Stephen Chidwick takes US Poker Open Championship trophy

(PRESS RELEASE) -- The U.K.'s Stephen Chidwick secured the largest championship win of his career, taking home the U.S Poker Open Championship trophy after putting on a show for poker fans during the eight-event series in Las Vegas. Chidwick made five final tables, took down two events and cashed for a grand total of $1,256,650.

The 2018 U.S. Poker Open was the first of its kind and comprised of eight high-stakes tournaments ranging from $10,000 to $50,000, including a Pot-Limit Omaha and Mixed Game event. The player who grossed the most during these eight events was crowned U.S. Poker Open Champion, taking home an enormous one-of-a-kind trophy.

Chidwick said, "My current theory is that AI got really good and realistic, and I somehow signed up to be Fedor Holz for a week.

"I just won all my all-ins, and that makes poker really easy. It's been very surreal, but at the end of the day it's just another day of poker, and I focus on every hand like I usually would.

"I've received a lot of congratulatory messages from friends and people saying that they're happy seeing that it's now my time. Throughout my career and the downswings, everyone has always showed a lot of faith in me, and I rely on investors to play all these big tournaments, and it feels really good to help out my friends by winning them some money, and show them that their support was deserved.

"I've tried to get to a place where the losses don't bother me too much, and the wins don't go to my head. I think I've done a good job at that, because the most important things in my life are still family and friends."

Stephen Chidwick started the week by making the final table of the first event, placing fifth. Justin Bonomo took down the event for $190,400 as 68 players entered this $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em tournament.

After not finishing in the money in the $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha won by Mike Gorodinsky, Chidwick made a big run in the $25,000 No-Limit Hold'em Event No. 3. At the final table, Chidwick took care of business and left Keith Tilston, Daniel Negreanu and Jake Schindler behind him. These four players would eventually make up the Top Four of the Championship standings, making a combined 13 final tables.

Just hours after finishing out Event No. 3 with a win, Chidwick registered as one of the last players for the $25,000 Mixed Game Championship. Chidwick called his Mixed Game skills "rusty," but back in 2013, Chidwick finished sixth in the $50,000 Poker Player's Championship at the World Series of Poker.

Chidwick secured back-to-back wins at the U.S. Poker Open by beating mixed game specialist Chris Vitch heads up. The final table also included Isaac Haxton and Benjamin Pollak, the latter who would go on to win Event No. 6.

The No. 2 on the U.K.'s all-time money list continued his tear by making the final table of both Event No. 6 and No. 7. In both $25,000 No-Limit Hold'em events Chidwick had chances to win, finishing second and third to bring his total earnings to a staggering $1,256,650.

Stephen Chidwick By The Numbers
1. No-Limit Hold'em, $10,000, 5th, $54,400
3. No-Limit Hold'em, $25,000, 1st, $374,000
4. Eight-Game Mix, $25,000, 1st, $382,500
6. No-Limit Hold'em, $25,000, 3rd, $183,750
7. No-Limit Hold'em, $25,000, 2nd, $262,000
Total: $1,256,650