Art Papazyan Wins 2nd WPT Title and $389,405 at Maryland Live! Main Event

Californian poker pro Art Papazyan landed his 2nd big title in little over a month when he took down the WPT Maryland at Live! Casino Main Event yesterday, adding $389,405 and a second WPT title to his short but impressive and rapidly expanding poker resume.

Just last month the Glendale man sprung his first surprise, overcoming a host of legendary players including JC Tran and Phil Hellmuth who he beat heads-up at the final table - to lift the title and the huge first prize, becoming the 16th player to have his name inscribed on the WPT legends of Poker winner’s trophy.

Yesterday he became only the 8th player to win two WPT titles in the same season, joining an illustrious list which includes Gus Hansen and Howard Lederer  when he topped a field of 561 entries at the Maryland Live! Casino in Hanover.

“I feel like this is not even real,” a shocked and delighted Papazyan told WPT reporters afterwards. “Who would have thought I play my first WPT and I win against Phil Hellmuth? Then I play my second WPT, I come to Maryland across the country, and I win again? I would never have thought in my wildest dreams that this would ever happen. I’m so happy it did.”

To do so he had to defeat Zachary Donovan heads-up, the rest of the field having fallen by the wayside – the likes of Matt Glantz finishing in 11th for a $28,400 payday and one of the few non-US players, Englishman Sam Grafton, making it to the money in 43rd spot.

With a 2:1 chip lead, it would take Papazyan 56 hands to dispose of his rival, eventually decided when he called a now short-stacked Donovan’s shoves, the latter showing down A♥ 4♠ and Papazyan turning over K♠ K♥. When the board ran out 10♣ 10♥ 8♦ 5♦ J♣, Papazyan had secured his 2nd title of the season and taken his lifetime tournament earnings through the $1million barrier.

With his 2nd victory in 5 weeks, Papazyan has taken a commanding lead in the Hublot WPT Player of the Year race his 2400 points now double his closest competitors, Guo Liang Chen and Jay Lee. The young Californian celebrated with a ‘family meal’, now considered part of WPT history and it only remains to be seen if he can add a record-breaking 3rd title of the season.

Season XVI WPT Maryland Main Event Final Table Results