Jesse Lonis and Dan Smith are the latest big winners in the US Poker Open series currently playing out at the PokerGO studios at the Aria in Vegas.
Lonis was among 99 entries to the first of the $10k buy-in NLH tournaments on the 8-event schedule, the hopefuls chasing not only a payday but points towards the overall Golden Eagle leaderboard trophy and $25,000 bonus.
Fifteen players would make the money, including highroller crushers Stephen Chidwick (12th for $24,750) and Sean Winter (7th for $39,600). By the time the final seven congregated on day two, Lonis was out front in chips, closely followed by Kristina Holst, one of two women at the final table.
It was to be a one-man-show, however, as Lonis went pillar-to-post, eliminating all six of his rivals, the following hand seeing Holst jam the turn with top pair and a flush draw…
Holst: K♠ 6♠
Lonis: K♥ 10♦
Flop: 7♠ 2♣ K♣
Turn: 3♠
River: 9♦
…but bricking the river to crash out in 3rd place for a $113,850 cash.
Heads-up, Lonis faced Aram Zobian, and the end came quickly as the Rhode Island native ran into a steamroller, Lonis finishing off in style…
It's all over! @JesseLonis finishes his SWEEP of the final table and takes home the first place prize of $252,450 and the Golden Eagle Trophy.
This is his 3rd career PGT title.
Zobian finishes in second place and will take home $163,350. pic.twitter.com/Uj1WEnYSAX
— PokerGO (@PokerGO) April 10, 2024
Event #2: Final results
| Place | Name | Pirze (USD) |
| 1 | Jesse Lonis | $252,450 |
| 2 | Aram Zobian | $163,350 |
| 3 | Kristina Holst | $113,850 |
| 4 | Rodger Johnson | $89,100 |
| 5 | Joey Weissman | $64,350 |
| 6 | Victoria Livschitz | $49,500 |
| 7 | Sean Winter | $39,600 |
Jesse Lonis Challenges again in Event #3
Lonis was again in the frame as event #3 unfolded, busting the bubble when his pocket queens took out Sam Soverel’s jacks and reducing the 84 entries to just 12 paid spots.
Rodger Johnson was another making a second straight final table appearance, and he ended Dylan Linde and David Coleman’s hopes, the latter hit by a brutal flop and turn combo…
Johnson: K♦ Q♣
Coleman: 10♦ 10♣
Flop: 5♠ Q♥ 5♥
Turn: Q♦
River: 4♥
While Johnson also took out Lonis and overnight chip leader David Stamm, Dan Smith had been quietly going about his business. Heads-up for the title, Smith’s only KO of the day saw him fell Johnson to scoop the $235,200 top prize.
Dan Smith comes to his FIRST event of the series and wins!
He takes home the first place prize of $235,200 and the Golden Eagle Trophy.
This is his 5th career PGT title.
Rodger Johnson finishes in second place and will take home $151,200. pic.twitter.com/pycz7naTyb
— PokerGO (@PokerGO) April 12, 2024
Event #3: Final results
| Place | Name | Prize (USD) |
| 1 | Dan Smith | $235,200 |
| 2 | Rodger Johnson | $151,200 |
| 3 | David Stamm | $109,200 |
| 4 | Jesse Lonis | $79,800 |
| 5 | David Coleman | $58,800 |
| 6 | Dylan Linde | $42,000 |
| 7 | Bill Klein | $33,600 |
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