The 2023 US Poker Open concluded last week, with big names coming out on top. Isaac Haxton became the first person to win $5 million in poker tournaments in 2023 by winning Event #8. Dan Smith won Event #9, while Martin Zamani took down the finale. Zamini’s win in the finale also earned him the title of US Poker Open Champion.
Isaac Haxton Wins Event #8 – Moves Over $5 Million in 2023 Earnings
Event #8 was a $25,000 NL Hold’em Event that was ultimately won by Isaac Haxton. Haxton outlasted a field of 54 entries to win the title and $432,000. The event’s final table was stacked with top-tier talent that included Chris Brewer, Alex Foxen, Bill Klein, Phil Hellmuth, Dan Smith, and Joey Weismann.
Ultimately, it was Weismann and Haxton battling for the title. Haxton started with a massive lead, but Weissman was able to nearly pull back to even. However, in the final hand, Haxton was able to river a flush against the top pair for Weissman. The hand would end Weissman’s comeback attempt and give Haxton the title.
Isaac Haxton (@ikepoker) surpasses $35,000,000 in live tournament earnings after a victory in U.S. Poker Open Event #8: $25,000 No-Limit Hold'em for $432,000.
The win moves Haxton to 15th on @TheHendonMob's All Time Money List.https://t.co/gQgorzytTz
— PokerGO Tour (@PokerGOTour) April 2, 2023
The win in the US Poker Open helped to catapult Haxton to over $5 million in earnings for 2023. Haxton has been on fire in 2023, starting hot at the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure in January. He won pair of $100k High Roller events, which earned him over $1.6 million. Haxton also finished 3rd in a 25k high roller for almost $500k.
Haxton continued the momentum into the Triton Super High Roller Vietnam in March. He made four final tables, making over $800k in those events. The USPO title was his first victory since January and put him solidly in the lead for the money lead at this point. Of course, it is very early, and a lot of poker is left to play this year.
Dan Smith Wins Event #9 for $399,500
The USPO’s final $25k NL Event concluded this past Monday with Dan Smith taking down the title. He survived a stacked final table that included Daniel Negreanu, Cary Katz, Brian Kim, Nick Schulman, Ren Lin, and Punnat Punsri.
Dan Smith (@DanSmithHolla) earns his first win the @PokerGO Studio with a victory in U.S. Poker Open Event #9: $25,000 No-Limit Hold'em.
The $399,500 win moves Smith past $41,000,000 in live tournament earnings according to @TheHendonMob.https://t.co/0ddLOYE4rL
— PokerGO Tour (@PokerGOTour) April 4, 2023
It was Smith against Ren Lin in heads-up play. Heads-up lasted a single hand as Smith shoved with J-7 suited against the A-9 of Lin. Lin called, but a jack on the flop was enough to give Smith the hand and his first title inside the Poker Go Studios at ARIA.
The win earned Smith $399,500, but it was Lin who moved into the lead for the US Poker Open Championship. Just one event remained on the schedule, but several players were still in contention for the overall Championship.
Martin Zamani Wins Finale and US Poker Open Championship
The final event of the 2023 US Poker Open was the $50,000 NL Hold’em Championship. There were 32 entries in the finale, with the final six receiving a payday. The final table was another stacked affair with Chris Brewer, Dan Smith, Jeremy Ausmus, Nick Petrangelo, Justin Bonomo, and Martin Zamini battling for the title.
Justin Bonomo was the chip leader heading into the final table, but he could not build any momentum. He ultimately finished in fourth. Ultimately, it was Nick Petrangelo and Martin Zamani heads-up for the title. Zamani held a 2 to 1 chip advantage, and it never faltered. In the end, Petrangelo was all-in with Q-10 against K-6 for Zamani. Both players flopped a pair, with Zamani’s kings best.
Martin Zamani (@Martin_Zamani) is the 2023 U.S. Poker Open Champion!
Zamani was crowned the champ after his victory in U.S. Poker Open Event #10 where he earned $666,000.
Zamani also earns the $50,000 championship bonus and Golden Eagle trophy.https://t.co/AYuwy8hb6a
— PokerGO Tour (@PokerGOTour) April 5, 2023
Zamani was able to hold on to take the hand and the $666,000 top prize. He also earned enough points to vault to the top of the US Poker Open Leaderboard. This made Zamani the 2023 US Poker Open Champion. He won the Golden Eagle trophy for the championship, along with a $50,000 prize.
The US Poker Open is the last major tournament on the PokerGo Tour schedule before the 2023 World Series of Poker. There will be 27 events at the 2023 WSOP that will count towards the PGT Leaderboard. The PGT Leaderboard tracks the top high roller in the world each year. Presently, Cary Katz sits atop the leaderboard with Lautaru Guerra and Sam Soverel within 50 points or less.
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