The 2024 PokerGO Cup points race came to a thundering close on Saturday, with Jonathan Little conquering the $25k finale and overall series crown. Little shipped the final event of the series, Event #8: $25, 200 NLH, earning $453,750 and 272 PGT points to seal his position as the series champion.
This was his second victory and fourth cash in the PokerGo Cup 2024. The two-time WPT champion won his first PGT title earlier this week in Event #3: $10,100 No-Limit Hold’em and then cashed two more events before clinching the significant victory in the $25k finale on Saturday. The victory marked his career’s fourth largest score, boosting his live tournament earnings to a hefty $8,884,234. For his impressive showing during this series, the 39-year-old poker pro was crowned the 2024 PokerGO Cup champion. This prestigious title came with the titular cup and a championship bonus of $25,000.
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Event #8: $25,200 No-Limit Hold’em Final Day Action
The final day for the last event of the series began with Riordan in the lead and Little fifth in chips among the final six players. PokerGO newcomer Shaneil Stokes (6th for $82,500) was the first to fall. His pocket sixes failed to hold up against the A-Q of Zaki, who had already overtaken the chip lead.
Little’s surge began when he scored a key double up through Zaki and then knocked out Seth Davies in fifth place ($110,000), dominating the A-9 of Davies with his A-K to whittle the field down to four. Not long after, Little moved into the lead after winning one more pot from Zaki. However, Zaki bounced back and eliminated Riordan in fourth place ($137,500 ) with his A-Q beating A-J of Riordan. A little later, it was Justin Saliba who fell in third place after running into the As Ad of Zaki with Ac 3h. With no help from the board, Saliba was eliminated in third place ($192,500).
Heads-Up
The heads-up began with Little holding a chip lead of 4.8 million to Zaki’s 3.3 million. Little extended his chip lead quickly and gained a 3 to 1 advantage before the final hand. Finally, Little shoved the button with Ac 3c, and Zaki called all-in with his Kh 7h. The board ran out Ah 9d 7s Jc Jh where Little made aces and jacks to lock up the coveted pot and the PokerGo Cup championship title. Zaki, who had won Event No. 5 of this series, earned $288,750 as the runner-up. This was the fourth-largest score of his poker career.
The poker legend Daniel Negreanu was all praise for Little’s latest victory and congratulated him a via a post on Twitter.
Event #8: $25,200 No-Limit Hold’em Final Table Payouts & PGT Points
| Place | Player | Earnings | PGT Points |
| 1 | Jonathan Little | $453,750 | 272 |
| 2 | Justin Zaki | $288,750 | 173 |
| 3 | Justin Saliba | $192,500 | 116 |
| 4 | John Riordan | $137,500 | 83 |
| 5 | Seth Davies | $110,000 | 66 |
| 6 | Shaneil Stokes | $82,500 | 50 |
PokerGO Cup Winners
Launched in 2021, the PokerGO Cup is the youngest of the PGT majors. It has quickly grown into one of the most high-stakes tournament series in poker. Now a fixture on the PokerGO Tour schedule, the series has seen some of the PGT’s heavyweights walk away with the coveted sliver cup. The first player to win a PokerGO Cup series was Daniel Negreanu, and he was followed by Jeremy Ausmus, Cary Katz, and now Jonathan Little joins these players by becoming the latest PokerGO Cup champion.
| Year | Events | Winner | Wins | Cashes | Series Earnings |
| 2021 | 8 | Daniel Negreanu | 1 | 4 | $996,200 |
| 2022 | 8 | Jeremy Ausmus | 1 | 4 | $824,500 |
| 2023 | 8 | Cary Katz | 0 | 5 | $655,800 |
| 2024 | 8 | Jonathan Little | 2 | 4 | $730,350 |
Image Credit: PokerGo
