The PokerGO Studio in Las Vegas buzzed with excitement on Saturday night as 80 celebrities gathered for the Celebrity Poker Tour (CPT) Invitational IV. Competing for a $50,000 prize pool, the event attracted several high-profile names. However, it was Stephen Matt Morrow, better known as Vegas Matt, who ultimately claimed the spotlight. After six hours of intense competition, Vegas Matt emerged as the champion, walking away with the $20,000 top prize.
Final Showdown, Poker vs. Chess
The tournament’s climax saw Vegas Matt facing chess grandmaster Qiyu “Nemo” Zhou in a tense heads-up match. Zhou, a previous CPT titleholder, aimed for her second championship but was outmaneuvered by Vegas Matt’s strategic gameplay. Despite Zhou’s expertise and composure, Vegas Matt’s calm and calculated approach secured his victory, preventing Zhou from adding another win to her record.
The CPT Invitational IV featured a lineup of notable participants, including 8-time NBA All-Star Dwight Howard, Blac Chyna, and social media influencers Steiny and Ethan Klein. Despite their star power, none of these celebrities reached the money rounds. The tournament’s structure included 15-minute levels and a starting stack of 100,000 chips, with players allowed a re-entry during the first six levels. This fast-paced format added layers of strategy and excitement to the event.
Among the competitors was Haliey Welch, who gained viral fame as the “Hawk Tuah Girl.” Before the tournament, Welch humorously confessed her inexperience with poker, admitting, “I’m not very good at poker and I’ve never played poker, so we’re going to see how this goes.” Unfortunately, Welch’s inexperience became evident when she folded a strong hand with two pairs, missing an opportunity to advance further in the tournament. Her misjudgment led to an early exit, leaving her unable to make a significant impact.
Sponsored by Monster Energy, the event was live-streamed across various platforms, drawing a substantial online audience. The CPT Invitational IV followed the recent CPT Game Night III, where Bryce Hall claimed victory earlier in the month, keeping the momentum high for the series.
This latest installment of the Celebrity Poker Tour further solidified its reputation as a must-watch event, combining the thrill of poker with the allure of celebrity competition.
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