Jesse Jones wins epic heads-up match for 6th Circuit ring in Tulsa Main Event

Jesse Jones wins the September 2026 Tulsa Main Event.

Jones offered some words of advice on how to respond to those sorts of speed bumps at the poker table. 

“I just take pride in not showing emotions when things don’t go my way. I think that’s important for being a good poker player.” 

Back and forth they go

The lead swung back into Jones’ court shortly after, but a couple of check-raises from Alfa would bring the counts closer to even. As the level moved up, Jones rivered aces up in a big pot to take back the lead and grow a 3-to-1 lead over Alfa. After that, Alfa would get his fours in against Jones’ ace-ten and survive, eventually overtaking the lead by the first break. 

Deep-stacked play is something that Jones is familiar with, as his preferred format of play calls for exactly that.

“I am definitely more a cash player. I like them both; it’s kind of like having two different video games. It’s fun to switch up because they are two completely different games. Nothing is going to beat a really fun splashy cash game, but tournaments are really fun too. It’s fun to go deep.” 

Jesse Jones

As soon as they returned from break, all of the chips would go into the middle on the turn in a pot where Alfa flopped a pair of aces while Jones had flopped a set. This would push Jones up towards 90 big blinds with Alfa down to nearly ten. 

“It makes it easier when you are the chip leader. It feels like the pressure is on everyone but you,” Jones said when discussing the final table.

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Riding the waves 

Leads in this match came and went like waves, and Alfa would battle back once more. Jones would jam his ace-three and get looked up by Alfa’s fives. This would bring the match back to nearly even with both players holding 50 big blinds. 

Minutes later, it was Alfa pushing the action with a 3-to-1 chip lead over Jones, and he was just one card from closing it out. He would get in his seven-five against Jones’ ace-king and flop a pair of fives. A one-liner to a wheel would save Jones from elimination, and the two players went on their next break with Alfa holding 44 big blinds to Jones’ 16. 

Dave Alfa

“I feel like he was the toughest heads-up battle I’ve had out of all of them,” Jones said regarding Alfa, who earlier this week had won two rings just a day apart. “No offense to anyone else, but he is very good.”

Finally a winner  

Only 60 big blinds remained on the table after the second break, and the lead would continue to switch multiple times over another two hours. One more break was to come, now with just 40 big blinds still in play when they returned for a final time.

Earlier this year, Jones finished 3rd in the WSOPC Cherokee Main Event in what would have been his first-ever title. He now sat with a slight chip lead over Alfa as they closed in on one of them getting their name on a banner. 

Jones then made a full house against Alfa, building a 3-to-1 lead. The epic match would finally culminate when Alfa called off with king-six against Jones’ ace-six. Both players would pair their sixes, but the kicker would play, and Alfa would finish in second place, collecting $74,405 for his efforts.

“It’s fun to win em all,” Jones said, beaming with a smile, placing his sixth ring on in his photo.