Jason Koon Headlines Early Winners at WPT Five Diamond 

The Season XVI WPT Five Diamond World Poker Classic is off and running at Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. We already updated you on the Hublot Player of the Year race heading into the event, and now we’re here to update you on the first handful of WPT Five Diamond preliminary events that have wrapped up.

At the start of Thursday, November 30, eight events were completed, including six WPT Five Diamond preliminary tournaments and two Bellagio High Roller events. Early headline grabbers included Jason Koon (pictured), who picked up right where he left off from last season’s WPT Five Diamond tournament series, along with Serigo Aido and Scott Clements.

Aido Wins First $10,000 High Roller Title

Sergio Aido, from Spain, took the title in the first Bellagio $10,000 High Roller that took place on Tuesday, November 28. Aido topped the field of 28 entries to win $128,800. Ramin Hajiyev took second for $78,400, Bryn Kenney finished third for $44,800, and Almedin Imsirovic got fourth for $28,000.

Koon and Haxton Chop First $25,000 High Roller

The first Bellagio $25,000 High Roller of the Season XVI WPT Five Diamond World Poker Classic drew 34 entries for a prize pool of $850,000. The top five places reached the money, with Jason Koon and Isaac Haxton ultimately deciding to chop the top two places. Koon took first place for $289,950, and Haxton earned $271,050.

For Koon, the win looks to be him picking up right where he left off at last season’s WPT Five Diamond festival. During that series, Koon won the first $25,000 High Roller for $412,800. Just 24 hours later, Koon finished runner-up in the second $25,000 High Roller on the schedule to earn $333,747.

With a few more big buy-in events to go, including the WPT Five Diamond World Poker Classic $10,400 Main Event starting on December 5, Koon could pad to his Bellagio winnings even more.

Mazair Wins Opening Event

In the opening event of the Season XVI WPT Five Diamond World Poker Classic, a field of 202 entries turned up for Event 1: $560 No-Limit Hold’em. The top 27 places reached the money, including Dutch Boyd (13th – $1,176), Brandon West (17th – $1,029), and Doug Lee (24th – $882).

In the end, it was two players from Florida battling for the first title of the series, with Boca Raton’s Martin Mazair dueling with Redington Shores’ Nashaat Antonious. When the dust settled, Mazair took the victory and earned the $27,426 top prize. Antonious earned $16,165 for his runner-up finish.

Gostisa Grabs Second Event’s Title; Turner Reaches Back-To-Back Final Tables

In Event 2: $1,100 No-Limit Hold’em, 132 entries paved the way for a $40,970 winner’s prize. Slovenian Rok Gostisa emerged victorious in the event, defeating a final table that included Ilkin Amirov (4th – $10,563) and Eric Baldwin (5th – $8,131).

Of note, Jon Turner finished seventh in Event 1 for $2,449 and 10th in Event 2 for $2,113.

O’Connell Bests Marquez in Shot Clock

In the third event of the series, Event 3: $1,100 No-Limit Hold’em Shot Clock, local player Ed O’Connell topped the field of 92 entries to win $31,234. O’Connell defeated Spain’s Ana Marquez, who took home $17,848 for second place.

Landers Outduels Heimiller in Seniors Event

The fourth preliminary event of the Season XVI WPT Five Diamond World Poker Classic series was Event 4: $1,100 Seniors No-Limit Hold’em. It attracted 146 entries and saw Michael Landers best Dan Heimiller in heads-up play to win the $36,842 top prize. Following a deal between the final two, Heimiller took home $34,675.

Barry Woods finished fifth for $8,993, and Lee Markholt took eighth for $4,107.

WPT Champion Clements Wins Pot-Limit Omaha Title

Scott Clements is widely regarded as one of the world’s best Omaha players, and his skills were on display in Event 5: $1,100 Pot-Limit Omaha. Clements, a WPT Champions Club member, topped the field of 56 entries to take home the $21,184 top prize.

British Duo Wins Tag Team Tournament

Mark Hammond and Jean-Luc Weller, both from England, topped the field of 37 entries in Event 6: $1,100 No-Limit Hold’em Tag Team. The team won $16,151, defeating the team of Jack Duong and Je Oh in second place.

Source : www.worldpokertour.com

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