The 2019 US Poker Open is sprinting like a track and field star towards the finishing line, the defending champion Stephen Chidwick is ahead by a neck with a gaggle of stars ready to stamp all over his Achilles heel.
The last time we touched based with you, Chidwick began the defence of his title in sterling fashion, overcoming a field of 90-entrants to win Event #1: $10,000 No-Limit Hold’em. Jordan Cristos took down the 64-entrant Event #2: $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha, and Lauren Roberts became the first female to win a US Poker Open title when she outlasted 91-entrants to win Event #3 $10,000 No-Limit Hold’em.
Sean Winter took the lead when he made his fourth successive final table taking down Event #4: $10,000 Short-Deck, with Chidwick nestled in second place after making three final tables.
The stakes increased for Event #5: $25,000 No-Limit Hold’em, and the reigning Poker Masters Champion, Ali Imsirovic, took down a 59-entrant field, including defeating Cary Katz, heads-up.
Katz would have another stellar run in Event #6: $25,000 Pot-Limit Omaha, once again finishing second, but still, the headlines belonged to Chidwick, who won his second title of the series, defeating 39-entrants to win his first PLO live title.
There was no sight of Chidwick, Winter or Katz at the final table of Event #7: $25,000 No-Limit Hold’em. A rare sight, indeed. Not that either of them would have made a difference, as a fresh and funky Aussie Millions Main Event Champion, Bryn Kenney, steamrollered the place in less than an hour to take maximum points.
The last winner’s photograph showed Nick Schulman sitting in front of a pile of chips and KTo. Schulman conquered a field of 20-entrants in Event #8: $25,000 Mixed Game Championship. Only three people made money, with Brandon Adams finishing second, and Chris Vitch taking third.
So who is in with a chance of winning this thing?
At the time of writing, Sean Winter has made the final table of Event #9: $50,000 No-Limit Hold’em as the chip leader. None of his rivals joins him. So should Winter finished third or higher he will take the lead going into the $100,000 No-Limit Hold’em Championship.
As it stands, there is a maximum of 550 points available for Winter and the people joining him at the final table of Event #9 (Ryan Riess, Koray Aldemir, Alex Foxen, Seth Davies and David Peters).
All of this means that our 2019 US Poker Open winner will come from this stock:
1. Stephen Chidwick (Defending Champion)
2. Sean Winter
3. Ryan Riess
4. Alex Foxen
5. David Peters
6. Seth Davies
7. Koray Aldemir
8. Nick Schulman
9. Cary Katz
10. Bryn Kenney
11. Lauren Roberts
12. Jordan Cristos
13. Ali Imsirovic
14. Ben Yu
15. Brandon Adams
Scoring System
Mixed Game Championship/Main Event
1. 350
2. 245
3. 175
4. 140
5. 105
6+. 70
All Other Events
1. 200
2. 140
3. 100
4. 80
5. 60
6+. 40
US Poker Open Standings (After 8-Events)
1. Stephen Chidwick – 540 pts ($705,950)
2. Sean Winter – 440 pts ($419,900)
3. Nick Schulman – 410 pts ($390,000)
4. Brandon Adams – 365 pts ($314,750)
5. Cary Katz – 340 pts ($580,200)
6. Bryn Kenney – 240 pts ($477,000)
7. Lauren Roberts – 240 pts ($263,400)
8. Jordan Cristos – 240 pts ($206,200)
9. Ali Imsirovic – 200 pts ($442,500)
10. Ben Yu – 200 pts ($262,800)
Remaining Events
Event #9: $50,000 No-Limit Hold’em (Feb 21)
Event #10: $100,000 No-LImit Hold’em Main Event (Feb 22)