David Coleman Wins His Fourth Poker Tournament Title of 2024Player of the Year and PokerGO Tour Points Leader Has Already Cashed Eight Times For $766,000 In Earnings This Year |
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David Coleman didn’t win his first live tournament title until 5,055 days after making his first cash on the circuit. That long-awaited breakthrough has seemingly opened the floodgates. After more than 13 years on the scene with plenty of success but no outright wins, Coleman has captured four victories already in 2024, with $766,000 in earnings across eight in-the-money finishes.
Coleman’s latest victory saw the 30-year-old former online grinder from New Jersey defeat a field of 63 entries in the first of two $15,700 buy-in tournaments on the schedule for the 2024 PokerGO Cup. took home $302,400 for the win, increasing his career earnigns to more than $4.4 million in the process.
This hot streak began with a win in the $1,600 buy-in Card Player Poker Tour Venetian main event for $115,989. He then made four cashes and won two events at the PokerGO Tour kickoff festival. He has now made two final tables during the PokerGO Cup, including this win.
Coleman has already accrued 2,156 Card Player Player of the Year points, with three qualified wins and six final-table finishes. One of his four titles came in an event that did not award POY points due to not meeting the minimum prize pool requirements. Nonetheless, Coleman has surged into first place in the 2024 POY standings presented by Global Poker thanks to his impressive start to the year. He also leads the 2024 PokerGO Tour points race with 937 total points in that high-stakes-centric competition.
Coleman came into the second and final day of this event in second chip position among the seven contenders who survived day 1. A total of nine players cashed in this event thanks to the healthy turnout at the PokerGO Studio at ARIA Resort & Casino Las Vegas. Four-time bracelet winner Nick Schulman (9th) and two-time bracelet winner Sam Soverel (8th) made the money before hitting the rail late on day 1.
Six-time bracelet winner Jeremy Ausmus’ A-Q was unable to hold against the A-5 of chip leader Dylan DeStefano in an early all-in showdown, resulting in the first knockout at the final table. Ausmus earned $37,800 for his seventh-place showing.
Michael Brinkenhoff scored a double-knockout with a flopped set of fours, sending two-time bracelet winner Justin Saliba (6th – $51,975) and bracelet winner Aram Zobian (5th – $70,875) to the rail to move into second chip position among the final four contenders.
There was plenty of movement around the leaderboard during four-handed play. Brinkenhoff slid to the bottom of the counts after being forced out of a big pot by Coleman. Brinkenhoff then got all-in with J-8 facing the A-K of DeStefano. He flopped a pair of jacks to take the lead, but DeStefano caught running cards to make a five-high straight. Brinkenhoff earned $94,500 as the fourth-place finisher.
The next knockout also was scored by a player making the wheel. World Poekr Tour champion Seth Davies got all-in with K-J facing the A-4 suited of Coleman, who flopped a double gutshot straight draw and hit a deuce on the end to secure the elimination. Davies headed to the rail with $132,300 for his efforts.
DeStefano held 4,100,000 to Coleman’s 3,775,000 when heads-up play began. It didn’t take long for Coleman to edge into the lead. He then won a massive pot with pocket aces. The hand saw DeStefano limp-call a 4x raise from Coleman with K9 from the button. The flop came down 864 and Coleman check-called a 275,000 bet from DeStefano. The 5 on the turn saw Coleman check-call again, this time to the tune of 500,000. The J completed the board and Coleman checked yet again. DeStefano bet 2,475,000, leaving just 50,000 behind. Coleman made the call and showed AA to win the pot, leaving DeStefano on fumes.
DeStefano was soon all-in with 6-5 against Coleman’s J-4 suited. Coleman flopped a flush draw and got there on the turn to lock up the pot and the title. DeStefano was awarded $189,000 as the runner-up finisher. He now has more than $1.6 million in recorded earnings to his name.
Here is a look at the payouts and rankings points awarded at the final table:
Place | Player | Earnings | POY Points | PGT Points |
1 | David Coleman | $302,400 | 432 | 302 |
2 | Dylan DeStefano | $189,000 | 360 | 189 |
3 | Seth Davies | $132,300 | 288 | 132 |
4 | Michael Brinkenhoff | $94,500 | 216 | 95 |
5 | Aram Zobian | $70,875 | 180 | 71 |
6 | Justin Saliba | $51,975 | 144 | 52 |
7 | Jeremy Ausmus | $37,800 | 108 | 38 |
Photo credit: PokerGO / Antonio Abrego.