Although not a professional poker player, the UK-based Turkish entrepreneur Orpen Kisacikoglu boasts an impressive tournament record that would easily deceive you. He has amassed a staggering $15.1 million in recorded winnings, having cashed in 97 tournaments and clinched seven titles, including a prestigious World Series of Poker bracelet. Kisacikoglu’s most recent triumph occurred at the 2023 Poker Masters high-stakes festival when he conquered a field of 95 entries in event no. 6. This victory netted Kisacikoglu a cool $218,500, courtesy of his triumph in the $10,000 buy-in no-limit hold’em event.
On his path to this remarkable victory, Kisacikoglu faced off against some of the most accomplished players in the poker world, including two individuals ranked in the top three of poker’s all-time money list: Justin Bonomo (with a career earnings total of $64.1 million) and Stephen Chidwick (with $52 million in career earnings).
In addition to this accolade, Kisacikoglu also earned 219 PokerGO Tour points for his win, propelling him into sixth place in the race for the prestigious Poker Masters Purple Jacket this year.
In this event, the top 14 finishers walked away with a piece of the $950,000 total prize pool. The second and final day of play began with just seven players remaining, and Kisacikoglu was in the lead, closely pursued by Chino Rheem, the champion of event no. 4.
The 2013 WSOP main event champion, Ryan Riess, was the first to exit, finishing in seventh place and taking home $47,500. Chidwick followed soon after when his A-9 clashed with Bonomo’s A-K, marking his 18th final table appearance of the year. Chidwick currently occupies the sixth position on the POY leaderboard as he vies for his third win in Card Player’s points race.
Rheem eliminated Sam Laskowitz in fifth place, earning $76,000, but then encountered a setback when his pocket jacks faced pocket aces from World Poker Tour champion Jack Hardcastle. Rheem, a three-time WPT winner, soon found himself all-in and at risk with pocket sixes against Kisacikoglu’s A-10, resulting in Rheem’s exit in fourth place with $95,000 in winnings. This performance elevated him to second place in the series-long points race with a total of 313.
Bonomo was the next to depart, making an all-in call for less than four big blinds with a 5-4 suited from the big blind, while Kisacikoglu had previously gone all-in from the button with an ace high. The river played in Kisacikoglu’s favor, eliminating Bonomo in third place with $114,000 in winnings.
When heads-up play commenced, Kisacikoglu held a commanding chip lead with 11.1 million chips compared to Hardcastle’s 775,000. Kisacikoglu quickly capitalized on this advantage, sealing his victory on the very first hand. Hardcastle pushed all-in from the button with QClub SuitJHeart Suit, putting up around six big blinds. Kisacikoglu called with 10Diamond Suit6Heart Suit from the big blind. The board delivered 8Club Suit5Club Suit4Diamond Suit10Spade Suit3Spade Suit, securing the pot and the title for Kisacikoglu. Hardcastle earned $152,000 as the runner-up, marking the third-largest recorded score of his career and pushing his lifetime earnings past the $2 million mark.
Final table Results:
| Place | Player | Earnings | POY Points | PGT Points |
| 1 | Orpen Kisacikoglu | $218,500 | 540 | 219 |
| 2 | Jack Hardcastle | $152,000 | 450 | 152 |
| 3 | Justin Bonomo | $114,000 | 360 | 114 |
| 4 | Chino Rheem | $95,000 | 270 | 95 |
| 5 | Samuel Laskowitz | $76,000 | 225 | 76 |
