partypoker US Network Online PKO Series (February 21-28)

Event #1: LearnWPT $40K GTD PKO 6-Max
Day: 1
Event Info

partypoker US Network Online PKO Series (February 21-28)

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
aq
Prize
$5,606
Event Info
Buy-in
$215
Prize Pool
$61,400
Entries
307
Players Info - Day 1
Entries
307
Players Left
1

Eric “alwaysliquid” Vanauken Looking for More partypoker US Success

Eric Vanauken
Eric Vanauken

Eric “alwaysliquid” Vanauken is a name you should know as he's become one of the most accomplished players on the partypoker US Network. In fact, it seems as if he's winning a title each time a series takes place.

Last year, Vanauken accomplished the incredible feat of capturing back-to-back titles not once, but twice.

In the July 6-12 series, he topped a 134-entry field to win Event #4: $15,000 GTD NLH for nearly $7,500, and then the next night bested 144 runners to win Event #5: $,7500 GTD Green Chip Bounty for $3,145. Then, at the end of July, he won the $320 buy-in Event #3: $15,000 GTD PKO Bounty for $6,393 and a day later emerged victorious in the $215 buy-in Event #4: $12,000 GTD PKO Bounty Boost for $5.691.

PokerNews recently had the chance to chat with Vanauken about his recent successes.

Money Never Sleeps

For the 43-year-old Vanauken, who is married with three kids ages 7, 10, and 19, he’s never really had a nine-to-five job. Instead, he fancies himself a real estate broker engaging in flips and investments while playing poker on the side of course.

“I first learned playing $4/$8 limit at Foxwoods in early 2000 and now play now $20/$40 and $30/$60 when I can find a game, or settle on $1/$2 or $2/$5 NLH," he said. "I have played the WSOP Main Event two times with no luck busting on Day 2 both times.”

Additionally, Vanauken grinds a decent amount on the virtual tables under the screen name “alwaysliquid,” which stems from the movie Wall Street when Gordon Gekko tells Bud Fox about how money never sleeps and you need to always be liquid.

“Since New Jersey went legal I play on Borgata and WSOP. I used to play PokerStars but had an issue with them over a year ago and have since boycotted them. I do very well on Borgata. I even shipped the Mega Thursday [not long ago] on my phone from an Applebee’s parking lot as I had no WiFi at home due to power outage.”

As for his recent successes on partypoker US, Vanauken was pleased but wanted to remain humble.

“I am humbled to be able to compete with all of the great players in New Jersey,” he said. “I’m proud that all of my studying and grinding has been producing favorable results in the past few years, taking me from an average breakeven player to a profitable one. At the same time, I try to maintain being humble with this great game and what it has provided for me and my family.”

Proudest Poker Accomplishments

For Vanauken, the scores rank up there among his proudest poker accomplishments, which includes beating a poker legend.

“In 2013, I beat Joe McKeehen for the Borgata Limit Championship,” Vanauken said. “I think that was the last limit event held at Borgata.”

Other highlights on his poker résumé include finishing sixth in the 2018 WSOP Circuit at Canada’s Playground Poker Club and finishing runner-up in a pair of WSOP Circuit online events back in March.

“So close to a ring but the two cashes of $35k and $20k within a few days definitely eased the quarantine pain,” Vanauken said.

With the latest partypoker US Network Online Series happening now, only time will tell if Vanauken can keep his streak of winning back-to-back events alive.

Click here to sign up for Nj.partypoker.com!

Tags: Eric Vanauken

Vanauken Finds Optimal Spot to Double

On blinds of 4,000/8,000 "cuser24" and Eric “alwaysliquid” Vanauken found all of their chips go into the middle with Vanauken at risk.

Eric “alwaysliquid” Vanauken: {8-Hearts}{8-Diamonds}
"cuser24": {a-Clubs}{8-Clubs}

The board came down {q-Hearts}{10-Diamonds}{3-Spades}{7-Clubs}{7-Hearts} and Vanauken scooped the hand with his snowmen for a complete double.

Player Chips Progress
Eric “alwaysliquid” Vanauken us
Eric “alwaysliquid” Vanauken
330,000

White Takes a Flip with "JD2000s"

On blinds of 3,500/7,000 "JD2000s" shoved 83,885 and found one taker in Chris “rumpthumper” White. The two tabled their hands with "JD2000s" at risk of elimination.

"JD2000s": {8-Hearts}{8-Clubs}
Chris “rumpthumper” White: {a-Hearts}{9-Diamonds}

The board rolled out {a-Spades}{j-Spades}{6-Clubs}{a-Diamonds}{9-Spades} and White's boat took down the pot, increasing his bounty in the process.

Player Chips Progress
Chris “rumpthumper” White us
Chris “rumpthumper” White
205,000 -118,000
JD2000s us
JD2000s
Busted

Fortuitous River Catapults "ScarletRaptor"

Kevin “sofcknsick” Campbell opened and "ScarletRaptor" moved all in for around 160,000. Campbell called and the two tabled their hands.

"ScarletRaptor": {10-Diamonds}{10-Spades}
Kevin “sofcknsick” Campbell: {a-Spades}{k-Clubs}

The flop came down {a-Diamonds}{j-Spades}{5-Hearts}, giving Campbell the lead with his pair of aces. A {9-Spades} turn left "ScarletRaptor" with one last chance for romance and the {10-Clubs} gave them some love from lady luck as a set of dimes was good to secure the pot for a double.

Player Chips Progress
ScarletRaptor us
ScarletRaptor
340,000 124,000
Kevin “sofcknsick” Campbell us
Kevin “sofcknsick” Campbell
180,000 48,000

Play a PKO Tournament with Vanessa Selbst!

Vanessa Selbst
Vanessa Selbst

Everyone playing in today's LearnWPT PKO BOUNTY event will receive a special invitation from partypoker US Network to gain free access to learnwpt.com and the WPT GTO Trainer as part of the "For The Player" initiative to help players learn and grow their game.

Also, don't forget you can join Vanessa Selbst for the ONLINE SERIES $100K Guaranteed 8-max PKO Bounty Main Event on February 28th at 5 p.m. ET.

The Main Event is an 8-Max, $535 Buy-in Progressive Knockout with each player getting 100,000 starting chips.

Look for Vanessa under her username "Vanessa Selbst" to try and collect her bounty.

What is a PKO Bounty Tournament?

  • PKO (Progressive Knockout) tournaments are fun, unique events where a dynamic bounty is placed on each player
  • As you knock out other players, you are paid 50% of their bounty and the other 50% is added to your total bounty
  • Unlike regular knockout tournaments the value of the bounties can grow.
  • If you are the victor in a PKO Tournament you win in multiple ways:
    Win the amount in the general prize pool for 1st place
    Win the bounties you earned over the course of the event
    Keep the full amount of the bounty that is on your head

Click Here to Learn PKO Strategy from LearnWPT

Tags: Vanessa Selbst

"Lanfeust" Pulls in a Pot

The blinbds were 2,500/5,000 when "ScarletRaptor" opened to 10,000, finding two callers in "Lanfeust" and "JD2000s". The {q-Hearts}{9-Diamonds}{8-Spades} flop saw action check to "ScarletRaptor" who bet 10,300 and "Lanfeust" quickly raised to 38,725.

Both "JD2000s" and "ScarletRaptor" elected to fold, sending the pot to "Lanfeust".

Player Chips Progress
Lanfeust us
Lanfeust
305,000
ScarletRaptor us
ScarletRaptor
216,000 -4,000
JD2000s us
JD2000s
162,000

Sign Up for Borgata Poker Today!

BorgataPoker.com
BorgataPoker.com

Are you a New Jersey resident interested in playing online poker? Planning a visit to the Garden State and want to check it out? If so, PokerNews has a great deal for you with BorgataPoker.com, which along with BetMGM.com and partypoker US comprised the BetMGM online network.

New customers who sign up will receive a 100% deposit match up to $600, plus $20 on the house!

It's easy to get started:

  • Sign Up — Register an account with Borgata Poker
  • Download — Get the app on iOS or Android to start playing
  • Deposit — Make your first deposit and we'll match it up to $600

Click here to sign up for BorgataPoker.com!

Ferrell Jumps Back Over Starting Stack

On blinds of 2,000/4,000 Frederick "Got_Milk" Ferrell shoved 66,330 and "ballanstar1555" was the only taker, putting Ferrell at risk of elimination.

Frederick "Got_Milk" Ferrell: {a-Spades}{k-Diamonds}
"ballanstar1555": {9-Spades}{9-Clubs}

The classic race turned saw a {q-Hearts}{8-Clubs}{5-Hearts} flop roll out and a one-sided battle then took place as an {a-Diamonds} peeled off on the turn, giving Ferrell a monster lead. The {2-Clubs} river sealed the deal for Ferrell who doubled up with his pair of aces.

Player Chips Progress
ballanstar1555 us
ballanstar1555
258,000
Frederick "Got_Milk" Ferrell us
Frederick "Got_Milk" Ferrell
136,000 136,000

Haberman Flips Ferrell to the Sidelines

On blinds of 1,600/3,200 Michael “Gags30” Gagliano opened to 7,360 from the button and Frederick "Got_Milk" Ferrell shoved around 70,000 from the small blind. Michael “IIIIIIIIIIIII” Haberman jammed over the top from the big blind and Gagliano folded, leaving just two.

Frederick "Got_Milk" Ferrell: {a-Diamonds}{k-Hearts}
Michael “IIIIIIIIIIIII” Haberman: {10-Hearts}{10-Diamonds}

The board came down {j-Spades}{8-Clubs}{3-Clubs}{5-Clubs}{3-Diamonds} and Haberman's dimes held on for the pot, adding some more money to his bounty in the process of doing so.

Player Chips Progress
Michael “IIIIIIIIIIIII” Haberman us
Michael “IIIIIIIIIIIII” Haberman
362,000 74,000
Michael “Gags30” Gagliano us
Michael “Gags30” Gagliano
146,000 46,000
Frederick "Got_Milk" Ferrell us
Frederick "Got_Milk" Ferrell
Busted