World Poker Exchange reports the number of Worldpx.com College Shootout participants more than doubled this year, occupying more than 37,000 player seats. Students from more than 800 U.S. higher education institutions played in the events.
A multilevel competition, it consisted of 131 individual events including preliminary contests, semifinals, and the final round.
Cec Amado of the University of Connecticut emerged as the winner. His total cash, scholarship, and prize winnings of $28,700 included a Mini Cooper automobile, a Cancun trip for two, a $1,500 scholarship, and $200 in his World Poker Exchange playing account.
"When I got to the semifinals, I let everyone know that I was going to win," Amado said. "My confidence was at an all-time high and I felt that there was no one who was going to stop me. After destroying the semifinals, I went to the final table knowing that this tourney was mine to lose."
Sara Sauvageau of Mayville State University in North Dakota captured second place, earning a prize package with a $10,650 value. Third-place honors went to Angelo Panoutsos of Oakton Community College in Illinois, taking home a prize package worth $6,100.
The university with the most players in prize-winning positions was Central Michigan University. The institution was represented by 65 players, 12 of whom finished in the money.
