Matthew Alsante has defeated a tough field of pros in the $5,000 NL Hold’em event to win a prize of $785,486.
The American swept aside Thai high-stakes professional Punnat Punsri heads-up to seize the title and his first gold bracelet.
![Matthew Alsante Matthew Alsante](https://vipgrinderscom.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Matthew-Alsante.jpg)
Alsante has taken a more serious approach to poker over the last decade but he is really only just starting to get going.
The best cash on his record before this event was only $4,822 — less than his buy-in two days ago.
To win this title, Alsante had to navigate through a field of 1,041 players and then deal with Punsri, a man with more than $16 million in live tournament winnings.
A great achievement that proves the dream is still alive for any aspiring poker players who are interested in trying out the game.
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Final Action
After nine levels, the returning 88 players had reduced to only nine with a prize of $62,945 guaranteed.
No doubt feeling that the stars had aligned, Matthew Alsante started the final table stage with a bang.
He quickly sent home both Patrick Leonard and Japan’s Hirokazu Kobayashi in quick time to give himself a chance of building a commanding stack.
And he soon got his wish. After Jon Vallinas and Ramin Hajiyev left the playing hall to leave the tournament four-handed, Alsante doubled up to leave himself sat with three quarters of the chips in play.
![Punnat Punsri Punnat Punsri](https://vipgrinderscom.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Punnat-Punsri.jpg)
He maintained this advantage going into heads-up play against Punsri but a key hand threatened to undo all of his hard work.
Getting sticky with second pair all-in, Alsante was up against his opponent’s top pair and facing a ruiness situation. However, a miracle turn card to give him two pair flipped the script and gave him a lead he would never lose.
Event #87: $5,000 8-Handed No-Limit Hold’em Final Table Results
Place | Name | Country | Prize (USD) |
1 | Matthew Alsante | United States | $785,486 |
2 | Punnat Punsri | Thailand | $523,648 |
3 | Philip Wiszowaty | United States | $372,446 |
4 | Oleg Vasylchenko | Ukraine | $268,407 |
5 | Ramin Hajiyev | Azerbaijan | $196,024 |
6 | Jon Vallinas | Spain | $145,107 |
7 | Hirokazu Kobayashi | Japan | $108,895 |
8 | Patrick Leonard | United Kingdom | $82,862 |
9 | Ueberton De Aquino | Brazil | $62,945 |
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