Justin Zaki Wins PokerGO Cup Event #5: $10,100 NLHE ($232,400)

After a grueling two-hour heads-up against Joey Weissman, Tampa native Justin Zaki triumphed in the PokerGO Cup Event #5: $10,100 No-Limit Hold’em, securing a $232,400 prize. This win marks Zaki’s first major victory in over four years and edges his total live earnings past the $5 million milestone, as per the Hendon Mob.

2024 PokerGO Cup Event #5: $10,100 No-Limit Hold’em Final Table Results

2024 PokerGO Cup Event #5: $10,100 No-Limit Hold’em Final Table Action

The final $10,100 buy-in event of the series drew 83 competitors, generating an $830,000 prize pool. Six finalists battled it out on the last day, with Stephen Chidwick, voted as one of the toughest opponents by his peers, leading the pack.

The action kicked off with an early elimination only a few minutes into the final table. Joris Ruijs, pushing all-in with king-six, was snap-called by Chidwick’s ace-king. The board offered no help to Ruijs, who exited in sixth place, taking home $41,500.

Zaki, who had a slow start, found a crucial lifeline in hand against Sam Soverel. Zaki’s J♥10♥ looked grim on a 9♥K♠J♣ flop against Soverel’s flopped straight but miraculously turned into a runner-runner flush, keeping his hopes alive as Soverel couldn’t get away from his hand on the river.

With a newfound life and chips, Zaki then dispatched the day’s short-stack, Justin Saliba, in fifth place for $58,100. Soverel, among the day’s favorites, was the next to fall. Despite turning trips on an A5TT board, he was outmatched by Joey Weissman’s full house with ace-ten. The chips went in on the river, leaving Soverel with a mere two big blinds, which he lost shortly after.

Weissman held a commanding lead entering three-handed play, which extended to more than 2:1 over both other players combined. It could have been all but over when he called Zaki’s pocket sixes all-in with pocket tens. But an incredible two-outer on the river saved Zaki once again. Weissman, however, still had enough chips left to eliminate Chidwick in third place, setting the stage for a heads-up with Zaki.

Justin started the heads-up play with a nearly 2.5:1 chip lead over Weissman, who recovered quickly and overtook the lead. In a two-hour marathon session, the lead exchanged several times between the two. Neither player could secure a decisive advantage until Weissman attempted a bold bluff on a 2♣10♥J♥A♥5♠ board with 9♥8♦. Holding a set of tens, Zaki made a shrug call, shifting the momentum firmly in his favor.

It was all over just two hands later. Weissman, with ace-queen, was dominated by Zaki’s pocket kings. The board offered no surprises, securing Zaki’s victory and a second-place finish for Weissman worth $149,400.

* Images and hands courtesy of the PokerGO Tour