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Thunder Valley in Northern California is one of Scott Stewart’s favorite places to play. Between friends, the staff, the property’s restaurants, and the local beer scene, it’s one of the casinos Stewart calls home.
It’s fitting that Stewart came home to play his first tournament series since becoming the WPT World Champion, and then won his seventh and eighth WSOP Circuit rings.
'I'm playing better than ever'
When Stewart won the first ring, we asked: after one of the biggest tournament victories of 2024 and a massive $2,500,000, did winning this WSOP Circuit ring feel any different than his others?
“No", he laughed. "It feels no different. This is the first time I’ve played since the World Poker Tour Championship, so maybe there was going to be a little rust, but there didn’t feel like there was any rust, so I feel like I’m playing better than ever.”
A week later, Stewart won again when he topped the 77-entry field in Event #16: $400 The Finale for his eighth WSOP Circuit ring and $7,290.
It comes as no surprise then that when asked if he'd like to forgo the standard winner's interview to expedite his attendance at a post-series celebration with some of those friends, his answer was pure Stuey: "Hell yeah, brother!"
Can't stop, won't stop
Far more of the poker world has caught a glimpse of what those who know Stewart see on the regular since his win last month. Since then he’s realized that nothing really has to change.
“For the first couple of weeks, I didn’t think it was real. Now that it’s setting in, I’m sure that life has new interesting worlds for me to explore. I don’t know if that much is going to change. I still love playing the stakes I play, I love the places I go, and I’m never going to stop coming.”
Stewart's wins at Thunder Valley this week are evidence of that attitude. Whether the buy-in is $10,000 or $600, the passion he shows for the game is unquestioned and, as Stewart says, isn’t going to change.
“Yeah, I love the game. Obviously, there’s a bit more comfortability now, and I think it’s hard to make a retirement in our business, and now I have a retirement that I can start building on and still travel around and have fun with the people I want to see and the places I want to go.”
As down to earth as Stewart is — as anyone would if they won $2,500,000 — there had to be some financial splurge to celebrate. He’s no different, but what he’s got planned is adherent to his always-fun personality.
“I want to get a golf cart that’s wrapped in Jurassic Park so I can act like I’m driving around Jurassic Park without it being Jurassic Park. That’s the only thing I want to buy. I already have everything I need. I love my friends, I love my family, that’s all I want to do.”
WPT Photo courtesy of World Poker Tour/Enrique Ivan Malfavon
