Martin Zamani Wins U.S. Poker Open Finale for $666K, Named Overall Champ

The PokerGO Tour (PGT) U.S. Poker Open has a new champion after wrapping up on April 4 with Event #10: $50,000 No-Limit Hold’em, the biggest buy-in of the series that drew 37 runners for a prize pool of $1.9 million. Martin Zamani came out on top after defeating Nick Petrangelo in heads-up play to take home $666,000 and the golden eagle trophy.

The final table of the marquee finale event included Jeremy Ausmus (3rd – $296,000), who earlier finished second in Event #5: $10,000 No-Limit Hold’em for $149,600 and was also looking for the overall title, all-time money leader Justin Bonomo (4th – $203,500) and Event #9: $25,000 No-Limit Hold’em champion Dan Smith (5th – $148,000).

Event #10: $50,000 No-Limit Hold’em Final Table Results

Lighting Up the PokerGO Studio

Zamani has had recent success on the high-roller circuit after making headlines last year for accusing then-all-time money leader Bryn Kenney of running a cult-like cheating stable, including a third-place finish in the earlier Event #3: $10,000 No-Limit Hold’em for $130,200. The Floridian had an interesting answer when asked by a sideline reporter about how his approach differs from his elite high-stakes opponents: “I’m high.”

In Event #8: $25,000 No-Limit Hold’em, Joey Weissman was after his second series title after winning the opening $10,000 event for $231,000 but fell to Isaac Haxton, who took home $423,000 and his fourth high-roller victory of the year. Not only did Haxton win the $50,000 PokerGO Cup finale in January for $598,000, he took down two PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA) High Rollers for respective scores of $1.1 million and $1.6 million.

Haxton has had several other high rollers scores this year and, as PokerGO pointed out, his victory made him the first player to reach $5 million in earnings in 2023.

The high-stakes veteran has been criticized by some for wearing an N95 mask in his recent winner’s photos and took to Twitter to send a message to the haters.

According to PokerGO updates, Smith had entered the final table of Event #8 with the chip lead before going out in third. When he entered the final table of Event #9: $25,000 No-Limit Hold’em second in chips, he was able to get the job done for $399,500.

Lin was yet another player looking for a second title but was denied by Smith to take home $258,500 to be the frontrunner to be the overall champion before Zamani closed out in Event #10. Meanwhile, Daniel Negreanu finished in seventh for $47,000 after earlier finishing fourth in Event #4: $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha for $77,000.

Event #9: $25,000 No-Limit Hold’em Final Table Results

2023 U.S. Poker Open Winners

A full list of winners at the 2023 U.S. Poker Open is available in the table below.

_{Photos courtesy PokerGO}