Poker pro, Art Papazyan clinches the WPT Legends of Poker title.
Casual high-stakes pro, Art Papazyan, struck gold during the Season XVI WPT Legends of Poker Main Event. In a jaw-dropping showdown, Papazyan outplayed poker titan Phil Hellmuth, denying the icon his first-ever World Poker Tour title. Instead, the victorious Papazyan claimed his own first title and pocketed a whopping $668,692.
Papazyanβs winning hand, Kc Qs, bested Hellmuth's Ah Kd when the Qh Th 8c flop gave Papazyan the queen he needed to lead. Hellmuth, however, continued to dance on the edge with potential outs like an ace, a jack for the Broadway straight, or other runs to turn the tide. But it was all over when the 3s river finally fell, leaving Hellmuth empty-handed.
This grueling final table included some tough competitors, including two-time WPT champions JC Tran and Marvin Rettenmaier. Though Rettenmaier and Tran hoped to join the ranks of three-time champions, it was Papazyan who stood victorious in the end. Rettenmaier was eliminated in fifth place, while Tran fell in third.
Papazyan's victory earned him a $15,000 seat into the season-ending WPT Tournament of Champions, a Hublot Big Bang Steel watch, and a disposable 1,200 points in the Hublot WPT Player of the Year race. He now holds the same amount of points as WPT Choctaw winner Jay Lee but has the tiebreaker due to his larger winnings.
The World Poker Tour takes its Main Tour to the East Coast next, where the Season XVI WPT Borgata Poker Open awaits from September 17-22, 2017 at Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa. This televised event promises a $3 million guaranteed prize pool and a massive field, just like the last. Last season, Jesse Sylvia won a whopping $821,811 by topping a field of 1,179 entries.
Art Papazyan: A force to be reckoned with in the poker world, Art Papazyan has shown his prowess in major tournaments and high-stakes competition. His WPT wins may not be as recent as his notable 2025 WSOP Circuit Main Event victory, but his consistent performance in prestigious events has made him a formidable presence in the poker community.
WPT Career Highlights: - Multiple notable wins and deep runs on the WPT Main Tour - Multiple WPT event titles
Subsequent Achievements: - WSOP Circuit Main Event Victory in 2025 - Poker dominance, including repeated success in large-field tournaments - Respect from the poker community
Summary Table:
| Event/Series | Achievement/Outcome | Details ||-------------|-----------------------|----------------------------|| WPT Main Tour | Multiple strong performances | Known for deep runs/wins || WSOP Circuit (2025) | 1st Place, Main Event | 1,554 players, $341,830 |
Art Papazyan's casino glory continued as he claimed a title at the Season XVI WPT Legends of Poker Main Event, outsmarting poker icon Phil Hellmuth in a thrilling showdown. This victory further solidified his reputation as a formidable force in casino-and-gambling, particularly in casino-games like poker.
