Kisacikoglu and Pidun claim gold in big money weekend action

The poker weekend always promises big prizes and excitement, and the last few days were no exception. A host of bumper scores were handed out online, including a deep run on PokerStars for Justin “zeejustin” Bonamo.

The WSOPE crowned two new winners as OrpenKisacikoglu and Thomas Pidun secured coveted gold bracelets in Rozvadov.

Here’s how it went down.

Fresh gold

WSOPE Event #11, the $50k NLHE Hold’em Diamond High Roller, saw a final table packed with some of poker’s superstars, including Sean Deeb, Nick Petrangelo, Timothy Adams, Daniel Dvoress, and Sam Grafton.

Turkish player Orpen Kisacikoglu (pictured in feature photo) took the accolades, the bracelet, and the €748,106 first prize, fending off the challenge of Sam Grafton (2^nd – €462,363) in an exciting heads-up match up.

Grafton has had an exceptional year with numerous impressive scores, including $5.5 million in the Triton Poker $200k Super High Roller in September.

In this weekend's WSOPE final, Grafton worked a short stack with great panache to give himself a shot at the title but entered the heads-up at a deficit and couldn’t hold off Kisacikoglu’s march on the title. The Turkish player has had an incredible year himself. This WSOPE title adds to the €2M prize he collected as runner up in the €100k Triton Main Event in May.

Here are the full results from the final table:

WSOPE Event #10: $2k 8-Game bracelet played to a close as well, German Thomas Pidun wrapping up victory. He earned €49,245 and his first bracelet.

Pidun earned his place on the winner’s podium by defeating Ukrainian Oleksii Kovalchuk (2^nd – €40,430) heads-up.

GGPoker Sunday Round-Up

The GGMasters NLHE $1,050 High Roller, $750k Gtd played to a finish with zufrieden holding off the challenge of Durdy heads up to win $117,899.42. Durdy picked up $89,428.24 for his commendable run.

The NLHE $1,050 Sunday High Roller $400k Gtd had 491 entries, and Gr1dwal conquered them all to win $89,774.02, narrowly edging out Andreas Nasman in 2^nd place ($67,320.81.)

Meanwhile, in the NLHE$525 Bounty Hunter High Roller, $1 Million Gtd, Russian player le0nel took care of business to collect the virtual trophy and pick up $111,886.66, beating off strong competition in the form of Hal8 (2^nd – $59,728.88) and Joseph Cheong (3^rd – $48.899.52.)

PokerStars Sunday News

The $5,200 NLHE Titans Event was major story of the weekend at PokerStars. It attracted a slew of big names, including Niklas “Lena900” Astedt and Jonathan “apestyles” Van Fleet.

Their challenges petered out in 6^th ($21,950,52) & 7^th($16,440.94) respectively, leaving the door open for decorated poker vet Justin “zeejustin” Bonamo to come through to battle heads up with Brazilian Seijistarfor the title.

Holding an advantage in both chips and experience, many might have favored Bonamo, but Seijistar had other plans. A frenetic game saw the chip lead change hands multiple times before Seijistar got the better of his more-celebrated foe to pick up the $93,118.881^st prize. Bonamo had to settle for $69,745.92 and 2^nd place.

Elsewhere, Day 1 of the PokerStars Sunday Million $109 progressive KO drew 9,603 entries, creating a prize pool of $1M. Play closed with Armenian player Gothho3 leading the remaining 75 players. They’ll return later today at 13:00ET (19:00CET) to battle it out for the $56,251.48 (+bounties) 1^st prize.

Photography by PokerPhotoArchive