Joey Weissman beats Texas Mike in heads-up sequel at PokerGO Cup

Joey Weissman claimed revenge after a runner-up finish in the first event of the PokerGO Cup when he denied Mike Moncek his second victory in a row in Event #2 on Thursday at Aria in Las Vegas. 

'Texas Mike' Moncek previously topped a record-breaking field and beat Weissman in heads-up play to claim Event #1 of the series, where 177 entries jumped into the $5,100 buy-in. The second event of the series — a $10,100 buy-in —  drew 118 entries for a prize pool of $1,180,000. The top 17 players made the money on Wednesday evening before the final seven bagged up for Day 2. 

Sam Laskowitz was the chip leader for the Day 2 tilt, followed by Moncek and Andrew Moreno. Erik Seidel returned in the fourth slot along with Andrew Lichtenberger, Weissman, and the short stack Anthony Hu. 

Weissman won $295,000 for first and Moncek picked up $182,900 for his runner-up finish. The top 17 finishers each scored at least $17,700 and a few points toward the PokerGO Cup — a race now led by Weissman on the strength of his opening top-two finishes. 

Texas Mike Moncek fell just short of back-to-back PokerGO Cup wins.

Weissman and Moncek take control

Hu was out in the opening moments after his ace-ten lost to Lichtenberger and the final six players battled for more than two hours before Lichtenberger stepped off the stage in sixth place. 

The two-plus hour stretch had complicated choreography. Moncek took the lead and Laskowitz took it back while everyone else traded doubles. Lichtenberger doubled through Moncek, Weissman doubled through Lichtenberger, Moreno doubled through Moncek, Seidel doubled through Lichtenberger, Moreno doubled through Lichtenberger, Lichtenberger doubled through Moreno, and Weissman doubled through Laskowitz. 

Did you get all that? When the dancing ended, Lichtenberger was gone and Weissman had the big stack — followed by Moreno, Moncek, Seidel, and the new short stack Laskowitz. 

Laskowitz bowed out a few minutes later at the hands of Seidel before Moncek busted Moreno to take the chip lead and leave play three-handed. 

Seidel ran into Weissman's pocket aces and it was Goodnight, Irene.

The chip lead changed again when Weissman picked up on the button and raised. Seidel three-bet with and Weissman flat-called to see on the flop. Seidel continued and Weissman called for a on the turn before the rest of the money went in. The river was to secure Weissman the chip lead and Seidel the short stack. Soon after, Seidel shoved with jack-nine and Moncek eliminated him in third place with jack-ten. 

Heads-up sequel

Moncek entered heads-up play with the chip lead, but Weissman took control with a big double when his ace-ten called a Texas Mike shove to beat king-four. Moncek pulled even once again and took the lead, only to surrender another double that put Weissman back on top. 

This is not a repost from Event #1.

The final two players stepped out for a break with 36 big blinds left on the table and Moncek presumably jumped into Event #3 before registration ended. When they returned, Moncek shoved with and Weissman called with while holding a slim lead. 

Moncek stood up and the board ran out to seal Weissman's victory. 

PokerGO Cup Event #2 ($10,100) final table results

^{Photos courtesy of PokerGO}