Chidwick Wins Final PokerGO U.S. Poker Open Event; Zobian Claims Overall Title

Stephen Chidwick‘s live poker tournament earnings burst through the $57 million barrier after the British superstar took down the final event of the 2024 PokerGO U.S. Poker Open. Chidwick came out on top in the $25,200 No-Limit Hold’em event to capture the tenth PokerGO Tour title of his illustrious career.

Fifty-two buy-ins were processed, creating a $1,300,000 prize pool. The top eight finishers won a slice of that juicy pie, with David Coleman busting in eighth place on Day 1 for $52,000. This left only seven players in the hunt for the $429,000 top prize.

Event #8: $25,200 No-Limit Hold’em Results

Chidwick entered the final table with a commanding chip lead, his 123 big blind stack dwarfing the stacks of his opponents. In a stroke of coincidence, the finalists fell in order of their final table starting stack, with the exception of sixth and seventh place.

Within minutes of the Day 2 action commencing, Jesse Lonis found himself void of chips after a clash with Chidwick did not go to plan. Lonis, who started the day sixth from seven in chips, moved all-in for seven big blinds with jack-eight of clubs from the button, and Chidwick called with the dominating king-jack in the small blind. Both players paired their jack on the turn, but it wasn’t enough to save Lonis’ tournament life.

For this event’s results to influence the overall 2024 U.S. Poker Open leaderboard, Lonis had to finish in first place and Aram Zobian go no deeper than sixth. Lonis’ demise locked in Zobian’s overall title, earning him the coveted eagle trophy and a $25,000 PGT Passport.

With the pressure not removed, Zobian could concentrate on rebuilding his short-stack. That rebuilding quest ended in defeat when he three-bet all-in for 12 big blinds after Chidwick had min-raised. Chidwick called with pocket tens, Zobian revealed ace-three, and the five community cards were all safe for Chidwick’s holding.

Chidwick lost some momentum when Cary Katz doubled through him with kings versus queens, but the popular Brit got those chips back when his ten-nine improved to a straight flush to send Katz home in fifth place.

Dan Smith‘s latest deep run ended in a fourth-place finish thanks to Brandon Wittmeyer. The action folded to Wittmeyer in the small blind, and he open-shoved with ace-ten. Smith looked down at ace-nine of diamonds, and decided it was strong enough to call off his last 14.5 big blinds. Wittmeyer and Smith caught an ace on the turn, but it was Wittmeyer who also paired his kicker when a ten completed the board.

Chidwick resumed the role of executioner and sent Wittmeyer home in third. With blinds now 25,000/50,000/50,000a, Wittmeyer opened to 110,000, Chidwick three-bet to 350,000, and Wittmeyer jammed for 1,200,000. Chidwick wasted no time in calling, and his ace-king was off to the races against Wittmeyer’s pocket tens. A king on the flop proved more than enough to send Wittmeyer to the cashier’s desk to collect the $182,000 third place prize money.

Andrew “Lucky Chewy” Lichtenberger was the only player left standing in Chidwick’s way, but he trailed Chidwick by more than two-to-one, which is not the best position to find oneself in, especially when looking across the table at a player of Chidwick’s quality.

Although Lichtenberger drew first blood and then almost clawed his way level, Chidwick relieved him of all but 45,000 chips when his ace-king got there on the turn against Lichtenberger’s pocket tens. Lichtenberger was all-in before the deal, and his pair of black threes lost to Chidwick’s eight-four courtesy of a four on the flop. Lichtenberger banked $273,000 for his runner-up finish, while Chidwick’s tenth PGT title came with $429,000 reasons to smile.

Zobian Wins U.S. Poker Open Title at a Canter

Although Lonis could have pipped Zobian to the post in the overall leaderboard, Zobian won the Player of the Series race at a canter. Zobian’s victory, second, third, and sixth-place finishers earned him $613,540 in prize money, and 616 worth of points.

Zobian’s points tally was 189 more than runner-up Chidwick, and 216 ahead of bronze medalist Lonis.