Ryan Tosoc wins WPT Five Diamond Classic on PokerGO

The largest prize of Season XVI of the World Poker Tour was awarded tonight on PokerGO. Ryan Tosoc walked away with $1.95 million and the first place prize, beating out his runner-up finish in the same event from a year ago in the WPT Five Diamond World Poker Classic.

Tosoc won over $1.1 million in December 2016 for finishing second to James Romero and had a plan in mind to better that result this year. The final table was filled with poker talent including rising star Alex Foxen and WPT Champions Club member Mike Del Vecchio.

A record field of 812 entrants registered in the event, topping the previous high of 791 set one year ago. Play took five days to take reach the final table with WPT Champions Club members Darren Elias, Anthony Gregg, and Chino Rheem making the money but coming up shy of reaching another win. Another notable name who neared the promised land is 2014 Big One for One Drop winner Dan Colman.

All six players who made the final table were accomplished players in their own right with all coming from various poker backgrounds.

Once the final table started, former WPT final tablist Richard Kirsch hit the rail in sixth place. His exit was followed by New Jersey online grinder Ajay Chabra.

Starting the final table as chip leader was 21-year-old Sean Perry. The aggressive play and personality of Perry gave him a reputation coming into the final table. Tosoc was undeterred by most of Perry’s antics and made a strong call against him to chip up during four-handed play.

Not all heroes wear capes, but @RyanTosoc might. Last year’s runner-up makes the call to move up the #WPT5D ranks!
Watch the @WPT crown another champion LIVE: https://t.co/aDTeNfkGuS pic.twitter.com/MAANw1kMSH

— PokerGO (@PokerGO) December 11, 2017

Perry was eliminated soon after having his bluff caught by Tosoc and Del Vecchio hit the rail in third only a few hands later.

Heads up play between Foxen and Tosoc was reached only a few hours into play and Foxen took the early lead. Foxen made it to the river with a marginal hand and improved to the nuts and put Tosoc to the test in the opening portion of their battle.

?? I really can’t call – Baby it’s cold outside ??
?? I’ve got to go fold – Baby it’s cold outside ??
A #WPT5D ?? gives @WAFoxen the lead.
Watch @WPT action LIVE: https://t.co/aDTeNfkGuS pic.twitter.com/AyUZ4kCqLD

— PokerGO (@PokerGO) December 11, 2017

Tosoc climbed back into contention and took the chip lead from Foxen. Over two hours into the heads up match with the WPT Champions Cup on the line, Tosoc pulled away from Foxen. The Illinois native finished Foxen off by catching up with the worst hand in a preflop confrontation.

2016: 2nd place for $1.1 million
2017: 1st place for $1.9 million & the #WPT5D title for a record-breaking @WPT win@RyanTosoc does one better than last year!https://t.co/aDTeNfkGuS pic.twitter.com/gOxQQ7u3Jw

— PokerGO (@PokerGO) December 11, 2017

The win puts Tosoc in elite company, joining Antonio Esfandiari and Daniel Negreanu as Five Diamond champions.

Stay tuned to PokerCentral.com for updates on the next PokerGO live stream and WPT event.