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

At the start of play Monday, Jones came in with a 5:1 chip lead over Alfa, which shrank considerably after just one hand. 

Jones picked up pocket fours and got in his chips against Alfa’s pocket sevens. The board brought no help, and the massive lead Jones started with had shrunk to less than 2:1. A few more hands went by and the lead had vanished, with both players sitting 75 big blinds deep.

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 Jones’ way shortly after, but a couple of check-raises from Alfa brought the counts closer to even. 

As the level moved up, Jones rivered aces up in a big pot to retake the lead and move 3:1 ahead of Alfa. After that, Alfa got his fours in against Jones’ ace-ten and survived, eventually taking the lead by the first break. 

Jones is comfortable playing deep, particularly given his preference for cash games.

“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 during heads-up play against Dave Alfa.

As soon as they returned from break, all the chips went into the middle on the turn after Alfa flopped a pair of aces and Jones a set.

This pushed Jones up to nearly 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.

SPECIAL OFFERS

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Riding the waves 

Leads in this match came and went like waves, and Alfa battled back once more. Jones jammed ace-three and got looked up by Alfa’s fives. This brought the match back to nearly even with both players holding 50 big blinds. 

Minutes later, Alfa had built a 3:1 chip lead over Jones, and he was just one card from closing it out. He got his chips in with seven-five against Jones’ ace-king and flopped a pair of fives. A one-liner to a wheel saved Jones from elimination, and the players went to the next break with Alfa holding 44 big blinds to Jones’ 16. 

Dave Alfa during the marathon heads-up battle against Jesse Jones.

“I feel like he was the toughest heads-up battle I’ve had out of all of them,” Jones said regarding Alfa, who earlier in the series 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 continued to switch multiple times over another two hours. After one final break, they returned with just 40 big blinds in play.

Earlier this year, Jones finished third in the WSOPC Cherokee Main Event in what would have been his first-ever ME title. Jones held a slight chip lead over Alfa as both chased a place on the Main Event banner.

Jones then made a full house against Alfa, building a 3:1 lead. The epic match culminated when Alfa called off with king-six against Jones’ ace-six. Both players paired their sixes, but the kicker played, and Alfa finished in second place, collecting $74,405 for his efforts.

“It’s fun to win 'em all,” Jones said with a smile as he slipped on his sixth ring for the winner’s photo.