Frederic Normand secured his spot in the World Poker Tour Champions Club at bestbet Jacksonville by claiming the title at the WPT bestbet Scramble in Florida. This victory marked the Canadian poker player’s second career win and, with a substantial prize of $351,650, became his largest tournament score to date. Notably, Normand earned his entry to the event through a $580 satellite, adding a sweet touch to his triumph. His career tournament poker earnings now stand close to $900,000.
In addition to the cash prize, Normand was awarded a WPT trophy crafted by Daniel Arsham and secured a $10,400 seat in the upcoming WPT World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas, set to commence on December 12. Reflecting on his recent success, Normand shared, “I think I’m playing good lately. I’m taking my time more.” Despite acknowledging his favorable scores, he alluded to a sense of redemption, particularly after his fifth-place finish in a $3,000 buy-in at the World Series of Poker in June, where he earned $177,732.
Having been part of the poker scene for a considerable time, Normand expressed his gratitude for the surreal experience of winning a tournament. He acknowledged the challenges of tournament play, emphasizing the need for many things to align in one’s favor.
The WPT bestbet Scramble featured a $5,000 buy-in no-limit hold’em tournament with 365 entries across two starting flights. The top 46 players cashed for at least $9,400, and after the money bubble burst on Day 2, 17 players advanced to Day 3. Normand entered the final table as the second chip leader behind Heng Zhang.
Normand navigated the final table skillfully, eliminating opponents and securing a significant chip lead by the time heads-up play began. In a decisive final hand, Normand, holding an eight-high straight, triumphed over Zhang, who had check-raised all in with a pair of sixes. Zhang finished in second place, earning $226,700.
Zhang’s runner-up finish followed his victory in the Card Player Poker Tour bestbet Jacksonville Mystery Bounty main event in August. With this latest success, Zhang’s career tournament earnings exceeded $680,000.
Here is a look at the payouts and POY points awarded at the final table:
| Place | Player | Earnings | POY Points |
| 1 | Frederic Normand | $351,650 | 1,200 |
| 2 | Heng Zhang | $226,700 | 1,000 |
| 3 | Toby Boas | $166,800 | 800 |
| 4 | Michael Frierson | $123,900 | 600 |
| 5 | Ian O’Hara | $92,900 | 500 |
| 6 | Brian Senie | $70,400 | 400 |
