David Peters, the defending US Poker Open champion, took down USPO Event #7 for $217,800, on Thursday. On that same day at the PokerGO Studio in Las Vegas, Ali Imsirovic, the hottest player on the high-roller circuit, reached the final table of Event #8.
In 2019, Peters snuck up on Sean Winter to win the USPO’s final event — a $100,000 No-Limit Hold’em tournament — and the US Poker Open series crown. He’s now among the leading contenders to repeat as USPO champion.
On Thursday, he pulled double duty. The Ohio native, a high-roller legend, crushed it at the final table of Event #7, beating Jared Jaffee heads-up to claim the title. Jaffee walked away with $158,400 for finishing in second place out of 99, the largest field thus far in the series.
Peters had to work this title, outdueling a difficult final table that included Day 1 chip leader Andrew “Lucky Chewy” Lichtenberger (third place for $118,800), Brock Wilson (fourth place for $89,100), Alex Foxen (fifth place for $79,200), Ivan Zufic (sixth place for $59,400), and Dan Shak (seventh place for $49,500).
Peters then hopped into Event #8 — the $10,000 PLO tournament — which kicked off Thursday. He again ran deep, cashing for the second time on the day and finishing in eighth place out of 63 for $25,200.
Will Imsirovic’s heater continue?
Ali Imsirovic, who already has five high-roller titles this year and who leads the 2021 PokerGO Tour standings, once again reached a final table. He’ll enter Event #8’s Day 2 on Friday fourth in chips out of six (1,305,000), right behind Joseph Sanders (1,500,000). Jared Bleznick leads the way (2,015,000) and is followed closely by Maxx Coleman (1,980,000). Christopher Usude (510,000) and Frank Crivello (575,000) are the two short stacks.
Each remaining player is guaranteed at least $37,800, with first place paying $189,000. The final table begins at noon PT Friday with PokerGO’s livestream starting at 1 pm.
Imsirovic is looking to extend his lead over Sean Perry in the PokerGO Tour standings and to catch up to Joe McKeehen, the 2015 WSOP Main Event champion, in the US Poker Open race. McKeehen, with 302 points, holds a slim lead over Steve Zolotow (289).
With four events still remaining, including the Event #8 final table, just about anyone who competes still has a shot at being crowned 2021 US Poker Open champion, though McKeehen just might be the favorite at this point.
