Vladas Tamasauskas Emerges Victorious in 2023 Poker Masters Opening Event
Date: 2023-09-16 Author: Dima Zakharov Categories: POKER, PEOPLE
In a thrilling start to the 2023 Poker Masters series at the PokerGO studio, a staggering 114 participants flocked to the tables, shattering the previous record of 97 entrants. This surge in entries pumped up the prize pool to a colossal $1,140,000, ensuring that even the 17th-place finisher took home a hefty $17,100.
The crowning glory of this high-stakes showdown belonged to Lithuania's rising star, Vladas Tamasauskas, who has been enjoying an extraordinary September. The 28-year-old sensation not only claimed the title but also netted a remarkable $239,400 in prize money and his very first PokerGO trophy.
A mere fortnight ago, Tamasauskas showcased his poker prowess by securing the third spot in the EPT Barcelona €10,000 high roller event, pocketing an impressive $439,650. Although this marked a significant achievement, his most substantial win to date remains the $451,112 he earned for his fourth-place finish in the 2022 WSOP Europe main event. With this latest triumph, Tamasauskas has now amassed a staggering $2.2 million in recorded tournament earnings.
Tamasauskas faced a daunting challenge at the final table, entering as one of the shorter stacks. However, he exhibited remarkable resilience, securing critical double-ups that propelled him back into contention. In a thrilling showdown that lasted approximately an hour, he ultimately outmaneuvered Aram Zobian, despite initially lagging behind with a 3:1 chip disadvantage.
Zobian, who had previously claimed victory in the PokerGO Cup's second event in January, was hunting for his second PokerGO title of the year. Regrettably for him, he had to settle for the runner-up position, accompanied by a $171,000 cash prize, which propelled his career earnings to a towering $5.1 million.
The third-place finisher, Ren Lin, walked away with $125,400, marking his 20th appearance at a final table this year. Lin, hailing from China, now occupies the fifth slot in the Card Player Player of the Year race, having accumulated nearly $3.5 million in winnings in 2023 alone.
The list of notable participants who earned a share of the spoils includes the previous Player of the Year (POY) champion, Anthony Zinno (17th), the current POY frontrunner, Bin Weng (16th), and the WSOP main event champion, Ryan Riess (15th). Other renowned high-stakes regulars such as Pin Liu (13th), Byron Kaverman (12th), Dylan Linde (11th), Ben Yu (9th), Jesse Lonis (8th), and Victoria Livschitz (5th) also made impressive runs.
The Poker Masters series encompasses a total of 10 events and is set to run until September 26. With buy-ins ranging from $10,000 to $50,000, the player who excels the most across the series will earn the coveted Purple Jacket.
This prestigious high-stakes festival made its debut in 2017 and has seen illustrious champions like Steffen Sontheimer (2017), Ali Imsirovic (2018), Sam Soverel (2019), Michael Addamo (2021), and Sean Winter (2022) etch their names in poker history.
The crowning glory of this high-stakes showdown belonged to Lithuania's rising star, Vladas Tamasauskas, who has been enjoying an extraordinary September. The 28-year-old sensation not only claimed the title but also netted a remarkable $239,400 in prize money and his very first PokerGO trophy.
A mere fortnight ago, Tamasauskas showcased his poker prowess by securing the third spot in the EPT Barcelona €10,000 high roller event, pocketing an impressive $439,650. Although this marked a significant achievement, his most substantial win to date remains the $451,112 he earned for his fourth-place finish in the 2022 WSOP Europe main event. With this latest triumph, Tamasauskas has now amassed a staggering $2.2 million in recorded tournament earnings.
Tamasauskas faced a daunting challenge at the final table, entering as one of the shorter stacks. However, he exhibited remarkable resilience, securing critical double-ups that propelled him back into contention. In a thrilling showdown that lasted approximately an hour, he ultimately outmaneuvered Aram Zobian, despite initially lagging behind with a 3:1 chip disadvantage.
Zobian, who had previously claimed victory in the PokerGO Cup's second event in January, was hunting for his second PokerGO title of the year. Regrettably for him, he had to settle for the runner-up position, accompanied by a $171,000 cash prize, which propelled his career earnings to a towering $5.1 million.
The third-place finisher, Ren Lin, walked away with $125,400, marking his 20th appearance at a final table this year. Lin, hailing from China, now occupies the fifth slot in the Card Player Player of the Year race, having accumulated nearly $3.5 million in winnings in 2023 alone.
The list of notable participants who earned a share of the spoils includes the previous Player of the Year (POY) champion, Anthony Zinno (17th), the current POY frontrunner, Bin Weng (16th), and the WSOP main event champion, Ryan Riess (15th). Other renowned high-stakes regulars such as Pin Liu (13th), Byron Kaverman (12th), Dylan Linde (11th), Ben Yu (9th), Jesse Lonis (8th), and Victoria Livschitz (5th) also made impressive runs.
The Poker Masters series encompasses a total of 10 events and is set to run until September 26. With buy-ins ranging from $10,000 to $50,000, the player who excels the most across the series will earn the coveted Purple Jacket.
This prestigious high-stakes festival made its debut in 2017 and has seen illustrious champions like Steffen Sontheimer (2017), Ali Imsirovic (2018), Sam Soverel (2019), Michael Addamo (2021), and Sean Winter (2022) etch their names in poker history.
