The 2024 US Poker Open is hurtling towards its finale, with the $25k buy-in closer starting later on today at the PokerGO studios in Las Vegas.
And, fans of Phil Hellmuth will be pleased to hear that the Poker Brat will be playing. With the aid of Pink Floyd's Happiest Days of Our Lives, Hellmuth has given himself a pep talk, and told himself to man up and stop acting like he's afraid.
On the video above you can see his message of positivity to himself.
"I chose this music as a way of breaking through," Hellmuth says. "So, I found myself thinking today... 'Oh, I don't think I should play the $25k tournament buy-in tomorrow, oh I'm not running really good, oh I didn't play my best the other day... you finished eighth and you finished fifth Phil, man up!'
"My wife told me, 'What are you doing, are you afraid?'
"I was like, 'Oh my god, am I afraid of a $25k?' Of course not but I'm acting that way. So, I've decided to stay... I'm here for tournaments, win or lose I'm playing the $25k at the PokerGO studios. Man up. Phil!"
Zobian on top of the leaderboard
Hellmuth won't be playing for the title of overall US Poker Open Cup champion. His fifth and eighth place finishes so far are only good for 20th on the leaderboard. Event 6 winner Aram Zobian is in pole position to win the Golden Eagle Trophy and $25,000 PGT Passport, but other players are still in the hunt, with Event 7 down to the final six.
Stephen Chidwick is leading the final table, with Joey Weissman in second, followed by Eric Afriat, Sam Laskowitz, Bill Klein and Sean Winter. The winner will receive $288,000 and 288 PGT points. Laskowitz is a short stack but could vault into second place with a runner-up or better finish.
2024 US Poker Open Leaderboard
| Place | Player | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Aram Zobian | 569 |
| 2nd | Jesse Lonis | 369 |
| 3rd | Rodger Johnson | 301 |
| 4th | David Coleman | 291 |
| 5th | Matthew Wantman | 269 |
| 6th | Erik Seidel | 255 |
| 7th | Dan Smith | 235 |
| 8th | Sam Laskowitz | 224 |
| 9th | Victoria Livschitz | 212 |
Check the full US Poker Open leaderboard. You can watch Event 7's final table on PokerGO from 5pm ET today. The final table from the $25k finale will be on PokerGO from 7pm ET tomorrow.
Can Hellmuth turn Pink Floyd positivity into his second US Poker Open win, after taking down Event 5 for $211,200 last March?
2024 US Poker Open winners
- Event 1: Erik Seidel
- Event 2: Jesse Lonis
- Event 3: Dan Smith
- Event 4: David Coleman
- Event 5: Matthew Wantman
- Event 6: Aram Zobian
- Event 7: TBC
