WSOP Main Event Champ Joe McKeehen wins the inaugural Philadelphia Poker Championship

The 2015 World Series of Poker Main Event champion is $94,000 richer after winning the inaugural Philadelphia Poker Championship at Rivers Casino this weekend. Joe McKeehen, who grew up just outside of Philadelphia, won the $2,200 $250,000 Guaranteed event, which was the largest buy-in tournament in the casino’s short history.

2015 Main Event Champ Joe McKeehen won the inaugural Philadelphia Poker Championship in his hometown. (Image: Rivers Casino)

The headliner brought in 187 entries, some of which came from five $240 satellites awarding packages. McKeehen hasn’t let up since winning $7.6 million in the main event in 2015 and will most likely surpass him the $20 million in lifetime tournament winnings mark this year.

He continued his hot January by raking in nearly $90,000 in back-to-back events at the Lucky Hearts Poker Open at Florida’s Seminole Hard Rock Casino – a $67,000 payday for sixth place in the $25,000 high roller event and $25 K for 25th place finished a $3,500 event the next day.

The self-proclaimed professional brain teaser started the year with his biggest cash since 2021, a $440,000 payday for third-place finish in a $5,300 buy-in event at The Return: Borgata in January. He won his fourth ring online last May and owns two more along with his Main Event bracelet: his second was won at the $10,000 limit championship ($311,000) in 2017, and his third came in a 2020 international $3,200 online event GGPoker ($353,000).

He has won more than $11 million 77 times in WSOP events. He has made 22 final tables since 2012.

The Philadelphia Poker Championship Series Finale, a mysterious $560 buy-in bounty with a $200,000 guaranteed prize pool, begins tomorrow (March 8) with the first of five starting days. Day 2 starts on March 2nd. Please refer the schedule for more details.

East cost tournament poker is slowly waking up

The series at the Borgata in January marked a return for big buy-in events that were easily accessible to players residing in the Northeastern United States. It’s a trend players who live in the area are hoping will continue. At the very least, expect to see more big buy-in events at Rivers Casinos in Philadelphia and Maryland.

The WSOP is bringing its circus to the Turning Stone Casino and Resort in upstate New York next week for the first time it’s been to this stretch of forest since pre-COVID. A $25,000 guaranteed $400 buy-in event kicks off the series on March 16th.

The first of three starting days of the $1,700 Main Tournament begins on March 23rd. Day 2 is March 26th. A $1,100 buy-in $50,000 guaranteed event is held the same day and the series concludes with a $400 event a day later.

But aside from online series in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, there’s not much in the Northeast in the way of live events aside from the weekly schedules at casinos in Philly, Baltimore, and upstate New York.

Written by

Bob Pajich

Bob Pajich is a poker news reporter, creative writer and poker player who has never come across suited connectors he didn’t like. Tips, corrections, complaints and kudos should go to CardsChatBob@gmail.com.