Yunkyu Song has been crowned the World Poker Tour (WPT) Season 22 Player of the Year. This prestigious achievement cements his place among poker’s elite after an intense year of high-stakes action and strategy.
A New Champion Emerges
The Player of the Year (POY) race is often tight, and this season was no exception. For Yunkyu Song, it was a year of consistency rather than dominance. He didn’t secure a Main Tour title but still managed to outpace the competition with strong performances across key events. Notably, Song won the WPT Prime Playground Championship, netting $164,251, and came second in the WPT bestbet Scramble Championship in Jacksonville, taking home $252,059.
While previous POY winner Bin Weng had set the bar high with victories like the WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown in 2023, he couldn’t replicate the same form in 2024. This opened the field to new contenders, with Song ultimately standing tall.
High Stakes Drama: The Final Stretch
It’s rare for the WPT Player of the Year race to be nearly sealed before the final month, but Song entered December in a commanding position. The $10,400 WPT World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas was the final battleground, and all eyes were on Song, Dylan Smith, Eric Afriat, and Landon Tice.
For Song, the task was simple: cash in the championship or rely on his rivals falling short of deep runs. Although he failed to make it past the initial stages of the tournament, his closest challenger, Dylan Smith, faced heartbreak on Day 4. Smith’s 127th place finish earned him points but not enough to surpass Song’s lead.
Final POY Standings and Performances
Here’s how the top 10 players of the WPT Season 22 POY race fared:
| Place | Player | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yunkyu Song | 2,275 |
| 2 | Dylan Smith | 2,150 |
| 3 | Eric Afriat | 1,750 |
| 4 | Landon Tice | 1,700 |
| 5 | Zak VanKeuren | 1,550 |
| 6 | Dan Stavila | 1,525 |
| 7 | Josh Reichard | 1,425 |
| 8 | Travis Endersby | 1,400 |
| 9 | Michael Wang | 1,325 |
| 10 | Jim Casement | 1,200 |
Dylan Smith, who enjoyed a stellar season with a victory at the WPT Seminole Rock ‘N Roll Poker Open ($662,200) and a fifth-place finish at the Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown ($230,000), ultimately ended with 2,150 points. Despite surpassing the $1 million mark in live tournament earnings for the second consecutive year, it wasn’t enough to catch Song.
Key Moments That Defined Song’s Victory
Song’s rise to the top was marked by a series of notable performances. His victory at the WPT Prime Playground Championship and runner-up finish in Jacksonville were standout moments. The Jacksonville event, in particular, added an extra layer of drama, with Song narrowly losing to the champion yet securing vital POY points.
Eric Afriat, a seasoned poker pro, also had an opportunity to disrupt the standings. At the Jacksonville final table, he held a commanding chip lead but couldn’t maintain it, eventually finishing fourth. A win there could have reshaped the entire POY race.
Joining an Exclusive Club
By winning the POY award, Yunkyu Song joins a prestigious group of players that includes poker legends like Daniel Negreanu, Jonathan Little, Anthony Zinno, and Brian Altman. These individuals represent the pinnacle of poker skill and strategy, and Song’s inclusion in this club speaks volumes about his abilities.
Notably, no player has ever won the WPT POY award more than once, underscoring the level of competition and unpredictability in the poker world.
Looking Ahead
As the WPT Season 22 comes to a close, all eyes now turn to the upcoming season. Will Yunkyu Song build on this success and establish himself as one of the game’s enduring stars? Or will a new player rise to challenge the status quo? The cards, as always, will tell the story.
