Martin Zamani Wins U.S. Poker Open Finale for $666K, Named Overall Champ

Aug 30, 2023

The PokerGO Tour (PGT) U.S. Poker Open has a new champion after wrapping up on April 4 with Event #10: $50,000 No-Limit Hold'em, the biggest buy-in of the series that drew 37 runners for a prize pool of $1.9 million. Martin Zamani came out on top after defeating Nick Petrangelo in heads-up play to take home $666,000 and the golden eagle trophy.

The final table of the marquee finale event included Jeremy Ausmus (3rd - $296,000), who earlier finished second in Event #5: $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em for $149,600 and was also looking for the overall title, all-time money leader Justin Bonomo (4th - $203,500) and Event #9: $25,000 No-Limit Hold'em champion Dan Smith (5th - $148,000).

Zamani has had recent success on the high-roller circuit after making headlines last year for accusing then-all-time money leader Bryn Kenney of running a cult-like cheating stable, including a third-place finish in the earlier Event #3: $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em for $130,200. The Floridian had an interesting answer when asked by a sideline reporter about how his approach differs from his elite high-stakes opponents: "I'm high."

Sideline reporter @nataliedbode spoke with @martin_zamani on break about his poker success.

Zamani needed the victory to win the overall U.S. Poker Open title and he was able to get it to end the series with 570 points to deny Ren Lin (465 points) and finish ahead of Sam Soverel (457 points) and Dan Smith (442 points).

In addition to earning the $50,000 championship bonus, Zamani joined Sean Winter, David Peters and Stephen Chidwick on the prestigious list of U.S. Poker Open champions.

The ten-event U.S. Poker Open festival saw victories from some of poker's biggest names, including Phil Hellmuth, who won Event #5: $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em for $211,200 and his first U.S. Poker Open title.

Later in the series, rising star Isaac Kempton won Event #6: $15,000 Pot-Limit Omaha for $279,000 and his first victory in the PokerGO Studio after several second, third and fourth-place finishes in the past year. Meanwhile, four-time World Poker Tour (WPT) champion Darren Elias added picked up PGT title by winning Event #7: $15,000 No-Limit Hold'em for $313,200.

In Event #8: $25,000 No-Limit Hold'em, Joey Weissman was after his second series title after winning the opening $10,000 event for $231,000 but fell to Isaac Haxton, who took home $423,000 and his fourth high-roller victory of the year. Not only did Haxton win the $50,000 PokerGO Cup finale in January for $598,000, he took down two PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA) High Rollers for respective scores of $1.1 million and $1.6 million.

Haxton has had several other high rollers scores this year and, as PokerGO pointed out, his victory made him the first player to reach $5 million in earnings in 2023.

The high-stakes veteran has been criticized by some for wearing an N95 mask in his recent winner's photos and took to Twitter to send a message to the haters.

The best part of winning poker tournaments is definitely the money. But the second best part is how mad the biggest… https://t.co/e2qsBvpgpZ

Hellmuth was also after a second title but fell in fifth for $108,000, while others who made deep runs included Alex Foxen (6th - $81,000), Bill Klein (4th - $135,000) and Dan Smith (3rd - $189,000).

According to PokerGO updates, Smith had entered the final table of Event #8 with the chip lead before going out in third. When he entered the final table of Event #9: $25,000 No-Limit Hold'em second in chips, he was able to get the job done for $399,500.

Lin was yet another player looking for a second title but was denied by Smith to take home $258,500 to be the frontrunner to be the overall champion before Zamani closed out in Event #10. Meanwhile, Daniel Negreanu finished in seventh for $47,000 after earlier finishing fourth in Event #4: $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha for $77,000.

A full list of winners at the 2023 U.S. Poker Open is available in the table below.

Photos courtesy PokerGO

Martin Zamani took down the $50,000 U.S. Poker Open finale for $666,000 and the overall series title.