The WPT Prime Lodge Championship returned to Austin, Texas, this month for one of the biggest poker events of the year. The $1,100 buy-in tournament at The Lodge Poker Club & Card Club featured a $1 million guaranteed prize pool and drew an impressive 1,648 entries across six starting flights.
When the final card fell, Harvey Castro emerged victorious, securing $225,020, two WPT trophies, and a seat in the WPT World Championship in Las Vegas.
Star-Studded Final Table at The Lodge
The WPT Prime Lodge Championship final table featured poker pros and rising stars. Among them was Esther Taylor, who earlier this year finished third in the WSOP $50,000 Poker Players Championship, alongside Nicholas Scott, Steve Hwang, and Rafael Reis.
Despite entering the final table as a short stack, Reis laddered up to a solid sixth-place finish. Meanwhile, Taylor made another deep run, ultimately bowing out in fourth for $79,000.
Day 3: Cracked Kings and a Dramatic Finish
Day 3 action of the WPT Prime Lodge Championship was livestreamed on the WPT YouTube channel, starting with 17 players. The elimination of Javier Zarco in 10th set the stage for the final table fireworks.
- David Sollee’s queens lost to Taylor’s set of threes (8th place).
- Martin Torres and Hai Pham fell in 9th and 7th, respectively.
- Rafael Reis climbed to sixth.
- Steve Hwang, after cracking kings earlier in a three-way all-in, finished third.
In heads-up play, Harvey Castro faced Joshua Stewart. Stewart’s jack-ten flopped a straight draw, but Castro’s pocket nines turned into a full house, clinching the WPT Prime Lodge Championship title in style.
Harvey Castro: Texas Poker’s Rising Star
At only 23 years old, Harvey Castro continues to build an impressive poker résumé. His win at the WPT Prime Lodge Championship 2025 marks his second-biggest career score, following his 2023 WSOP Circuit Choctaw Main Event victory for $275,660.
Earlier this year, he also finished runner-up at the WPT Rolling Thunder Main Event, banking $193,600. With this latest title, Castro’s career momentum shows no signs of slowing down.
Notable Cashes and Community Highlights
Other well-known players who cashed in the WPT Prime Lodge Championship include:
- DJ MacKinnon – 22nd for $11,300
- Angelina Rich – 37th for $8,200
- Hayley Hanna (PokerNews Podcast Host) – 92nd for $2,920
- Nikki Limo – 184th for $1,940
Meanwhile, the festival’s Wildcard Mystery Bounty Chaos event created plenty of laughs when a chip leader was forced to swap stacks with the shortest player — a true highlight for fans and players alike.
Harvey Castro’s win at the WPT Prime Lodge Championship cements his place among poker’s rising stars. His consistent deep runs, cool composure, and knack for dominating large fields make him one of the most exciting young talents in the game.
With a WPT title, six-figure payout, and World Championship seat, Castro is well on his way to becoming a fixture on the international poker scene.
WPT Prime Lodge Championship Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harvey Castro | $225,020 |
| 2 | Joshua Stewart | $143,000 |
| 3 | Steve Hwang | $106,000 |
| 4 | Esther Taylor | $79,000 |
| 5 | Nicholas Scott | $60,000 |
