♠ . Both checked it through to turn 3♠ , where Sedlak led for 600,000. Firstov made the call, and paid another 1,775,000 on river 4♣ , only to muck as Sedlak revealed two pair 6♥ 3♥ .

Martin Sedlak opened 200,000 utg and Ali Hassan called on the big blind.

On flop 8♦ 9♦ T♥ , Hassan check raised to 525,000 after being faced with a small 75,000 continuation bet. Sedlak completed, and called another 350,000 on turn 8♣ . Hassan gunned for a final 675,000 on river J♠ , but folded after Sedlak pulled a raise to 1,800,000.

Robert Kiss opened 150,000 on the button and saw both Ali Hassan and Martin Sedlak on the blinds come along on flop A♠ J♠ 3♠ .

Action checked round to turn 7♥ , where Hassan led 100,000. Martin Sedlak called to see turn 6♥ , but stepped away as Hassan went for another 375,000.

A blind vs blind confrontation saw Ali Hassan limp call a 250,000 raise against Martin Sedlak.

Board A♣ 9♠ 3♠ 4♠ was checked twice to Sedlak, prompting him to fire a 300,000 delayed cbet by the turn. Hassan immediately surrendered, shipping Sedlak the first pot of the day.

The WPT Cambodia Championship Warm Up games is due to crown its champion today with its 527-entry field whittled to the final eight. While initially set to narrow down to six, all remaining players agreed to wrap up yesterday's Day 2 following ten levels of play.

Leading the charge for the lion's share of the $274,943 prize pool is UK's Robert Sherwood with 4,275,000 (57 BB), having claimed a last minute double up right as the day closed. Trailing just six big blinds behind are both Ali Hassan and Ilya Firstov, to round up the top three counts.

A ton of play however, is left on the table with all the remaining contenders stacking above the 30 big blind mark. Still anyone's game, each runner has a fighting chance to claim the $52,383 top prize along with a seat to WPT Prime worth $1,100, all while guaranteed $7,122 in winnings as they return to the felt for the final battle.

Play resumes at 11:30 local time, with 46 minutes left on the clock at Level 26: 50,000 / 75,000 ante 75,000. Stay tuned for updates as SMP brings you all the latest directly off the floor!

Championship Warm Up

Date/s: February 7-10, 2025

Buy-in: USD 600

Guarantee: USD 150,000

Entries: 527

Prize pool: USD 274,943

ITM: 66 places

Final 8 Chip Counts

The WPT Cambodia Championship Warm Up wrapped up Day 2 at NagaWorld in Phnom Penh with the field trimmed from 113 players down to just eight finalists.

Sitting at the top of that lineup is Robert Sherwood with a stack of 4,275,000 (57 bb). Sherwood was chip leader for a large portion of the day then dropped down with 12 players left. He reclaimed the lead on a double up off Thomas Eychenne with A♦ Q♦ over K♠ T♠ just before they called it a day.

Sherwood is closely trailed by Ilya Firstov with 3,850,000 (51 bb) and rounding out the top three is Ali Hassan with 3,800,000 (51 bb). While the leaders have an edge over the rest, it is still anyone's game with the shortest sitting on a healthy 31 bb.

The remaining players are now guaranteed a minimum $7,122 payout while awaiting the champion is a hefty $52,383 along with a seat to WPT Prime worth $1,100.

The Championship Warm Up opened Day 2 with 113 players out of the 527 entries returning to action. Two levels in, the bubble round arrived with 67 players remaining. In a gutsy showdown, Pham Tien Dung's aggression was finally challenged by Ireland's Frank Lillis, calling a preflop shove by risking 30 bigs holding Ace-King. It paid off with a big double. Immediate following the win, Lillis delivered the bubble to the ailing Jingyi Wang with 8♠ 3♠ flush dusting A♥ J♠ . Lillis went on to finish in 47th place while Pham fared better in 34th place.

The players raced down for a spot at the final table. India's decorated Ankit Ahuja seesawed throughout the day and was grounded in 23rd place. Fellow countryman Dhaval Mudgal finished notches higher in 12th place. For Vietnam, Mai Bien also saw his stack swing and emptied out in 16th place. Their final hope was Thanh Ha Duong who just missed the unofficial final table in 10th place. The day ended shortly after the fall of Shane Pearce in 9th place.

Somuchpoker returns tomorrow for the final dash to the title. Stick with us for all of the action.

The aim for Day 2 was to play down to the official WPT final table of six players however with ten hours of play, the game was stopped at the final 8. Action resumes at 11:30 tomorrow, February 10, 2025.

Day 3 blinds resume at Level 26: 50,000-75,000 ante 75,000 with 46:24 remaining in the clock.

Here are the finalists:

Robert Sherwood continues to battle for chips and there to challenge him is Martin Sedlak. The first hand between them sees Sherwood raisin 120,000 from hijack, Sedlak called from cutoff, and they both check it to the turn A♠ 7♠ Q♠ 4♣ .

No more checking for Sherwood with a bet of 125,000 sent out front. Sedlak calls to take it to the river 5♠ . Again Sherwood pressures with a bet of 350,000, Sedlak tanks then decides to give up his stake on the pot.

On the next meeting, Sedlak opens from under the gun and Sherwood defends the big blind . Both again check it to the turn J♣ J♠ 2♣ 7♥ . Sherwood jumps out for 150,000 and Sedlak calls to go to the river 2♥ . Sherwood continues the barrage for 500,000, like previous, Sedlak tank but this time he calls. Sherwood flips open 9♠ 9♦ , Sedlak has him beat with A♣ A♦ .

From utg+1 Martin Sedlak min-raises 24,000 then calls button player Frank Reichel's 32,000 all in. Reichel has A♠ 7♣ up against Sedlak's 6♣ 5♣ . With the board running Q♣ J♠ 2♠ A♥ 5♦ , Reichel doubles up.