March 1-3
The multiplier on Kent Stephens' career earnings from this win.
- 1STKent Stephens$130,000
- 2NDMyles Mullaly$85,000
- 3RDDaniyal Gheba$61,000
- 4THSandeep Koralla$48,000
- 5THNatalie Ferguson$38,000
- 6THJim Collopy$31,000
- 7THAaron Messmer$25,000
The PokerGO Cup Showcase drew a record-setting field of entrants to the PokerGO Studio this week.
The $3,000 buy-in, multi-flight no-limit hold'em tournament was designed as a more affordable entry point to, hopefully, attract new players to the tour. And it worked. Across two Day 1 flights, the field swelled to a total of 215 entrants – a new high watermark for a tour event held in the confines of the PokerGO Studio.
Stephens outlasts the pros
With only 31 players back in the mix on Day 2 – all already in the money – the carnage came quick and chaotic as competitors hit the rail one after another. There was a solid contingent of PGT regulars still in the hunt, including Chino Rheem, Jonathan Little, Sean Winter, Cary Katz, Daniel Sepiol, Joao Simao, and Dylan Linde – all of whom were eliminated prior to the final table.
After reaching the final table alongside Natalie Ferguson, Daniyal Gheba, Sandeep Koralla, Jim Collopy, and Aaron Messmer, PGT newcomer Kent Stephens defeated Myles Mullaly heads-up to claim his first tour title and the $130,000 first-place prize. It was Stephen's maiden outing in the PokerGO Studio and he was by far the least experienced player at the final table with only four recorded cashes and $12,232 in earnings.
It didn't matter. Stephens outlasted them all before pulling off an impressive comeback against Mullaly, battling his way back from a greater than 5-to-1 chip deficit.
Khavin denies Lonis in PokerGO Cup Event #2
Event #2 of the PokerGO Cup – the first of three single-day $5,100 buy-ins – drew a field of 111 entrants and continued the theme of crowning new PGT champions.
Filipp Khavin rose to the occasion this time around, battling his way through a stacked final table before defeating Jesse Lonis heads-up to claim the $124,525 first-place prize. Khavin and Lonis agreed to an ICM deal at the start of heads-up play that set aside $20,000 to play for.
Khavin took control of the chip lead when his king-high outdrew Lonis' ace-high in an all-in confrontation and then went on to close out the win shortly after.
Filipp Khavin has come close to a PGT title in the past – and is now no longer in the hunt for a maiden victory. The PokerGO Cup continues today with action in Event #3: $5,100 Single Day.
Images courtesy of Antonio Abrego/PokerGO Tour
