2018 Poker Masters: Ali Imsirovic Wins Purple Jacket, David Peters Takes Down $100,000 Buy-In Main Event

Ali Imsirovic had a breakout performance at the 2018 Poker Masters. The 23-year-old poker pro from Vancouver, WA cashed three times across the seven-event series, accumulating $1,288,600 in earnings and winning two titles. Imsirovic emerged victorious in back-to-back events, taking down a $25,000 buy-in no-limit hold’em on Wednesday, Sept. 13 and then turning around to win the $50,000 buy-in no-limit hold’em event just a day later. With those two victories and an eighth-place showing in the series’ kickoff $10,500 buy-in event, Imsirovic earned enough ranking points to secure the 2018 Poker Masters Purple Jacket, which was awarded to the player of the series.

“There are very few things that can compare to this. This win is very prestigious for me because this event series has all the top players in the world," said Imsirovic after locking up the jacket. "I know the World Series of Poker main event is seen as more prestigious, but in that event, you need to get very lucky across nine days battling against a below average field. In these fields, you constantly have to play your best because otherwise, you’re just going to get destroyed.”

Imsirovic secured his very first live tournament score less than three years ago. Prior to his impressive run in this prestigious series, he had accumulated just over $1.1 million in live earnings. With his win in the $25,000 event this week he set a new personal record for largest cash, taking home $462,000 for the win after topping a field of 66 entries. Just a day later he improved on that number defeating 47 entries in the $50,000 buy-in event for the biggest payday of his career: $799,000.

“There are still plenty of guys I think are much better than I am, so I got a lot of work to do," said Imsirovic. "I just ran better than they did but I’m looking forward to the challenge. I’ll play more with these guys in future high rollers and just try to improve and get to their level.”

Here is a look at the top ten in the final standings of the 2018 race for the Poker Masters Purple Jacket:

As one can see from the standings above, Imsirovic just barely held onto the lead over David Peters. The 2016 Card Player Player of the Year award winner came within ten points of tying Imsirovic in the standings.

Peters bookended the series, winning the kickoff $10,500 buy-in no-limit hold’em event for $193,200 and then closing out the series by taking down the $100,000 buy-in no-limit hold’em main event. Peters outlasted a field of 25 entries in the ultimate event, earning $1,150,000 as the champion.

“I’m very happy to win this one, I’ve had a great series, and maybe I’ll get the jacket next year,” said Peters after taking down the final event of the Poker Masters. “Ali deserved to win, he had a great series. It would’ve been nice to win the jacket, to have the bragging rights, and rub it in other players’ faces by wearing it to events.”

Peters has captured five titles on the live tournament circuit in 2018, making 18 final tables and cashing for a total of $5,659,175 on the year. As a result of his strong showing at this series, he has once again climbed into contention in the Card Player POY race. He currently sits in sixth place, with 5,288 total points.

He defeated Dan Smith heads-up to secure the title. Smith earned $700,000 as the runner-up. Here is a look at the payouts awarded in this event:

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