By Cris Alarcon, InEDC Writer. (March 20, 2025) — Shawn Daniels, a native of Placerville, California, has secured his first World Poker Tour (WPT) title by winning the Rolling Thunder Main Event on Wednesday at Thunder Valley Casino Resort. Daniels outlasted a competitive field of 404 entrants in the $3,500 buy-in no-limit hold’em tournament, claiming the top prize of $218,600.
The event generated a total prize pool of $1,292,800, with payouts extending to the top 51 finishers. Notable players who made deep runs include two-time WPT champion J.C. Tran (20th place), poker commentator Jeff Platt (17th), 2023 WPT World Championship winner Daniel Sepiol (11th), all-time World Series of Poker Circuit rings leader Ari Engel (8th), and 2012 WPT Grand Prix de Paris winner Matthew Salsberg (7th).
Daniels’ victory also grants him a coveted spot on the Mike Sexton WPT Champions Cup, an honor reserved for main event champions on the tour. Reflecting on this achievement, Daniels expressed,
“To get my name on the cup is very special. It’s just something that means a lot and that I’ll remember forever.”
This triumph marks the second-largest score of Daniels’ career, following his $777,777 win at the 2023 World Series of Poker $777 buy-in event. With this latest victory, his lifetime earnings have surpassed $3.2 million. Additionally, Daniels earned 1,080 Card Player Player of the Year (POY) points for this win, bringing his total to 1,164 points for the year and placing him within the top 80 in the 2025 POY standings.
The final day of the tournament began with 2023 WSOP Circuit Choctaw main event champion Harvey Castro leading the final six players. Three-time WPT champion Eric Afriat was also in contention, starting the day in the middle of the pack, while Daniels began in fifth chip position.
Early eliminations included Benjamin Primus in sixth place ($53,000) and David Ha in fifth place ($69,000). Daniels then eliminated Paul Richardson in fourth place ($91,000) and Afriat in third place ($122,000), setting the stage for a heads-up battle against Castro.
The heads-up match was a rollercoaster, with Castro initially holding a 2-1 chip advantage. However, Daniels quickly turned the tide, at one point building a 5-1 lead. Castro fought back, even claiming the chip lead temporarily, but Daniels ultimately sealed the victory with trip sixes against Castro’s queen-high.
Castro earned $165,000 for his runner-up finish. Afriat’s third-place finish adds to his impressive poker resume, bringing his live tournament earnings to nearly $6 million.
Daniels’ win at the WPT Rolling Thunder not only adds a prestigious title to his name but also highlights the vibrant poker scene in the greater Sacramento area. His achievement serves as an inspiration to local players aspiring to make their mark on the international poker stage.
For more details on the final table action, you can watch the WPT Rolling Thunder Final Table replay below:
