Mori Eskandani, the well respected PokerGO President and 2018 Poker Hall of Fame inductee, has won his seventh career title at the 2024 PokerGO Tour Mixed Games. Eskandani, known for his pivotal role in producing iconic poker television shows like High Stakes Poker and Poker After Dark, has once again proven his worth by securing the top prize in the $10,200 H.O.R.S.E. event. This victory adds $201,600 to his career tournament earnings and marks his first win on the PokerGO Tour, elevating his total earnings to over $1 million and also moves him to the top of the PGT Mixed Games leaderboard.
The Las Vegas resident has outplayed a field of 63 entries at the event, which spanned over two days at the prestigious PokerGO Studio at ARIA Resort & Casino. Eskandani rose from third in chip count at the start of the final day to claim the coveted title. His journey to the top was far from straightforward, as he faced off against some of the most decorated players in the game, with the final eight competitors holding a combined total of 24 World Series of Poker bracelets and more than $107 million in career tournament earnings.
The event’s final day was nothing short of dramatic, with five-time bracelet winner Benny Glaser initially leading the pack. However, six-time bracelet winner Jeremy Ausmus made the first move, eliminating Jerry Wong in fifth place. Daniel Negreanu, another poker giant, fell in fourth place, adding $63,000 to his career earnings, nearing the $51.2 million mark.
The competition intensified in the three-handed play, with Eskandani staying afloat as the short stack before taking out Benny Glaser in third place. The heads-up battle against Ausmus commenced with Eskandani trailing but quickly turned in his favor, leading to a decisive victory in Omaha eight or better. All of the chips went in preflop with Ausmus holding A♣10♦9♠8♦ against the 5♦4♦3♦2♥ of Eskandani. The board came down 7♥5♥4♥3♥J♥ to give Eskandani the edge with two pair for the high and a live deuce on the low side. Ausmus earned $126,000 as the runner-up.
Mori Eskandani‘s triumph in the 2024 PokerGO Tour Mixed Games $10,200 H.O.R.S.E. event is a testament to his enduring talent and passion for poker. It reinforces his legacy not just as a key figure behind the scenes of poker’s most beloved shows but also as a formidable player capable of competing with the best in the world. As the poker community celebrates his latest achievement, Eskandani’s influence on the game, both on and off the table, continues to grow.
PGT Mixed Games #3 – $10,200 H.O.R.S.E. Final Results
| Place | Player | Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mori Eskandani | $201,600 |
| 2 | Jeremy Ausmus | $126,000 |
| 3 | Benny Glaser | $88,200 |
| 4 | Daniel Negreanu | $63,000 |
| 5 | Jerry Wong | $47,250 |
| 6 | Maksim Pisarenko | $34,650 |
With this victory, Mori Eskandani also moves to the top of the PGT Mixed Games leaderboard with 202 PGT points. He sits ahead of Benny Glaser with 164 PGT points after he has two final tables already in the series. Event #1 winner Maksim Pisarenko is third overall with 152 PGT points, while Jeremy Ausmus and John Hennigan round out the top five. The player that tops the 2024 PGT Mixed Games leaderboard will win the PGT Gold Cup and a $10,000 PGT Passport.
| Rank | Player | PGT Points | Wins | Cashes | Earnings |
| 1st | Mori Eskandani | 202 | 1 | 1 | $201,600 |
| 2nd | Benny Glaser | 164 | 0 | 2 | $164,325 |
| 3rd | Maksim Pisarenko | 152 | 1 | 2 | $152,100 |
| 4th | Jeremy Ausmus | 126 | 0 | 1 | $126,000 |
| 5th | John Hennigan | 120 | 1 | 1 | $120,150 |
| 6th | Daniel Negreanu | 93 | 0 | 2 | $93,450 |
| 7th | Adam Friedman | 78 | 0 | 1 | $77,875 |
| 8th | Ken Aldridge | 56 | 0 | 1 | $55,375 |
| 9th | Dennis Maschke | 54 | 0 | 1 | $54,375 |
| 10th | Andrew Kelsall | 52 | 0 | 2 | $52,500 |
