Event #2: $5,000 Single Day | 2026 PokerGO Cup

03-04-2026 16:01 UTC-7

Hunichen Bets and Takes

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Connor Richards

Level 6 : Blinds 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante

Chris Hunichen opened in the hijack and got three callers, including Darren Elias and Cary Katz in late position.

The flop of 5♠J♣A♦ checked through and Hunichen bet 8,000 on the 4♣ turn to bring folds from all three opponents.

Across the room, poker coach Jonathan Little was eliminated.

Did you know that Hunichen hosts an annual Fourth of July bash in Las Vegas that dozens of high-stakes poker players attend. Read all about Hunichen's 2024 party that he hosted after a career summer.

Player	Chips	Progress
Darren Elias	175,000 175,000	175,000

Cary Katz	115,000 10,000	10,000

Chris Hunichen	90,000 70,000	70,000

Jonathan Little	Busted

Tags: Cary Katz Chris Hunichen Darren Elias

Level: 6

Blinds: 2,000/4,000

Ante: 4,000

03-04-2026 15:46 UTC-7

Serock Goes Runner-Runner to Crack Kings With 3% Flop Equity

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Connor Richards

Level 5 : Blinds 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante

Joe Serock may have only had 3% equity on the flop in a hand that put him at risk, but that didn't stop him from doubling up thanks to a lucky runout.

Serock was all in with a short stack against Jim Collopy to his right.

Joe Serock: Q♣10♣ All in
Jim Collopy: K♣K♦

The flop landed 3♥5♦8♠ to provide absolutely no help to Serock, who barely even had backdoor draws. But the board proceeded to run out Q♠10♠ as he made a miraculous two pair to put a tough beat on Collopy.

"The flop was three-five-eight and you lost!?!" said table mate Jeremy Becker. "That's gotta be so tilting!"

Player	Chips	Progress
Jim Collopy	270,000 20,000	20,000

Joe Serock	75,000 50,000	50,000

Tags: Jeremy Becker Jim Collopy Joe Serock

03-04-2026 15:38 UTC-7

Riordan Blames the Dealer

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Connor Richards

Level 5 : Blinds 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante

John Riordan was all in from the big blind against Peter Neff on the button.

John Riordan: J♣9♣ All in
Peter Neff: A♥K♠

Riordan couldn't pull ahead as the board ran out K♥2♦5♦2♣8♠ to mark his elimination, and he playfully blamed dealer Clyde Gaskins for his bad fortune.

"I'm not the one who made you go all in with jack-nine!" said Gaskins. "What are you doing?!"

Player	Chips	Progress
Peter Neff	190,000 190,000	190,000
John Riordan	Busted

Tags: Clyde Gaskins John Riordan Peter Neff

03-04-2026 15:33 UTC-7

A Round of Counts

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Connor Richards

Level 5 : Blinds 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante

Player	Chips	Progress
Joe McKeehen	1,600,000 1,475,000	1,475,000

David "ODB" Baker	260,000

Jesse Lonis	240,000 115,000	115,000

Shannon Shorr	200,000

Landon Tice	180,000
Peter Mugar	170,000 45,000	45,000
Victoria Livschitz	165,000 40,000	40,000
Chris Hunichen	160,000 35,000	35,000

Dan Sepiol	160,000 35,000	35,000

Darren Rabinowitz	150,000 25,000	25,000

Cary Katz	125,000

Chino Rheem	125,000

Jared Jaffee	95,000

Jonathan Little	80,000 45,000	45,000

Level: 5

Blinds: 1,500/3,000

Ante: 3,000

03-04-2026 15:00 UTC-7

First Break

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Connor Richards

Level 4 : Blinds 1,500/2,500, 2,500 ante

Players have been sent on their first 20-minute break of the day with the clocks showing 74 entrants so far.

03-04-2026 14:59 UTC-7

Zinno Takes from Wilson

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Connor Richards

Level 4 : Blinds 1,500/2,500, 2,500 ante

Brock Wilson raised on the button and Anthony Zinno three-bet in the small blind. Wilson called.

Zinno bet 9,000 on the flop of K♥8♠9♦ and Wilson laid it down.

Player	Chips	Progress
Anthony Zinno	160,000 50,000	50,000

Brock Wilson	50,000 85,000	85,000

Tags: Anthony Zinno Brock Wilson

03-04-2026 14:53 UTC-7

"Don't Go There, Clyde"

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Connor Richards

Level 4 : Blinds 1,500/2,500, 2,500 ante

The person with the most star-power in the room right now may be in the dealer seat.

Dealer Clyde "Snack Attack" Gaskins is a staple in the Las Vegas poker community and even has a podcast where he interviews poker-world figures, including Cheyanne Ivey, the sister of Phil Ivey.

While dealing at Table 1 in today's event, Gaskins told the table a story about dealing to Ivey recently in a high-stakes cash game and getting a playful needle in on the poker GOAT, who he has known for years.

"Does she ever ask about me, Phil?" Gaskins asked Ivey about his sister (he later told PokerNews he was just asking about her podcast appearance).

"Don't go there, Clyde," said the typically reserved Ivey.

"Sounds good ... brother in law!" Gaskins shot back, which he said brought laughs from others at the high-stakes table.

Tags: Phil Ivey

03-04-2026 14:48 UTC-7

Kent Stephens Crushes Pros in PokerGO Cup Showcase for $130,000

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Connor Richards

Level 4 : Blinds 1,500/2,500, 2,500 ante

The opening event of the 2026 PokerGO Cup has reached its conclusion inside PokerGO Studio in Las Vegas. After a marathon heads-up battle against Myles Mullaly, studio newcomer Kent Stephens of Utah emerged victorious to win Event #1: $3,000 PokerGO Cup Showcase for his first major title and $130,000 — more than ten times his previous tournament earnings.

"He was a tough kid," Stephens told PokerNews about his heads-up opponent, adding that he decided to play the mid-stakes event for a chance to play with poker pros he's watched on TV over the years.

The opening event drew 215 runners across two starting flights for a prize pool of $645,000.

The final table also included two-time bracelet winner Jim Collopy, Vegas grinder Daniyal Gheba and PokerGO Studio newcomer Sandeep Koralla.

$3,000 PokerGO Cup Showcase Final Table Results

Place	Player	Country	Prize
1	Kent Stephens	United States	$130,000
2	Myles Mullaly	United States	$85,000
3	Daniyal Gheba	United States	$61,000
4	Sandeep Koralla	United States	$48,000
5	Natalie Ferguson	United States	$38,000
6	Jim Collopy	United States	$31,000
7	Aaron Messmer	United States	$25,000

Tags: Aaron Messmer Daniyal Gheba Jim Collopy Kent Stephens Natalie Ferguson PokerGO