Albania Hosts Million-Dollar Pot-Limit Omaha Tournament

Pot-limit Omaha is having a second on the poker event scene. The standard four-card poker recreation has been the format for an increasing number of giant occasions across the globe in recent times. While PLO’s reputation is spiking, poker itself continues to unfold across the globe, establishing footholds in an increasing number of main worldwide cities. A current addition to the poker scene had been Arena Casino Tirana within the capital of Albania. The venue began internet hosting extensively publicized occasions in late 2023, and final 12 months established the PLO Grand Slam hosted by Diamond Poker Series, specializing in the recent recreation on the scene. The inaugural operating in 2024 featured €3 million in ensures, and the success of the pageant result in a second version early in 2025.

This time round, the assured prize cash throughout the pageant has been upped to €5 million, with the 2 largest occasions being the €1,000,000 assured €5,000 ‘opener’ and the €2,000,000 assured €10,000 championship. While the latter of these two marquee tournaments is presently ongoing, the previous wrapped up on Jan. 26. High-stakes event common Tom Vogelsang overcame the sphere of 225 entries to earn $245,910 and his fourth recorded title, together with a win in a Triton Poker $25,000 pot-limit Omaha occasion.

This was the fifth-largest rating but for the Dutch participant, together with his prime payday being the $1.4 million he earned because the runner-up within the Triton Poker Cyprus $100,000 buy-in occasion again in 2022. He now has almost $3.9 million in lifetime cashes to his title after this newest victory.

Vogelsang additionally earned 768 Card Player Player of the Year factors, inserting him inside the highest 40 within the early 2025 POY race standings offered by Global Poker.

The prime 27 finishers earned a share of the $1.1 million in complete prize cash that was awarded on this occasion. There had been loads of massive names amongst people who cashed, together with Robert Cowen (twenty third), Ismael Bojang (twenty second), Dario Alioto (twenty first), and Fahredin Mustafov (18th).

Bracelet winner Ronald Keijzer completed eighth for $30,135, whereas European Poker Tour champion 2019 World Series of poker important occasion winner Hossein Ensan positioned sixth for $57,015. The German received all-in with prime pair and three dwell kickers in opposition to an overpair of aces for Sean Rafael. Ensan turned two pair to maneuver in entrance, however the board paired on the tip to offer Rafael aces up and the pot. Ensan now has greater than $13.9 million in profession earnings after this newest deep run.

Rafael went on to complete second for $166,005. This was a brand new excessive rating for the American, besting the $115,000 he had earned with a thirdplace displaying in a $10,000 occasion on the 2024 PokerGO Tour PLO Series.

Here is a have a look at the payouts and POY factors awarded on the remaining desk:

Photo credit score: PokerInformation.