PokerGO Cup Event #5 Title Taken by Justin Zaki for $232,000 Top Prize

The latest PokerGO Cup trophy was handed to Justin Zaki last night as he conquered one of the toughest final tables of the tournament series so far, taking home over $232,000 in the process. At a final table featuring some of the best players in the world such as Stephen Chidwick, Justin Saliba and Sam Soverel, Zaki’s win represented the fourth-largest cash and the biggest outright ranking win of his poker career so far.

Kid Poker Cashes But Misses the Final

A prizepool of $830,000 was compiled after 83 entrants took part in Event #5, with 12 places paid. Missing out on the money in the most painful position its possible to finish in was PokerGO regular and one of 2023’s most successful players, Chino Rheem. All-in with Ad7s, Rheem was dominated and defeated by Stephen Chidwick with AsQs and as all the chips went into the middle pre-flop, a board of AcKd9d6dQc showed Chino the door and put the remaining dozen into profit.

British player Lewis Spencer min-cashed in 12th place for $20,750 as Joey Weissman won with two pair over two pair. He was followed from the felt by Daniel Negreanu, as the six-time WSOP bracelet winner lost to the eventual winner. All-in with Ad9s, Kid Poker was well behind his caller Zaki, who held QhQd. The flop of KsJh8h kept Zaki well in the lead. Zaki had to sweat after a Td landed on the turn but only a queen or ace would allow Negreanu to survive and the 8d was not one of his five outs.

Last night’s Event #4 winner Cary Katz busted in 10th place for $24,900 – the same amount won by Negreanu – after he lost a coinflip to Weissman. The latter seemed to have it all his own way at that time but that changed when Jonathan Little got there with Ad9h against Weissman’s ThTc to double back into contention. Despite taking those chips from Weissman, Little then lost with the best hand, and when his AsJs was eclipsed by Chidwick’s Ac8h on the flop of Kc8s5s, a 2c turn and 9d sent Little to the rail for $24,900 too.

Saliba Slain as Zaki Rises

Down to the final eight, Dan Shak was the next player to lose his tournament life as the high roller regular cashed for $33,200. All-in with As9d, he couldn’t hit against Zaki’s 6s6h and the eventual winner even made a set on the board of KcJd5c6cQh. The last seven players reached the final day but one more player still needed to be eliminated before the final six were confirmed for Day 2. That person was Ariel Mantel, who walked into a brick wall and slid out in 7th for $33,200. All-in with Ah8h, Mantel was snap-called by Weissman with AsAd and despite two hearts landing, one on the flop and the turn, the river was blank and Mantel was the final player to be busted before the overnight chipcounts.

Heading into the final day, Stephen Chidwick led the field with 2.69 million chips, leading from Weissman with 2.15m. It was the Dutchman Joris Ruijs who busted in sixth place, earning $41,500 when his Kd6d was dominated and defeated by Stephen Chidwick’s AsKs.

Justin Saliba is known as one of poker’s most professional players, but he also fell to Zaki. All-in on a flop of 9d6c3h with Ad9h, Saliba was well behind Zaki’s JcJd. The 4d turn and 7s river did nothing to save Saliba and he left in fifth place for $58,100.

Weissman Falls Short of the Win

Down to four players, it was Sam Soverel who lost out. All-in with JdTs when short, Soverel couldn’t double-up, as Weissman’s AcKc prevailed on a board of KsQd2s2d5c that flirted with a straight draw for the eliminated Soverel. He cashed for $78,850 as Weissman took the lead with 4.34 million chips.

Three-handed play lasted almost an hour before British poker hero Stephen Chidwick was busted for $107,900. All-in with KhQc, Chidwick was up against it when Weissman called with AhQd and the board of 8s6s4cTdAd sent Chidwick home and put Weissman into the final duel, with Zaki holding a 2:1 chip lead.

Both men held the chip lead heads-up but when Zaki had the lead and picked up KsKd and got Weissman to commit his chips with AdQs. A ten-high board gave Zaki the biggest ranking title win of his poker career to date.

This was the moment that Zaki claimed victory.

Afterwards, Zaki was delighted to have sealed the win after his huge premium vs. premium final showdown.

With that victory, Zaki topped Event #5’s payouts and put himself up to fourth on the overall leadrabor after five event sof the ight scheduled. Jonathan Little still leads the way to the $25,000 Championship Bonus with 277 points to Zaki’s 232.

PokerGO Cup 2024 Event #5 $10,100 Final Table Results:
Place Player Country Prize
1st Justin Zaki United States $232,400
2nd Joey Weissman United States $149,400
3rd Stephen Chidwick United Kingdom $107,900
4th Sam Soverel United States $78,850
5th Justin Saliba United States $58,100
6th Joris Ruijs Netherlands $41,500

 

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