The latest events in the PokerGO Tour PLO Series II saw players such as winners Bryce Yockey and Joao Simao celebrate. Who else won, who bubbled and where does all the action leave the overall leaderboard after six events? We’re catching up on all the action from the PokerGO Studio at ARIA in Las Vegas, Nevada, and it has been hot.
Bryce Yockey Bags Event #5 Victory
Bryce Yockey won Event #5 on the PokerGO Tour PLO Series II schedule, beating Kyle Merron heads-up for a win worth $239,400. At a talented final table full of top-quality players, Alex Foxen was the first player to leave. The American, who easily made it inside the 17 money places out of 114 entrants, was all-in pre-flop with a pair of kings as two of his four PLO hole cards. Merron busted him with a king on the river, which made him a straight. It ensured Merron chipped up while Foxen cashed for $57,000.
Next to go was Ben Yu, who won $68,400 in sixth place before Russian player Artem Maksimov exited in fifth for $79,800. The first six-figure prize of the event was won by John Riordan in fourth place, leaving three of the biggest players in the tournament battling it out for the top prize and fifth title of the series.
It was Jeremy Ausmus who bowed out in third place, just missing out on the heads-up battle when he went from chip leader to on the rail with $125,400. Losing with flush under flush, Ausmus saw his conqueror in the hand Yockey become chip leader with 7.8 million to Merron’s 6.45 million. It was a pivotal moment, as Yockey used his stack to grow even more powerful before making a straight to end the vent in his favor.
PokerGO Tour PLO Series II Event #5 Final Table Results: | |||
Place | Name | Country | Prize |
1st | Bryce Yockey | United States | $239,400 |
2nd | Kyle Merron | United States | $171,000 |
3rd | Jeremy Ausmus | United States | $125,400 |
4th | John Riordan | United States | $102,600 |
5th | Artem Maksimov | Russia | $79,800 |
6th | Ben Yu | United States | $68,400 |
7th | Alex Foxen | United States | $57,000 |
Joao Simao Captures the Crown in Event #6
Event #6 saw field of 65 players take on the $10,100-entry tournament in Dealer’s Choice PLO. Just 10 places were paid as Alex Livingston min-cashed for $19,500, Nick Guagenti made $26,000 in ninth place and Jim Collopy was the first of the official final table of seven to bust, cashing for $32,500.
After players such as Zhen Cai (6th for $39,000), Veselin Karakitukov (5th for $52,000) and Tyler Brown (4th for $65,000) all lost out on the podium places, Jordan Spurlin was ousted outside the heads-up in third place for $84,500.
Heads-up saw Alex Foxen lead at one stage but one hand in PLO virtually ended the event. On a board of , Foxen bet pot with two pair eights and threes, leading to a shove from Simao with eights and fours. They held on the nine river which also paired Simao’s had and almost all the chips went to the Brazilian. A few hands later, it was all over as Foxen, who doubled up once lost to Simao’s Broadway straight.
PokerGO Tour PLO Series II Event #6 Final Table Results: | |||
Place | Name | Country | Prize |
1st | Joao Simao | Brazil | $182,000 |
2nd | Alex Foxen | United States | $123,500 |
3rd | Jordan Spurlin | United States | $84,500 |
4th | Tyler Brown | United States | $65,000 |
5th | Veselin Karakitukov | Bulgaria | $52,000 |
6th | Zhen Cai | United States | $39,000 |
7th | Jim Collopy | United States | $32,500 |
Who is Top of the PGT PLO Series II Leaderboard?
With six of the ten events in the can, who is favorite to lift the PGT PLO Series II title and the $25,000 Championship Bonus that comes with it? Stephen Hubbard leads the way at the top, with two cashes and one win, enough for the slimmest of advantages over Bryce Yockey, who has the same record with $11 less in winnings.
Others such as British player Richard Gryko (three cashes without a win) and Eelis Parssinen (four cashes and one win) mean others such as Adam Hendrix (7th) and Joao Simao (5th) trail heading into the final four events.
Who will take the title and how can you invest in any potential big winner in the remaining events of the PGT PLO Series II? Simply head to our dedicated page, of course!
PokerGO Tour PLO Series II Leaderboard (After 6 Events): | ||||||
Place | Name | Country | Cashes | Wins | Earnings | |
1st | Stephen Hubbard | United States | 2 | 1 | $261,550 | |
2nd | Bryce Yockey | United States | 2 | 1 | $250,575 | |
3rd | Richard Gryko | United Kingdom | 3 | 0 | $245,580 | |
4th | Eelis Parssinen | Finland | 4 | 1 | $235,880 | |
5th | Joao Simao | Brazil | 3 | 1 | $227,150 | |
6th | Vasil Medarov | United States | 3 | 0 | $200,050 | |
7th | Adam Hendrix | United States | 1 | 1 | $172,710 | |
8th | Daniel Geeng | United States | 3 | 0 | $215,660 | |
9th | Alex Foxen | United States | 2 | 0 | $180,500 | |
10th | Allan Le | China | 3 | 0 | $171,560 |