David Peters Wins PokerGO Cup Kickoff Event

David Peters sped to a title in the first event of the 2024 PokerGO Cup, converting a final-day chip lead into the title in just a couple of hours. The four-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner outlasted total field of 111 entries in the $5,100 buy-in no-limit hold’em event, earning $141,525 and his first trophy of the year. This was his 42nd recorded tournament victory.

The 36-year-old American poker pro now has more than $47.4 million in career earnings, which is good for ninth place on poker’s all-time money list. He is one of just ten players to have cashed for $45 million of more on the circuit.

This was already the third final-table finish of the year for Peters, who recorded a pair of sixth-place finishes during the PGT Last Chance festival for $103,800 in combined earnings. Peters has accrued 820 Card Player Player of the Year points, good for 23rd place in the 2024 standings presented by Global Poker. The 2016 POY award winner also climbed to 11th place in the PokerGO Tour points race thanks to the 142 points he took home with this win.

The 111-entry turnout built a final prize pool of $555,000 that was ultimately paid out among the top 16 finishers. Among those that cashed were 10-time bracelet winner Erik Seidel (15th), bracelet winner Andrew Lichtenberger (13th), 2020 WSOP Online main event winner Stoyan Madanzhiev (10th), rising Vegas tournament star Jeremy Becker (8th), and two-time World Poker Tour champion and Card Player columnist Jonathan Little (7th).

The second and final day saw six players return to the PokerGO Studio inside ARIA Resort & Casino Las Vegas. As previously mentioned, Peters held the lead to start. Cody Daniels was the first to hit the rail on the final day. The terminally ill poker fanatic was fulfilling a longtime dream of playing in a PGT event by taking a seat in this tournament. He battled his way to the final table and found an early double-up before getting his A-Q beat by the A-J of big stack Mark Ioli, who was second in chips at the time. A jack on the river ended Daniel’s bid for the title in sixth place. He took home $27,750 as the runner-up.

It ends in brutal fashion. Obviously sick to my stomach but PHYSICALLY. My body was pushed to its limits. Absolutely had a blast. Will be left wondering “what could have been” for a day or two until I get back home. Thanks for the love. Maybe next time eh? https://t.co/5zGthgHD4l

— Cody Daniels (@CodyDaniels88) January 26, 2024

Shawn Daniels scored the next elimination. The bracelet winner’s pocket queens held against the A-10 of short stack Dusti Smith (5th – $36,075) to narrow the field to four.

German poker pro Fabian Quoss got all-in with a flush draw and an overcard against the pocket jacks of Peters. A brick on the end sent the pot to Peters, while Quoss was awarded $49,950 as the fourth-place finisher.

Peters also scored the next knockout, with his A-8 suited holding against the K-J of Daniels, who had slid below the 12-big-blind mark. Neither player improved and Daniels busted in third place ($63,825).

Heads-up play began with Ioli holding 8,475,000 to Peters’ 5,400,000. The balance of power shifted when Peters check-raised a 886 flop and called the three-bet shove of Ioli. Peters had flopped trips with 98, which had Ioli’s 107 in rough shape. The 4 turn and A river saw Peters boudle into roughly a 4:3 chip lead.

Peters was able to extend his advantage further before the final hand was dealt. He moved all-in from the button with K10 and Ioli called off his last 13 or so big blinds with K5. The board ran out 862Q7 and Peters faded the backdoor flush draw to secure the pot and the title.

Ioli earned $88,800. The bracelet winner now has more than $1.9 million in lifetime earnigns to his name.

Here is a look at the payouts and rankings points awarded at the final table:

Photo credit: PokerGO / Antonio Abrego.

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