Despite a European onslaught, America’s Isaac Haxton took down the $50,000 Poker Masters Online PLO Series main event in style.
Logging into Partypoker from Canada, Haxton came through two tough days to add $675,000 and another title to his long list of accolades.
Haxton’s performance was made all the more impressive by the fact he led the finale from start to finish. From a starting field of 29, Haxton bagged the biggest stack at the close of Day 1. From there, here never looked back.
Haxton Bosses Bubble
When Day 2 started on Monday, five players were left fighting for four prizes. Among those battling for the Poker Masters Online PLO Series main event title was Aku Joentausta.
The Finn won earlier in the series and, more significantly, was riding a wave of European momentum. With Scandinavians crushing in multiple events, few would have bet against Joentausta winning another one for Finland.
Haxton, however, had other ideas. As one of the best online poker players in history, he proved his skills aren’t confined to Hold’em. Over the course of 2.45 hours, he never loosened his grip.
First to fall was Andre Filipe Santos. With the flop showing K♣ Q♥ 4♦, Haxton bet enough to put Santos all-in.
Virtually pot committed, Santos called and showed A♥ 9♠ 4♦ 3♥. Haxton tabled K♦ J♥ T♣ 9♦ to have 79% equity in the hand. When the turn brought the 7♠, Haxton’s advantage increased to 87%.
The 2♥completed the board and, more importantly, gave Haxton the pot. With that, Santos was sent to the rail in fifth place as the unfortunate bubble boy.
At this point, the final four were guaranteed at least $157,896. That meant Joentausta, Grazvydas Kontautas, and Christopher Kruk could finally loosen up. However, their efforts proved to be too little, too late.
Glittering End to Poker Masters Online PLO Series
Haxton abused the bubble with impunity and had almost 10x more chips than his closest rival. That lead, combined with a nice run of cards, sealed the deal.
When Kruk’s pair of kings were bested by Haxton’s trip nines, the finale was down to three. The battle from three to two took longer than many would have predicted. However, in the end, someone had to fall.
That someone was Joentausta. Despite playing his short stack like a master, he eventually fell after losing to Haxton’s two-pair (see video above).
Kontautas had enough of a stack to threaten Haxton heads-up, but the writing was on the wall long before the cards were dealt. The latter was in supreme form throughout the session and got it done with A♦ J♦ 8♥ 3♣.
With Kontautas all-in and holding T♥ T♦ 3♦ 2♣, it was off to the races. The board ran out 5♦ 9♦ K♣ A♠ 7♦, and an ace-high flush was enough to win Haxton the pot and the Poker Masters Online PLO Series main event title.
$50,000 Poker Masters Online PLO Series Main Event Result
- Isaac Haxton – $675,000
- Grazvydas Kontautas – $442,104
- Aku Joentausta – $225,000
- Christopher Kruk – $157,896
- Andre Filipe Santos
Haxton’s latest win takes his career earnings beyond $28 million. What’s more, it signals the end of another successful live/online crossover collaboration between Partypoker and Poker Central.
