Chino Rheem bests Becker heads-up and rakes in PKO prizes in PGT Bounty Blitz

Event #4: $5,100 Progressive Knockout of the PokerGO Tour Bounty Blitz came to a swift end on Friday. The 36-entrant field generated a prize pool of $180,000 – $72,000 of which was set aside for the bounty prize pool – with six players paid and $28,100 for the eventual winner. 

Chino Rheem held a slim chip lead headed into the final table, with Chris Hunichen hot on his heels. Mike Zulker and Andrew Kelsall started in the middle of the pack while Event #1 Champion Jeremy Becker and Alex Condon were the short stacks. 

When the final hand was dealt, Rheem had all of the chips in front of him after defeating Becker in heads-up play. For his efforts, Rheem took home the first-place prize and $

Condon doesn't last long, Hunichen rivered

With only six big blinds to work with, Condon committed the rest of his chips with from late position and looked to be in good shape against Rheem's call from the big blind with . Rheem was hunting Condon's bounty and was rewarded for his gamble as he spiked a jack on the runout to win the pot and eliminate his opponent. 

Then, a three-way clash saw Hunichen sent to the rail in similar fashion as a jack on the river spelled disaster for him as well. Hunichen kicked off the action, moving all but a few of his chips across the betting line. Zulker moved all-in over the top and Becker then called it off from the small blind. After expending two time banks, Hunichen put the rest of his chips in. 

Hunichen:
Zulker:
Becker:

It looked as thought both Hunichen and Becker were in store for double ups across the flop and turn, but the one-outer river improved Zulker to send Hunichen to the rail while Becker hauled in a massive triple up. 

A brutal one-outer sent Chris Hunichen to the payout desk in Event #4.

Rheem bags two more bounties

Rheem notched the first of two additional knockouts when he picked up against Zulker's . With all the chips in the middle pre-flop, it was a classic flip – one that Rheem came out on the good side of as the runout improved neither player and left him with the best of it. 

Next, Kelsall moved all-in over the top of a button open from Rheem and got the action he desired. It was a fair fight – sort of – as Rheem's went against Kelsall's . The runout provided plenty of sweats, but in the end Rheem's king-high remained best and Kelsall's run came to an end in third place. 

Becker can't bounce back this time

With a commanding advantage to start heads-up play, Rheem looked to be running away with the win. Then, an early double for Becker threw a slight spanner in the works – but Rheem wasn't fazed in the slightest. 

A few hands later, Rheem moved all-in from the button with and Becker called off his still-short stack with . The flop left Becker drawing thin and the on the turn sealed the pot, and the tournament, for Rheem. 

Jeremy Becker couldn't battle back to win another PGT Bounty Blitz event.

PGT Bounty Blitz Event #4 Results

^{Images courtesy of Antonio Abrego/PokerGO Tour}