The first champion of the 2024 Poker Masters crowned yesterday and it was none other than the two-time World Series of Poker Circuit ring winner Spencer Champlin who now has an impressive seven final table finishes to his name in 2024. He overcame a competitive field of 131 entries in Event#: $5,100 buy-in no-limit hold’em kickoff event, claiming the title and the top prize worth $160,475. This marked his first PokerGo Tour title and second-largest live score, boosting his live tournament earnings to nearly $3.2 million.
Finishing runner-up to Champlin was none other than 2024 WSOP Circuit Commerce Casino main event champion Jessica Vierling from Germany who started the heads-up with the chip lead and almost closed it out at one point but it was not to be her day. She eventually lost the title, settling in second place for a $98,250 prize. Interestingly, both players gained entry into this tournament via a $560 buy-in satellite at Aria.
2024 Poker Masters Event #1 Quick Recap
This event ran for two days and generated a prize pool of $655,000 and paid out the top 19 finishers. Plenty of big names cashed, including David Coleman (17th), 2013 WSOP main event champion Ryan Riess (16th), bracelet winner Alex Foxen (15th), bracelet winner Chris Hunichen (11th), two-time Super High Roller Bowl winner Isaac Haxton (8th), and WPT champion Matthew Wantman (7th).
Only 6 players made it to the live-streamed final table, which was played out on Day 2. The 2024 WSOPC Commerce Casino main event champion Jessica Vierling entered Day 2 as chip leader.
The first player to fall was Bracelet winner Nicholas Seward who called a shove from Spencer Champlin for just 14 big blinds holding ace-king suited against the queen-three of Champlin. Seward remained through the turn but a queen on the river sealed his fate, ending his run in sixth place ($32,750).
Another bracelet winner Zachary Grech, who lost a big chunk of his stack to Vierling, was left with less than three big blinds. Shortly after that, he won some back with pocket queens but was soon all-in with eight-six trailing ace-five of bracelet winner Dylan Linde, who made aces and fours to win the pot and bust his opponent fifth place ($39,300).
Dan Shak was the next player to fall. His pocket tens led the pocket nines of Vierling and he was in great shape to double up. However, a nine on the turn gave Vierling a set and busted Shak in fourth place ($52,400).
Linde became the shortest after his A-Q failed to beat the A-4 of Champlin in a preflop all-in confrontation. Not long after that he shoved his Q-6 and ran into K-Q for Champlin to exit in third place ($72,050).
The heads-up was a thrilling one where Vierling held roughly a 2:1 lead over Champlin. She almost won it with her K-Q leading Champlin’s Q-J in a preflop all-in, but Champlin found a jack on the turn and held from there to get out of the danger zone. He then doubled with his ace-seven holding against the king-seven of Vierling. After a back-and-forth battle from there, it all ended when Champlin holding As Qs opened with 500k and Vierling three-bet shoved with Ac Js in the big blind.
Champlin called and the board ran out 9c 5s 3s Ah Qd, giving Champlin the pot as well as the title.
2024 Poker Masters Event #1 Final Table Payouts
| Place | Player | Earnings |
| 1 | Spencer Champlin | $160,475 |
| 2 | Jessica Vierling | $98,250 |
| 3 | Dylan Linde | $72,050 |
| 4 | Dan Shak | $52,400 |
| 5 | Zachary Grech | $39,300 |
| 6 | Nicholas Seward | $32,750 |
2024 Poker Masters is being presented by PokerStars NAPT and runs from September 10-19 with buy-ins ranging from $5,100 to $25,200. Apart from the coveted Purple Jacket and a $25,000 PGT Passport, the series also awards a Gold Pass to NAPT Las Vega, which is set to take place from November 1-10.
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Images & Hands Credit: PokerGO/PokerMasters
