Shrikant Pillamarapu had just one previously recorded live tournament cash, worth $381, before this week’s WPT Prime Lodge Championship.
Now he has $138,127 in prize money, a $10,400 WPT World Championship seat and a World Poker Tour trophy, after the tour says he entered the $1,100 event through a genuine $0 freeroll.
The World Poker Tour celebrated his unlikely victory on X and advertised a first-place package worth $148,527. That figure includes the Las Vegas tournament seat, rather than representing cash alone, but it still makes the result one of the year’s most remarkable qualifier stories.
From a $0 freeroll to a six-figure WPT payday
The WPT Prime Lodge Championship took place at The Lodge Card Club in Round Rock, Texas, from October 8 to 12. The $1,100 event drew 1,084 entries according to the WPT’s official records, generating a $1,051,480 prize pool and surpassing its $1 million guarantee.
According to the WPT’s announcement, Pillamarapu qualified through a true freeroll, avoiding the direct buy-in entirely. The tour also reported only one previous recorded tournament cash for the new champion, worth $381. That describes his documented live tournament results, not necessarily his poker experience away from tracked tournaments.
Watch the World Poker Tour’s reaction
World Poker Tour (@WPT on X):
Last in chips, but far from out of contention
Pillamarapu reached the nine-handed final table with the smallest stack, although his roughly 25 big blinds left room to play. Among his opponents was three-time WSOP bracelet winner David ‘The Dragon’ Pham, who eventually finished fifth for $43,500.
By the time three players remained, Pillamarapu was battling Kenneth Quattrocchi and David Urban for the title. The trio discussed an ICM deal, in which the remaining prize money would be divided to reflect each player’s chip stack and the tournament’s remaining payouts. Urban opted to play on instead.
His next significant showdown brought a painful ending. Urban got his money in with pocket queens against Quattrocchi’s ace-seven, but an ace on the flop eliminated him in third for $75,000. The proposed deal would have guaranteed him a higher figure, making the timing particularly cruel.
Nut flush against straight flush produces a huge swing
The heads-up battle produced an extraordinary hand. Quattrocchi held A♣5♣ against Pillamarapu’s A♦J♣, and the board ran K♦9♣8♣10♣Q♣. Quattrocchi had the ace-high flush, but Pillamarapu’s jack of clubs gave him a queen-high straight flush.
Pillamarapu shoved 14.1 million chips on the river. The WPT’s official hand-by-hand report says Quattrocchi called, leaving himself just two big blinds, though he later recovered enough to continue the fight. It was the kind of cooler that can decide a major tournament.
The two players eventually agreed their own heads-up ICM deal, locking in $138,127 in cash for Pillamarapu and $126,733 for Quattrocchi. The WPT title, trophy and $10,400 World Championship entry remained on the line.
The deciding hand delivered one last dramatic reversal. Quattrocchi moved all-in with A♦J♥ and Pillamarapu called holding 5♦5♣. The A♥9♠5♥ flop paired Quattrocchi’s ace but gave Pillamarapu a set of fives, which held through the 6♦ turn and 10♠ river to finish the tournament.
WPT Prime Lodge Championship final table payouts
| Place | Player | Payout |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shrikant Pillamarapu | $148,527* |
| 2 | Kenneth Quattrocchi | $126,733 |
| 3 | David Urban | $75,000 |
| 4 | Preston Duron | $57,000 |
| 5 | David Pham | $43,500 |
| 6 | Vladyslav Shovkovyi | $32,500 |
| 7 | Matthew McDowell | $25,000 |
| 8 | Pranay Reddy Patlolla | $19,700 |
| 9 | Michael Jones | $16,700 |
*The WPT’s advertised $148,527 first-place package comprises $138,127 in cash and a $10,400 seat in the season-ending WPT World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas.
Can online players win their way into WPT tournaments?
Pillamarapu’s victory shows how valuable a tournament seat can become, but such outcomes are extremely unusual. Freerolls and satellites can offer entry into events without paying the full direct buy-in, although qualifying is not a promise of making money or even reaching the payouts.
Players interested in other online routes to live WPT events can also explore WPT Global, the World Poker Tour’s online poker brand. Our WPT Global review examines its available tournament satellites, games, bonus terms and security considerations. WPT Global’s online promotions are separate from the Lodge freeroll that Pillamarapu reportedly won.
WPT Global welcome package offers up to $3,348 in rewards
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