The World Poker Tour (WPT) made its anticipated return to Thunder Valley, celebrating the 10th anniversary of its inclusion in the prestigious WPT family with the WPT Rolling Thunder Championship. This year’s popular $3,500 buy-in Championship event attracted a field of 458 entries after just one Day 1 flight for a prize pool of $1,465,600.
Emerging from the field was Sacramento’s Casey Sandretto, who clinched victory in a heads-up match against 2024 WPT title winner Michael Kinney. Sandretto’s win not only earned him the championship title and a $246,600 prize but also secured him a $10,400 seat at the WPT World Championship in Las Vegas in December for his career-best result.
Sandretto adds his name to the prestigious list of local players who have previously conquered the WPT Rolling Thunder, joining the ranks of J.C. Tran, who won the inaugural event in 2014, Erkut Yilmaz, and David Larson.
2024 WPT Rolling Thunder Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
| 1 |  Casey Sandretto | United States | $246,600* |
| 2 | Michael Kinney | United States | $235,000 |
| 3 | Travis Egbert | United States | $140,000 |
| 4 | Yunkyu Song | United States | $105,000 |
| 5 | Cody Wiegmann | United States | $78,000 |
| 6 | Brock Wilson | United States | $60,000 |
2024 WPT Rolling Thunder Final Table Recap
Field whittled down from an impressive 458 entries to the final six contenders, who took their seats at the final table. All eyeing a life-changing first-place prize of $296,600, but among all the finalists, Yunkyu Song stood out as a clear favorite, boasting a massive chip lead.
Song entered the final table with 135 big blinds and had more than five times the chips of his closest challenger in Michel Kinney, and more than the combined 95 big blinds held by the rest of the five players. Song picked up where he left off the other day and extended his lead by winning the first four hands of the final day, securing an incredible two-thirds of all chips in play.
However, things can quickly change in poker, and that’s what we witnessed at the final table of the 2024 WPT Rolling Thunder. Starting as a short stack, Brock Wilson was the first to depart. After a minute, Wilson called all-in from the big blind with 7♠7♦ against Kinney’s A♣K♣. The board ran 9♣5♦4♠3♣A♦, sealing Wilson’s fate in sixth place with a $60,000 prize.
At this point, the dynamics at the final table started shifting, and Song’s unexpected downfall began. In the next hour or so, Song ended up doubling up Travis Egbert four times, Casey Sandretto twice, and Michael Kinney once. Before Cody Wiegmann exited fifth place for $78,000, Song had already lost his chip lead.
Amazingly, Song hit the rail in fourth place after raising from the button and calling all in against a reraise from Sandretto, and his A♥Q♥ fell to Sandretto’s A♣K♣ as the board came K♦9♦6♦4♦3♣, leaving Song with a $105,000 consolation.
With three players remaining, Egbert was now the shortest stack but still had enough chips for a post-flop play. Kinney raised pre-flop and made a bet on a flop and turn while Egbert called. Kinney pushed all-in on the K♥6♦4♥Q♠7♣ board, and Egbert used a time chip before deciding on a call, showing K♠2♠ for a top pair king, but Kinney turned over K♦9♣ for a better kicker, eliminating Egbert in third place for $140,000.
The heads-up battle between Sandretto and Kinney began with the latter holding a 2:1 chip lead. However, Sandretto quickly leveled the playing field, leading to a deal between the two. They agreed to play for a first-place prize of $246,600, including a $10,400 WPT World Championship seat, alongside the WPT title and an engraving on the Mike Sexton WPT Champions Cup, while the second-place prize was worth $235,000.
In the final hand, Sandretto and Kinney’s heads-up match culminated when Sandretto raised, and Kinney called with A♥2♥. The flop revealed 3♦K♦2♠, and Kinney check-called the bet from Sandretto. The turn is A♣, and this time, Kinney check-raises, and Sandretto used a Time Chip to tank for a while before making a call. The river card is the 10♥. Kinney moved all in, and Sandretto quickly called, revealing a set of kings for a WPT Rolling Thunder victory.
2024 WPT Rolling Thunder Final Table Replay
Catch all the thrilling action and witness how the final table unfolded in the replay down below.
Next Stop for World Poker Tour on the High Seas
The World Poker Tour is already gearing up for its next thrilling stop, and this time, it’s on the high seas. The WPT Voyage sets sail on the luxurious Virgin Voyages Valiant Lady cruise ship from March 31 to April 6, embarking from Miami, Florida. This unique venue promises a blend of poker and unmatched entertainment on the ocean waves.
Sailors will have the opportunity to compete in the $5,000 WPT Main Event, boasting a guaranteed $1,000,000 prize pool, alongside the popular $1,100 WPT Prime tournament with a $500,000 GTD prize pool, for those seeking even higher stakes, a $10,000 High Roller and a $25,000 Super High Roller Event are scheduled. Additionally, cash games will be available around the clock, with over 20 tables catering to a range of limits, ensuring that poker action never stops.
Beyond the felt, unforgettable parties and various shows will ensure the WPT Voyage is an unparalleled experience. “WPT Voyage is primed to be the ultimate package of poker and entertainment,” said WPT CEO Adam Pliska. “Offering a variety of shows featuring talented performers, WPT Voyage has something for everyone to enjoy.”
