James Obst Wins PGT Mixed Games $25,000 Finale

The final title of the 2025 PokerGO Tour Mixed Games festival was captured by James Obst, who was making his first cash of the series. Obst beat out a field of 56 entries in the $25,000 10-game mix event, earning $462,000 and the PGT trophy. The Australian poker pro now has nearly $4.5 million in recorded tournament earnings, including two victories in World Series of Poker bracelet events.

Obst took a few years away from professional play to pursue a career in tennis, but returned to the scene in 2023 and quickly got back to his winning ways. This latest triumph was his largest payday yet, topping the $427,930 he earned for a 13th-place finish in the 2016 WSOP main event.

This win came with 277 PGT points, enough to see him finish in sixth place in the series-long points race despite no prior cashes during the seven-event festival. The overall player of the series honors ultimately went to Chino Rheem, who won the $10,000 8-game mix event, finished third in the $10,000 H.O.R.S.E., and cashed in the $15,000 dealer’s choice.

This tournament drew 56 entries inside the PokerGO Studio at ARIA Resort & Casino Las Vegas, which resulted in a $1,400,000 prize pool. The top eight finishers made the money, with six-figure scores for the final five.

The money bubble burst when Obst scooped three-time bracelet winner and two-time World Poker Tour champion Chad Eveslage with a straight in stud eight-or-better. Eveslage got all-in with split kings against Obst’s made jack-high straight. He hit running aces to end up with two pair, but it was still second-best for the high, and neither player had a qualifying low. With that, the remaining eight players all locked up at least $56,000 for their efforts while Eveslage headed to the rail empty-handed.

Obst continued his surge up the leaderboard by eliminating $10,000 Mori’s Mix event winner Maxx Coleman in eighth place ($56,000). The two got all-in after a K54 flop, with Coleman having a few big blinds to start the hand. Coleman held KJJ9 against Obst’s AK62. The 4 and 3 river saw Obst improve to a six-high straight to win the pot. Coleman finished with $363,500 in total earnings across the series, with his 322 points good for a third-place showing in the final festival standings.

Jason Mercier’s run came to an end in seventh place ($56,000). The six-time bracelet winner lost a big one against Aaron Sacks in stud eight-or-better to fall to the bottom of the leaderboard. He soon got all-in playing the same game with (A2)5 against the (AA)J of Sacks. Mercier wound up making aces and queens for a high while bricking out on a low after making four to a wheel by fourth street. Sacks had made aces and fives on sixth street, then found another five on seventh to scoop with a full house. Mercier is now approaching $21.2 million in career earnings after recording what was his 200th recorded tournament score.

Jason Mercier eliminated in seventh place by Aaron Sacks in PGT Mixed Games Event #7.@JasonMercier was all-in on third street in Stud Hi-Lo with three-to-a-low and made aces-up, but Sacks started with buried aces and improved to a full house.

Mercier earns $56,000 and 34 PGT… pic.twitter.com/dYMZjUNkpV

— PGT (@PokerGOTour) March 6, 2025

Two-time bracelet winner Nick Guagenti had slid to the bottom of the chip counts during early six-handed action. He then lost the majority of his remaining stack in a triple draw deuce-to-seven lowball clash with Robert Wells. Guagenti folded after the final draw after having drawn one at a 8-5-3-2 each round and was left with a small fraction of a small blind. He was knocked out soon after in sixth place ($84,000).

Wells followed in fifth place when his eights up were bested by Philip Sternheimer’s queens up in stud. He was left with just shy of a small blind after his final bet was called. Moments later he was heading to the payout desk to collect his $112,000 after 2022 WSOP main event third-place finisher Michael Duek took his last chips with trip eights. This was the largest live tournament score yet for Wells.

The next big clash saw Obst and Sternheimer go to war in no-limit deuce-to-seven single draw. Sternheimer raised to 100,000 with J7542 as the first to act predraw and Obst three-bet to 425,000 holding 86532 out of the big blind. Sternheimer four-bet to 925,000 and Obst shoved for 1,725,000 total. Sternheimer called and patted his mad 8-6. Sternheimer broke his convertible jack and drew up the J to end up with the same showdown value. Obst doubled to more than 3.4 million while Sternheimer slid to 655,000.

Sternheimer was soon all-in playing the same game drawing one at 9-7-3-2. Obst, who had shoved before the draw, drew one at 10-6-5-2. Obst made a 10-7, while Sternheimer paired his three to hit the rail in fourth place ($140,000). The UK resident now has more than $3.1 million in career earnings.

Duek began to fall behind as three-handed play continued. His final stand came in no-limit hold’em. Obst shoved from the small blind with Q9 and Duek called all-in for 900,000 with K7. The board came down J1066K and Obst rivered a king-high straight to send Duek packing in third place ($196,000). The score grew his lifetime tournament haul to nearly $7.7 million.

James Obst and Aaron Sacks are heads-up in Event #7 of PGT Mixed Games.

Obst – 7,650,000
Sacks – 3,850,000

Both players have locked up $294,000 but are playing for the $462,000 first-place prize and 277 PGT points. pic.twitter.com/CJADl0BQ4R

— PGT (@PokerGOTour) March 6, 2025

Heads-up play began with Obst holding roughly a 2:1 chip lead over Sacks. The gap was narrowed in the early going, only for Obst to win a healthy badugi pot to halt his opponent’s momentum. Obst then took down a massive razz pot with a 9-8 to leave Sacks short.

Sacks managed to double up twice after that, but was soon all-in and at risk again. Obst made a six-five badugi after the first draw and patted from there. Sacks got the last of his short stack in drawing dead with a 9-5-3 three-card badugi and ended up making a king-nine. He earned $294,000 as the runner-up, his best tournament result yet on the scene.

Final Table Results

Photo credits: PokerGO.

Related Articles

Shannon Shorr Nabs Photo Finish Victory At USPO

Charity Series Of Poker Event To Benefit UNLV Hockey

Foxen Family Triumphs For 2nd Time At USPO

Most Viewed Articles