Zhen Cai is on a roll down the stretch on the 2023 PGT PLO Series II. The 2019 World Series of Poker most important occasion sixth-place finisher has cashed in three straight $10,100 buy-in occasions, bettering placement every time as he went. He completed sixth within the Omaha seller’s selection occasion, fifth within the pot-limit Omaha occasion, and got here away with the title within the pot-limit Omaha eight-or-better occasion, incomes $176,000 because the champion. Cai now has greater than $3.3 million in profession earnings after this newest victory.
This trio of deep runs has moved Cai into third place within the series-long standings, with 284 PGT factors and $283,800 in earnings accrued alongside the way in which. He trails solely Joao Simao (341 factors) and Jim Collopy (297) within the race for the sequence champion title.
This occasion attracted 55 entries, constructing a prize pool of $550,000. Only the highest eight finishers made the cash, with the bubble bursting late on day 1. Day 2 started with simply 5 contenders remaining and Cai within the lead.
He added to his benefit by knocking out Adam Hendrix in fifth place ($44,000). Ryan Rapaski then knocked out four-time bracelet winner Nick Schulman (4th – $55,000) to shut the hole a bit, however Cai was nonetheless properly out in entrance when three-handed play started.
Two-time bracelet winner Jesse Lonis doubled via Cai twice to tighten up the standings a bit, however was finally despatched to the rail in third place. He received all-in with AQ65 towards the AJJ4 of Cai. The board ran out 33258 and Cai scooped along with his wheel. Lonis, who had received a $10,100 pot-limit Omaha excessive curler at ARIA only a few days earlier, earned $77,000 for his podium end.
Heads-up play started with Cai holding 5,425,000 to Rapaski’s 1,450,000. Cai was in a position to pull even additional forward by the point the ultimate hand was dealt. He limped in from the button with 8853 and Rapaski raised from the massive blind with A1092. Cai re-potted and Rapaski moved all-in for not far more. Cai referred to as and the board ran out Q9335, giving Cai threes filled with fives for the news. Rapaski earned $115,500 because the runner-up.
Here is a take a look at the payouts and rankings factors awarded on the remaining desk:
Place | Player | Earnings | POY Points | PGT Points |
1 | Zhen Cai | $176,000 | 300 | 176 |
2 | Ryan Rapaski | $115,500 | 250 | 116 |
3 | Jesse Lonis | $77,000 | 200 | 77 |
4 | Nick Schulman | $55,000 | 150 | 55 |
5 | Adam Hendrix | $44,000 | 125 | 44 |
6 | Bryce Yockey | $33,000 | 100 | 33 |
7 | Joao Simao | $27,500 | 75 | 28 |
Check out the present prime ten within the sequence factors race after eight occasions:
Rank | Player | Points | Wins | Cashes | Winnings |
1 | Joao Simao | 341 | 1 | 5 | $340,650 |
2 | Jim Collopy | 297 | 0 | 3 | $286,200 |
3 | Zhen Cai | 284 | 1 | 3 | $283,800 |
4 | Bryce Yockey | 283 | 1 | 3 | $283,575 |
5 | Benjamin Juhasz | 275 | 1 | 3 | $275,100 |
6 | Adam Hendrix | 270 | 1 | 3 | $242,510 |
7 | Stephen Hubbard | 262 | 1 | 2 | $261,550 |
8 | Richard Gryko | 246 | 0 | 3 | $245,580 |
9 | Eelis Parssinen | 236 | 1 | 4 | $235,880 |
10 | Allan Le | 205 | 0 | 4 | $205,960 |
Photo credit: PokerGO / Antonio Abgrego.