The PLO Main Event is complete, and Ali Khani took it down. He flopped a set of queens and held, while Sebastian Crema flopped a flush draw and turned the wrap, but bricked both on the river.
Final Hand
That left Khani’s set of queens best, and he took the game down. Khani and Crema were the chip leaders to start the day, but when the day began 4.5 hours ago, the order was reversed with Crema on top and Khani in second.
This is Khani’s fifth live win, and his first PPT trophy, but he’s been heads up a few times here on PPT before, including in 2022 in the Feb Main Event, when that finish secured him the Player of the Series win. Today’s win will give him 330 points, which should put him in the lead (tied with Crema who also got 330 points today) but there are still a lot of points up for grabs in the NLH Main Event, so lots can change between now & Sunday, especially since Khani said he wasn’t planniing to play the two-card Main this time around.
They limped to a flop of Q♠9♦K♦, where Ali Khani fired 35k. Sebastian Crema called to the turn of A♠, where he called again for 60k.
Khani fired 110k on the 2♥ river, and Crema called. “You win,” Khani said, waiting to see Crema’s hand. Crema showed K♣10♦9♣3♥ for two pair and the win, as Khani mucked his hand.
Sebastian Crema limped, and Ali Khani checked his option to see 6♣5♦J♥. That’s where it all kicked off when Khani bet 50k, Crema raised to 210k, Khani potted, Crema shoved, and Khani called it down.
Khani was on two pairs with a jack and a six, while Crema was on a bare jack. Crema found a seven on the turn for his better two pair, however, and held for the double.
Immediately after, the final two decided to do an ICM chop. Khani secured a guaranteed payout of $19,394 to Crema’s $18,616, with $3k left on the table to play for, along with the trophy. The HU deal means that the final two players will chop the top two PoS spots evenly.
Garry Sandhu raised the button to 60k, and Sebastian Crema called from the big blind. Crema check-called for 60k on 2♣K♠K♦ flop. They both checked the Q♦ turn, and Crema fired 50k on the 3♥ river.
Sandhu called, but Crema showed a king for flopped trips, and it was good. Sandhu busted on the next hand to put the game heads-up.
Deven Lane hit the cage for fourth-place money just before the break following Level 21. He got his short stack in with ace-king-ten-eight, but Garry Sandhu called him off with ace-nine-five-deuce. Sandhu flopped a deuce and rivered a straight to send Lane out.
Ali Khani is leading the final three with 2.36 million.
There are four left in the PLO Main Event now, with just over 10 minutes to play in Level 21. Kyle Ho was the most recent casualty, ending his day in 5th place, after his kings were cracked by Ali Khani. The money went in on the flop with Ho’s kings as an overpair, and 2 clubs on board. Both Khani and Sebastian Crema were in the hand drawing to clubs, with Khani on the nut draw, and the queen of clubs on the river sealed the deal for Ho’s 5th place finish.
Ho immediately jumped into Day 1a of the NLH Main Event after his exit from the four-card Main.
I missed the action while writing up the most recent Main Event update, but Stefan Maloney, who took down the NLH/PLO Mix earlier in the series, ended his day in 7th place today. They are about 30 minutes from the next break, and I’ll get a full round of chip counts then.
Garry Sandhu raised to 30k under the gun, and Sebastian Crema called from the button, as did Michael Bingham from the big blind. They all checked the 9♣K♣4♠ flop and, after a check from Bingham on the 10♣turn, Sandhu fired 40k.
Crema came over the top to 125k, enough to force folds from the other two players.
Michael Bingham limped the small blind, and Garry Sandgu checked to a flop of 2♥9♥K♠. He bet 30k, and Sandhu called to 8♠.
Bingham bet 40k and Sandhu snap-called, and they both checked the 8♣ river. Bingham showed K♥8♥6♥6♣ for a flopped heart draw and top pair, which improved to a boat on the river.
Deven Lane opened the cutoff to 30k, but Ali Khani repopped it to 105k from the button. The blinds got out of the way, as did Labe after a few seconds of thought. Khani showed aces with a suit while leaving his fourth card face down.
Sebastian Crema raised to 30k early, and both Garry Sandhu and Stefan Maloney came along from the blinds. They all checked through the 3♦10♥8♦ flop, and after a check from Sandhu, Maloney fired 100k on the 4♠ turn.
Crema mucked, but Sandhu called to the 9♠ river, where they both checked again.
“Set,” said Maloney.
“Straight,” replied Sandhu, showing the jack-high straight. “I also had a flush draw.”
“No, you didn’t,” replied Maloney with a smile. “I mean, you HAD one, but you didn’t. I had the nut draw.”
John MacArthur hit the rail for 8th place just before the end of Level 18. The remaining 7 players are on a break, with action set to resume in moments.
Garry Sandhu has taken over the chip lead now with almost 1.5 million, but Sebastian Crema is still playing more than a million as well.
While I was processing the FT pictures, Rhonda Fiveland was the first player to bust from the FT. I missed the action, but I overheard her say she was all in with double-suited aces, so it’s hard to get it in any better preflop in PLO.
Below is a look at the final nine players in the PLO Main Event.
Stefan MaloneyRhonda FivelandGarry SandhuMichael BinghamKyle HoJohn MacArthurSebastian CremaAli KhaniDeven Lane
They are down to the final table now, with 9 players left. Sebastian Crema still has the big stack by a mile. Stay tuned for some final table faces shortly.
Deven Lane completed from the small blind, and Sebastian Crema checked his option in the big. Lane fired 20k on the 6♠8♥Q♦ flop, and Crema called to the 10♦ turn.
Lane checked the turn, calling Crema’s 60k bet. The 9♦ river brought in the diamond flush, and Lane checked again. Crema potted, enough to force Lane all in, and Lane folded top set face up. Crema showed four-three of diamonds to confirm he had it.
The PLO Main players are back for Day 2, with Sebastian Crema playing almost half the chips in play. All players coming back today are in the money, with everyone guaranteed $1,895.
Sebastian Crema leads the way into Day 2 of the PLO Main, and it’s not even close. He has more than 2.1 million, a 3.5:1 chip lead over his closest competitor, Ali Khani, with 639k. That gives him nearly half the chips in play with 11 players remaining in the game.
Sebastien Crema PLO Main Chip Leader
Day 2 gets underway on Friday at noon with all returning players in the money. Everyone is guaranteed at least $1,895, but there is more than $24k up top for the winner of this one. Perhaps equally important, there are 360 Player of the Series points for the winner, meaning that the final player standing will almost certainly jump to the lead for PoS.
That’s not a certainty, however. More than one player returning for Friday’s action already has points in the race, including Deven Lane and Stefan Maloney. They are nearly neck-and-neck in the standings with Lane on 78 points and Maloney on 80. For Maloney’s part, a 3rd place finish would likely tie him for the PoS lead. That said, Dagan Maxwell, Michael Bingham, and John MacArthur also have points in the race already, so a win for any of them would mean Maloney would need second place to take the lead.
It should be an interesting day with a lot at stake. Of course, everyone will be eyeing the trophy and the top prize, but with multiple players sitting with PoS chances going into the final day of the PLO Main, there will be dynamics at play that go far beyond a simple Day 2.
The blinds remain at 40 minutes throughout the final day, and from the jump, it looks like Crema’s game to lose. Poker can be a fickle beast, however, and with so many implications beyond this specific tournament, anything can happen on Friday.
A newcomer to the series, Event #13: $1,100 PLO Main saw a surge as players rejoiced over the opportunity for a larger PLO tournament buy-in. Through the chaos, Sebastien Crema battled his way atop the 91 player field to a commanding chip lead. This combined for a prize pool of $85,586 with $24,275 sitting up top for the eventual winner. Crema carefully picked his spots, staying disciplined and grinding through the majority of the day. Later in the evening, he stole a pot from Garry Sandhu to gain momentum and bring his stack to 725,000.
However, it was the second last hand of the night that skyrocketed Crema to the chip lead. Both him and Sandhu turned the nut straight, with Crema having a freeroll through his additional top set. A river board pair crippled the previously chip leading Sandhu, while launching Crema to over 2,000,000 in chips. Just after, Michael Bernstein fell to catapult the remaining 11 players into the money. Each player is guaranteed at least $1,895 for their efforts.
Action was caught after the turn of 2♦8♠9♦J♣, and Sebastien Crema led out for 30,0000. Garry Sandhu raised to 150,000, and Crema re-raised to 375,000. Sandhu took some time before moving all in, and Crema snap called. Both players revealed their holdings.
Three players limped, and Garry Sandhu raised to 30,000. Only Sebastien Crema called from the button.
The flop came 2♥6♣8♣, and Sandhu led out for 40,000. Crema three-bet to 190,000, and was rewarded with the pot. Sandhu revealed the A♣ stating that “they would have played for it all,” if he had the nut flush draw.
Action was caught after the turn of 2♣4♦10♣10♥, and Chad Winnick checked from early position. Middle position moved all in for 53,000, and Winnick made the call. Both players revealed their holdings.
Middle Position: Q♥J♠10♠8♣ Chad Winnick: K♦Q♠10♦5♣
The 7♦ completed the board to bring play down to two tables.
At blinds of 1,500/3,000/3,000, Jerry Li opened to 7,500. Mehmet Siginc defended his big blind.
The flop came J♦9♥6♦, and Siginc was quick to check. Li fired for 10,000, and Siginc check raised to 50,000. Li found the call.
After the turn came the Q♠, Siginc bet the pot of 140,000. Li moved all in for 320,000, and Siginc made the call. Both players revealed their holdings.
Jerry Li: K♣J♣J♠8♦ Mehmet Siginc: A♦K♦K♠3♥
The 10♣ completed the board to give Siginc the pot.
Action was caught after the flop of 7♣5♠3♦. After an initial raise and three-bet, Garry Sandhu moved all in for 82,500. Late position made the call, and both players revealed their holdings.
Garry Sandhu: 8♠8♥6♠5♣ Late Position: A♠K♠7♥7♦
The board completed with the 6♦4♦ for Sandhu to find the unlikely double.
Action was caught after the flop of J♣Q♦6♠, and Kyle Ho led out for 16,000 from the small blind. The big blind moved all in for 46,000, and Deven lane jammed over the top for 73,500. Ho went into the tank, but eventually made the call. The three players revealed their holdings.
Big Blind: Q♣6♣6♦3♣ Deven Lane: J♥J♦4♦4♥ Kyle Ho: A♣10♦9♠7♣
The board completed with the 10♠5♥ for Lane to take the pot.
Six players limped, and the big blind checked their option.
The flop came 8♣A♦6♣, and action checked through.
After the turn came the 3♦, Michael Baldwin led out for 11,000 from the small blind. Stefan Maloney raised to the pot of 48,000, and Baldwin moved all in. Maloney called for his remaining 99,500, and both players revealed their holdings.
Stefan Maloney: A♣A♠J♠9♣ Michael Baldwin: J♣8♠8♦7♠
The board completed with the Q♥ to give Maloney the double.
Action was caught after the turn of K♦6♥8♠Q♠, and under the gun moved all in. Tyler Noppibul called for his remaining 68,100 from the big blind, and both players revealed their holdings.
Tyler Noppibul: J♠10♠9♥8♥ Under the Gun: A♦K♠Q♥2♥
The board completed with the 10♣ to give Noppidul the double.
Action was caught after the flop of 2♥3♥2♠, and the big blind was quick to check. John MacArthur fired for 3,000 from early position. Two players made the call.
The turn came the A♠, and action was quick to check through.
After the river came the 8♣, and MacArthur fired for 5,000. Cutoff made the call, and MacArthur revealed the A♦A♣7♣3♦ to take the pot.
Action was caught of the flop 2♠5♦10♥, and two players checked to the button. They led out for 2,000, and only Bingham called from under the gun.
The J♦ peeled off on the turn, and Bingham checked to the button. They continued for 8,000, and Bingham made the call.
After the river peeled the 7♠, Bingham checked. The button blasted for 16,000, and Bingham flicked in the call. The button mucked, and Bingham was awarded the pot without revealing his hand.
Action was caught after the flop of 9♦3♣6♠, and action checked to the button. They fired for 2,500, and the small blind and middle position made the call.
The three players were quick to check the Q♦ turn.
After the river came the 2♥, and the small blind checked. Josh Wallace fired for 5,000 from middle position, and only the small blind made the call. Wallace revealed 8♦7♦2♣2♠ to take the pot.
Action was caught after the turn of K♥8♥Q♠7♦, and Thomas Taylor moved all in for 41,500. The button made the call, and both players revealed their holdings.
Thomas Taylor: Q♦Q♣10♠5♥ Button: A♥J♥8♦8♣
The board completed with the 9♦, to give Taylor the double.
Action was caught after the flop of 3♦K♣2♦, and both blinds were quick to check. Ladi Sandhu fired for 2,400 from middle position, and late position made the call. The cutoff bet the pot (12,800), and only Sandhu made the call.
After the turn peeled the Q♣, Sandhu moved all in for 29,300. The cutoff made the call, and both players revealed their holdings.
Ladi Sandhu: K♦K♠10♠7♠ Cutoff: A♦K♥4♦3♠
The board completed with the 4♥, to give Sandhu the double.
Action was caught after the flop of 9♦3♠5♠, and middle position led out for 4,000, into the 6,400 pot.
Thomas Taylor raised to 18,400, from the button and received a quick fold from his opponent.
Thomas Taylor: 83,800
Taylor is no stranger to bigger buy-ins as seen buy his WSOP summers. He has become force to be reckoned with, dominating mixed game and NLH fields alike. This past summer, he racked up two second place finishes along with multiple cashes. This led him to peak at 6th in the 2025 WSOP Player of the Year standings, along with being drafted into the $25k WSOP Fantasy League.
With just four days left in the opening PPT of 2026, it’s time for the Main Event action to begin. This series has two Main Events, with the four-card version kicking off its single Day 1 on Thursday at noon.
Players get 50k to start the day, and blinds are 40 minutes throughout the game. The registration desk is open for 9 levels of poker, and including breaks, that should put the last chance to enter at 7 PM.
Day 1 action plays down to 12.5% of the starting field, meaning that everyone who bags at the end of Day 1 is guaranteed a payout on Day 2. Day 2 resumes on Friday at noon, when they’ll play down to a winner.
I’m taking Thursday off, but Alek Gillies will be in to cover all the action. He’ll be on the floor by 2 PM to cover the rest of the day.
A newcomer to the series, Event #13: $1,100 PLO Main saw a surge as players rejoiced over the opportunity for a larger PLO tournament buy-in. Through the chaos, Sebastien Crema battled his way atop the 91 player field to a commanding chip lead. This combined for a prize pool of $85,586 with $24,275 sitting up top for the eventual winner. Crema carefully picked his spots, staying disciplined and grinding through the majority of the day. Later in the evening, he stole a pot from Garry Sandhu to gain momentum and bring his stack to 725,000.
However, it was the second last hand of the night that skyrocketed Crema to the chip lead. Both him and Sandhu turned the nut straight, with Crema having a freeroll through his additional top set. A river board pair crippled the previously chip leading Sandhu, while launching Crema to over 2,000,000 in chips. Just after, Michael Bernstein fell to catapult the remaining 11 players into the money. Each player is guaranteed at least $1,895 for their efforts.
Action was caught after the turn of 2♦8♠9♦J♣, and Sebastien Crema led out for 30,0000. Garry Sandhu raised to 150,000, and Crema re-raised to 375,000. Sandhu took some time before moving all in, and Crema snap called. Both players revealed their holdings.
Three players limped, and Garry Sandhu raised to 30,000. Only Sebastien Crema called from the button.
The flop came 2♥6♣8♣, and Sandhu led out for 40,000. Crema three-bet to 190,000, and was rewarded with the pot. Sandhu revealed the A♣ stating that “they would have played for it all,” if he had the nut flush draw.
Action was caught after the turn of 2♣4♦10♣10♥, and Chad Winnick checked from early position. Middle position moved all in for 53,000, and Winnick made the call. Both players revealed their holdings.
Middle Position: Q♥J♠10♠8♣ Chad Winnick: K♦Q♠10♦5♣
The 7♦ completed the board to bring play down to two tables.
At blinds of 1,500/3,000/3,000, Jerry Li opened to 7,500. Mehmet Siginc defended his big blind.
The flop came J♦9♥6♦, and Siginc was quick to check. Li fired for 10,000, and Siginc check raised to 50,000. Li found the call.
After the turn came the Q♠, Siginc bet the pot of 140,000. Li moved all in for 320,000, and Siginc made the call. Both players revealed their holdings.
Jerry Li: K♣J♣J♠8♦ Mehmet Siginc: A♦K♦K♠3♥
The 10♣ completed the board to give Siginc the pot.
Action was caught after the flop of 7♣5♠3♦. After an initial raise and three-bet, Garry Sandhu moved all in for 82,500. Late position made the call, and both players revealed their holdings.
Garry Sandhu: 8♠8♥6♠5♣ Late Position: A♠K♠7♥7♦
The board completed with the 6♦4♦ for Sandhu to find the unlikely double.
Action was caught after the flop of J♣Q♦6♠, and Kyle Ho led out for 16,000 from the small blind. The big blind moved all in for 46,000, and Deven lane jammed over the top for 73,500. Ho went into the tank, but eventually made the call. The three players revealed their holdings.
Big Blind: Q♣6♣6♦3♣ Deven Lane: J♥J♦4♦4♥ Kyle Ho: A♣10♦9♠7♣
The board completed with the 10♠5♥ for Lane to take the pot.
Six players limped, and the big blind checked their option.
The flop came 8♣A♦6♣, and action checked through.
After the turn came the 3♦, Michael Baldwin led out for 11,000 from the small blind. Stefan Maloney raised to the pot of 48,000, and Baldwin moved all in. Maloney called for his remaining 99,500, and both players revealed their holdings.
Stefan Maloney: A♣A♠J♠9♣ Michael Baldwin: J♣8♠8♦7♠
The board completed with the Q♥ to give Maloney the double.
Action was caught after the turn of K♦6♥8♠Q♠, and under the gun moved all in. Tyler Noppibul called for his remaining 68,100 from the big blind, and both players revealed their holdings.
Tyler Noppibul: J♠10♠9♥8♥ Under the Gun: A♦K♠Q♥2♥
The board completed with the 10♣ to give Noppidul the double.
Action was caught after the flop of 2♥3♥2♠, and the big blind was quick to check. John MacArthur fired for 3,000 from early position. Two players made the call.
The turn came the A♠, and action was quick to check through.
After the river came the 8♣, and MacArthur fired for 5,000. Cutoff made the call, and MacArthur revealed the A♦A♣7♣3♦ to take the pot.
Action was caught of the flop 2♠5♦10♥, and two players checked to the button. They led out for 2,000, and only Bingham called from under the gun.
The J♦ peeled off on the turn, and Bingham checked to the button. They continued for 8,000, and Bingham made the call.
After the river peeled the 7♠, Bingham checked. The button blasted for 16,000, and Bingham flicked in the call. The button mucked, and Bingham was awarded the pot without revealing his hand.
Action was caught after the flop of 9♦3♣6♠, and action checked to the button. They fired for 2,500, and the small blind and middle position made the call.
The three players were quick to check the Q♦ turn.
After the river came the 2♥, and the small blind checked. Josh Wallace fired for 5,000 from middle position, and only the small blind made the call. Wallace revealed 8♦7♦2♣2♠ to take the pot.
Action was caught after the turn of K♥8♥Q♠7♦, and Thomas Taylor moved all in for 41,500. The button made the call, and both players revealed their holdings.
Thomas Taylor: Q♦Q♣10♠5♥ Button: A♥J♥8♦8♣
The board completed with the 9♦, to give Taylor the double.
Action was caught after the flop of 3♦K♣2♦, and both blinds were quick to check. Ladi Sandhu fired for 2,400 from middle position, and late position made the call. The cutoff bet the pot (12,800), and only Sandhu made the call.
After the turn peeled the Q♣, Sandhu moved all in for 29,300. The cutoff made the call, and both players revealed their holdings.
Ladi Sandhu: K♦K♠10♠7♠ Cutoff: A♦K♥4♦3♠
The board completed with the 4♥, to give Sandhu the double.
Action was caught after the flop of 9♦3♠5♠, and middle position led out for 4,000, into the 6,400 pot.
Thomas Taylor raised to 18,400, from the button and received a quick fold from his opponent.
Thomas Taylor: 83,800
Taylor is no stranger to bigger buy-ins as seen buy his WSOP summers. He has become force to be reckoned with, dominating mixed game and NLH fields alike. This past summer, he racked up two second place finishes along with multiple cashes. This led him to peak at 6th in the 2025 WSOP Player of the Year standings, along with being drafted into the $25k WSOP Fantasy League.
With just four days left in the opening PPT of 2026, it’s time for the Main Event action to begin. This series has two Main Events, with the four-card version kicking off its single Day 1 on Thursday at noon.
Players get 50k to start the day, and blinds are 40 minutes throughout the game. The registration desk is open for 9 levels of poker, and including breaks, that should put the last chance to enter at 7 PM.
Day 1 action plays down to 12.5% of the starting field, meaning that everyone who bags at the end of Day 1 is guaranteed a payout on Day 2. Day 2 resumes on Friday at noon, when they’ll play down to a winner.
I’m taking Thursday off, but Alek Gillies will be in to cover all the action. He’ll be on the floor by 2 PM to cover the rest of the day.
The PLO Main Event is complete, and Ali Khani took it down. He flopped a set of queens and held, while Sebastian Crema flopped a flush draw and turned the wrap, but bricked both on the river.
Final Hand
That left Khani’s set of queens best, and he took the game down. Khani and Crema were the chip leaders to start the day, but when the day began 4.5 hours ago, the order was reversed with Crema on top and Khani in second.
This is Khani’s fifth live win, and his first PPT trophy, but he’s been heads up a few times here on PPT before, including in 2022 in the Feb Main Event, when that finish secured him the Player of the Series win. Today’s win will give him 330 points, which should put him in the lead (tied with Crema who also got 330 points today) but there are still a lot of points up for grabs in the NLH Main Event, so lots can change between now & Sunday, especially since Khani said he wasn’t planniing to play the two-card Main this time around.
They limped to a flop of Q♠9♦K♦, where Ali Khani fired 35k. Sebastian Crema called to the turn of A♠, where he called again for 60k.
Khani fired 110k on the 2♥ river, and Crema called. “You win,” Khani said, waiting to see Crema’s hand. Crema showed K♣10♦9♣3♥ for two pair and the win, as Khani mucked his hand.
Sebastian Crema limped, and Ali Khani checked his option to see 6♣5♦J♥. That’s where it all kicked off when Khani bet 50k, Crema raised to 210k, Khani potted, Crema shoved, and Khani called it down.
Khani was on two pairs with a jack and a six, while Crema was on a bare jack. Crema found a seven on the turn for his better two pair, however, and held for the double.
Immediately after, the final two decided to do an ICM chop. Khani secured a guaranteed payout of $19,394 to Crema’s $18,616, with $3k left on the table to play for, along with the trophy. The HU deal means that the final two players will chop the top two PoS spots evenly.
Garry Sandhu raised the button to 60k, and Sebastian Crema called from the big blind. Crema check-called for 60k on 2♣K♠K♦ flop. They both checked the Q♦ turn, and Crema fired 50k on the 3♥ river.
Sandhu called, but Crema showed a king for flopped trips, and it was good. Sandhu busted on the next hand to put the game heads-up.
Deven Lane hit the cage for fourth-place money just before the break following Level 21. He got his short stack in with ace-king-ten-eight, but Garry Sandhu called him off with ace-nine-five-deuce. Sandhu flopped a deuce and rivered a straight to send Lane out.
Ali Khani is leading the final three with 2.36 million.
There are four left in the PLO Main Event now, with just over 10 minutes to play in Level 21. Kyle Ho was the most recent casualty, ending his day in 5th place, after his kings were cracked by Ali Khani. The money went in on the flop with Ho’s kings as an overpair, and 2 clubs on board. Both Khani and Sebastian Crema were in the hand drawing to clubs, with Khani on the nut draw, and the queen of clubs on the river sealed the deal for Ho’s 5th place finish.
Ho immediately jumped into Day 1a of the NLH Main Event after his exit from the four-card Main.
I missed the action while writing up the most recent Main Event update, but Stefan Maloney, who took down the NLH/PLO Mix earlier in the series, ended his day in 7th place today. They are about 30 minutes from the next break, and I’ll get a full round of chip counts then.
Garry Sandhu raised to 30k under the gun, and Sebastian Crema called from the button, as did Michael Bingham from the big blind. They all checked the 9♣K♣4♠ flop and, after a check from Bingham on the 10♣turn, Sandhu fired 40k.
Crema came over the top to 125k, enough to force folds from the other two players.
Michael Bingham limped the small blind, and Garry Sandgu checked to a flop of 2♥9♥K♠. He bet 30k, and Sandhu called to 8♠.
Bingham bet 40k and Sandhu snap-called, and they both checked the 8♣ river. Bingham showed K♥8♥6♥6♣ for a flopped heart draw and top pair, which improved to a boat on the river.
Deven Lane opened the cutoff to 30k, but Ali Khani repopped it to 105k from the button. The blinds got out of the way, as did Labe after a few seconds of thought. Khani showed aces with a suit while leaving his fourth card face down.
Sebastian Crema raised to 30k early, and both Garry Sandhu and Stefan Maloney came along from the blinds. They all checked through the 3♦10♥8♦ flop, and after a check from Sandhu, Maloney fired 100k on the 4♠ turn.
Crema mucked, but Sandhu called to the 9♠ river, where they both checked again.
“Set,” said Maloney.
“Straight,” replied Sandhu, showing the jack-high straight. “I also had a flush draw.”
“No, you didn’t,” replied Maloney with a smile. “I mean, you HAD one, but you didn’t. I had the nut draw.”
John MacArthur hit the rail for 8th place just before the end of Level 18. The remaining 7 players are on a break, with action set to resume in moments.
Garry Sandhu has taken over the chip lead now with almost 1.5 million, but Sebastian Crema is still playing more than a million as well.
While I was processing the FT pictures, Rhonda Fiveland was the first player to bust from the FT. I missed the action, but I overheard her say she was all in with double-suited aces, so it’s hard to get it in any better preflop in PLO.
Below is a look at the final nine players in the PLO Main Event.
Stefan MaloneyRhonda FivelandGarry SandhuMichael BinghamKyle HoJohn MacArthurSebastian CremaAli KhaniDeven Lane
They are down to the final table now, with 9 players left. Sebastian Crema still has the big stack by a mile. Stay tuned for some final table faces shortly.
Deven Lane completed from the small blind, and Sebastian Crema checked his option in the big. Lane fired 20k on the 6♠8♥Q♦ flop, and Crema called to the 10♦ turn.
Lane checked the turn, calling Crema’s 60k bet. The 9♦ river brought in the diamond flush, and Lane checked again. Crema potted, enough to force Lane all in, and Lane folded top set face up. Crema showed four-three of diamonds to confirm he had it.
The PLO Main players are back for Day 2, with Sebastian Crema playing almost half the chips in play. All players coming back today are in the money, with everyone guaranteed $1,895.
Sebastian Crema leads the way into Day 2 of the PLO Main, and it’s not even close. He has more than 2.1 million, a 3.5:1 chip lead over his closest competitor, Ali Khani, with 639k. That gives him nearly half the chips in play with 11 players remaining in the game.
Sebastien Crema PLO Main Chip Leader
Day 2 gets underway on Friday at noon with all returning players in the money. Everyone is guaranteed at least $1,895, but there is more than $24k up top for the winner of this one. Perhaps equally important, there are 360 Player of the Series points for the winner, meaning that the final player standing will almost certainly jump to the lead for PoS.
That’s not a certainty, however. More than one player returning for Friday’s action already has points in the race, including Deven Lane and Stefan Maloney. They are nearly neck-and-neck in the standings with Lane on 78 points and Maloney on 80. For Maloney’s part, a 3rd place finish would likely tie him for the PoS lead. That said, Dagan Maxwell, Michael Bingham, and John MacArthur also have points in the race already, so a win for any of them would mean Maloney would need second place to take the lead.
It should be an interesting day with a lot at stake. Of course, everyone will be eyeing the trophy and the top prize, but with multiple players sitting with PoS chances going into the final day of the PLO Main, there will be dynamics at play that go far beyond a simple Day 2.
The blinds remain at 40 minutes throughout the final day, and from the jump, it looks like Crema’s game to lose. Poker can be a fickle beast, however, and with so many implications beyond this specific tournament, anything can happen on Friday.
Dagan Maxwell
