Justin Zaki Triumphs In Poker Masters Event No. 3

Justin Zaki emerged victorious in occasion no. 3 on the 2024 Poker Masters excessive curler event pageant. The Floridian poker professional overcame a area of 94 whole entries within the $10,100 buy-in no-limit maintain’em affair to earn $244,400 and his first title in a Poker Masters occasion.

This was Zaki’s second win at a PokerGO Tour main, having gained a $10,500 buy-in occasion at this 12 months’s PokerGO Cup. He now has almost $5.9 million in profession earnings on the circuit.

In addition to the cash and the {hardware}, Zaki additionally earned 540 Card Player Player of the Year factors because the champion of this occasion. This was his second title and seventh final-table end of the 12 months. As a outcome, he climbed to 147th place within the 2024 POY rankings offered by (*3*) This victory additionally rewarded Zaki with 244 PokerGO Tour factors. His 706 whole factors have moved him inside the highest 50 in that high-stakes-centric leaderboard.

Zaki got here into the ultimate day because the chip chief amongst the seven who survived day 1 motion. Plenty of huge names cashed however fell in need of making day 2, together with David Coleman(twelfth), four-time bracelet winner Kristen Foxen (eleventh), bracelet winner Aram Zobian (tenth), and seven-time bracelet winner Daniel Negreanu (ninth).

Short stack Ren Lin was the primary to fall, shedding a flip with pocket sixes in opposition to the Ok-Q of six-time bracelet winner Jeremy Ausmus. Lin earned $37,600 because the seventh-place finisher. This was his thirteenth final-table end of the 12 months. With 4,576 POY factors, he now sits in thirteenth place within the general standings.

Three-time bracelet winner Jim Collopy’s run got here to an finish in sixth place. He shoved from the button for 14 huge blind with J-10 suited and acquired a swift name from Michael Brinkenhoff, who held A-Ok. Collopy flopped a pair to take the lead, however an ace on the river despatched him packing with $47,000.

PokerGO founder Cary Katz bought his final handful of huge blinds in with A10 main the A3 of Zaki. The flop of 642 left Katz in tough form. The 4 flip gave Katz some additional outs, however the 9 on the tip confirmed his elimination in fifth place ($65,800). He now has almost $40.4 million in lifetime earnings after this newest robust displaying on the excessive curler circuit.

Victoria Livschitz went out in fourth place. With 4 diamonds on board she wager 425,000 of her 925,000 chips with Ok10. Zaki moved all-in with OkJ, which was the nuts with the ace of diamonds approaching the tip. Livschitz referred to as and was proven the dangerous information. She cashed for $84,600, the fifth-largest rating of her burgeoning event profession. She now has almost $2 million in recorded earnings to her title.

Brinkenhoff additionally secured one in every of his greatest event paydays but with a robust displaying on this occasion. The 75-year-old physician primarily based out of Ventura, CA cashed out for $112,800 because the third-place finisher. This was his fourth-largest money but, bringing his whole to almost $1.2 million. A basic preflop race pitted his pocket threes in opposition to the A-Ok of Zaki. There have been two kings on board by the river, giving Zaki journeys and sending Brinkenhoff house in third place.

Heads-up play started with Zaki holding 9,150,000 to Ausmus’ 2,600,000. Ausmus managed a double up with Ok-9 holding in opposition to Ok-2 to shut the hole a bit within the early going. That progress was quickly undone when Ausmus’ high pair was overwhelmed by Zaki’s rivered flush. Ausmus check-called roughly a 3rd of his stack on the tip to seek out himself left with simply 12 huge blinds.

Ausmus prolonged the match, doubling once more with A-4 in opposition to Zaki’s Ok-9. On the very subsequent deal, Zaki shoved from the button with 44 and Ausmus made the decision with AQ. The board ran out 642510 and Zaki made a set to win the pot and the title.

Ausmus earned $155,100 because the runner-up. This was his 18th final-table end of the 12 months, with one title gained alongside the best way. His 6,037 factors is sweet for fifth place within the 2024 POY race. The 450 PGT factors he secured prolonged his benefit on that leaderboard. With 2,315 factors, he now sits 480 factors forward of second-ranked Michael Rocco.

Here is a take a look at the payouts and rankings factors awarded on the closing desk:

Photo credit: PokerGO / Antonio Abrego.