Erik vs. Eric: Seidel beats Afriat to first PGT US Open 2024 title

The opening event of the 2024 US Poker Open is in the books, and poker legend Erik Seidel emerged triumphant to claim the $145,000 top prize, with an unusual double KO with aces sealing the victory.

Seidel was among 116 entrants in the $5k buy-in opener for the eight-tournament high-roller series held at the PokerGO Studios in the Aria casino.

With a $580k prize pool and 17 spots paid, the first port of call on day one was the money bubble. Jeremy Becker was one of the players who fell before the cash. And on the bubble, it was Seidel who dealt the blow, when his pocket queens held against Mitchell Halverson’s A-K, helped by a queen on the flop.

Of those in the paid spots, many of the usual suspects in the high-roller MTT scene were present, like Stephen Chidwick and the Foxens.

Alex Foxen would outdo his wife Kristen, but still fall short of the final table, with Seidel again the executioner. First, he left Foxen with a single chip with a river re-raise that clearly caught Foxen bluffing, then finished him off blind on blind.

Jeremy Becker is looking to build some momentum ahead of his big WSOP bet with Landon Tice

Erik Seidel wins in a three-way pot

Day two dawned with Seidel holding the chip lead but things were far from smooth sailing for the 64-year-old, as he doubled up three of his opponents before Justin Zaki became the first casualty of the final table.

William Lamar-Boone soon followed him to the rail courtesy of Eric Afriat, and the Canadian also accounted for John Koury in fourth spot, with flopped trip queens also cracking Seidel’s pocket kings for some extra chips in the three-way hand.

Seidel soon regained a significant chip lead, and it was another three-way hand that bypassed the need for any heads-up play.

Eric Afriat couldn't get past the aces of Seidel at the death

Afriat, who made a name for himself at the EPT Paris Main Event earlier this year, opened from the button. Linde, in the small blind, was already all-in and then Seidel shoved from the big blind. Afriat made the call and the scene was set.

Seidel:
Afriat:
Linde:

 Flop:
Turn:
River:

That gave Seidel his 34th career tournament win and cemented his 9th place on the All-Time Money List, ahead of David Peters, Phil Ivey and Fedor Holz.

 PGT 2024 US Poker Open Event 1 results

Event #2 of the 2024 US Poker Open, with a $10k buy-in, has already reached the final table, with Victoria Livschitz and Kristina Holst among the final seven. 

^{Images courtesy of PokerGO/Antonio Abrego}