1,229 players created a prize pool of $3,932,800 that beat the $3M guarantee
The 2026 World Poker Tour (WPT) season opened in Florida with the WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood. The $3,500 Championship drew a huge turnout, with 1,229 players creating a prize pool of $3,932,800 that easily beat the original guarantee.
Venezuelan-born pro Giuseppe Iadisernia navigated the large field and tough final table to win the title and $611,700. His victory also earns him a spot in the season-ending WPT World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas. Iadisernia’s name will be added to the Mike Sexton WPT Champions Cup, marking his first World Poker Tour title.
The tournament featured a long grind through multiple starting flights and days of play. Day 1A and 1B combined produced nearly all entries, and only the top 154 finishers made the money. By Day 4, the field had narrowed to just a handful of contenders, with Iadisernia among the chip leaders going into the final table.
At the last table, Iadisernia confronted a strong lineup that included Jorge Gomez and Thomas Boivin. After earning key pots and staying ahead in chips, he entered heads-up play with a clear advantage. Gomez fought back during the duel, but Iadisernia held firm to secure the win.
Other big names cashed in the event, showing the depth of competition at Seminole Hard Rock. Former champions and seasoned pros like Martins Adeniya and Anatoly Nikitin made deep runs before falling short of the title.
Iadisernia’s success at the Lucky Hearts Poker Open puts him early atop many player-of-the-year leaderboards, combining a big score with a strong showing at one of the WPT’s most crowded events.
