Cup Conquerers: Sean Winter, Justin Saliba Highlight Early PokerGO Cup Winners
The PokerGO Cup reached the halfway point in Las Vegas on Monday with four winners cashing in so far. Some of those notching victories in the high-stakes poker action included Justin Saliba and Sean Winter.
A Texas player who donates a nice chunk of his winnings also took home a title. The action continues this week from the Vegas Strip, streamed live from the PokeGO Studio. Here’s a look at the first half of the action.
Event 4: $10,000 No Limit Hold’em
Justin Saliba (pictured in lead image, courtesy PokerGO) continued a nice recent run by snagging this title on Monday. The Las Vegas-based player took home $195,000 for his efforts, topping a field of 78 entries.
Getting to the finish line wasn’t easy after Saliba entered the final table fifth out of six. Anthony Hu held the chip lead for much of the final table, but Saliba was able to top him in heads-up play.
Hu grabbed $140,400 for runner-up with Spain’s Adrian Mateos taking third for $93,600. For Saliba, the win comes after taking fifth in the BetMGM $5,500 The Return championship event at the Borgata in Atlantic City, New Jersey, earlier this month for $304,629. He now has more than $2.2 million in live tournament winnings.
Thanks for all the love, feels really good!❤️ RUNNING HOTTTT!🔥🔥🔥 https://t.co/JrhAtCuTb1
— Justin Saliba (@Justin_Saliba) January 17, 2023
Event 3: $10,000 NLHE
After selling a successful RV dealership in 2010, Ed Sebesta hit the tournament poker trail. Since then, he has more than $1.2 million in live tournament winnings. That record also now includes a PokerGO Cup title after winning this event on Sunday.
The Texan, who is in his upper 70s, bested a field of 90 entries for a $216,000 score. Sebesta doesn’t just play for himself however. He donates some of his poker winnings to the Holy Cross Order of Catholic priests in honor of his son Andrew. His son served as a priest in the order, but passed away in 2012 after developing a brain tumor.
PokerGO commentator Nick Schulman finished runner-up for $153,000 with Philip Shing in third for $108,000.
Event 2: $10,000 NLHE
Rhode Island’s Aram Zobian came out the winner of this event that saw a field of 83 entries. He took the chip lead into the final table and steered his stack to victory and a $207,500 payday.
Zobian now has more than $3.2 million in live tournament winnings and his first PokerGO Cup win. Punnat Punsri finished runner-up for $149,400 and Kristen Foxen took third for $99,600.
Aram Zobian claims the title in PokerGO Cup Event #2!
Punnat Punsri put on a show at the final table, eliminating the first three players, but @AramZobian was able to overcome him in heads-up play to take home $207,500.
📺 – Watch the event replay here: https://t.co/6Xqg0W2OGA pic.twitter.com/7Ea5a0aorC
— PokerGO (@PokerGO) January 13, 2023
Event 1: $10,000 NLHE
The opening event of the series produced a field of 90 entries with Sean Winter finding the winner’s circle. He entered the final table in the lowest spot in chips, seventh, but was able to turn things around for the win.
Winter is no stranger to PokerGO Tour success and has a litany of wins and top finishes on the tour. In a career dating back to 2011, the native of Jacksonville, Florida, now has more than $23 million in live tournament winnings.
Alex Foxen finished runner-up for $153,000 with Joseph Cheong scoring third for $108,000. Four more events in the series remain. For a complete preview and schedule, click here.