Aaron Zang wins biggest buy-in tourney ever

Aaron Zang made history over the weekend after winning the Triton Million Charity Invitational No-Limit Hold’em tournament.

The high roller tournament set a new record for the largest buy-in in poker history at £1,050,000, which converts to approximately $1.77 million US. A total of 54 entrants ponied up the nearly $2 million buy-in.

For outlasting them all Zang pocketed $16,810,979 US, although that was the biggest cash.

When only two players remained Zang and Bryn Kenney made a deal before the start of heads-up play. At the time Kenney had a sizable 4.5-to-1 chip lead on Zang. Under the deal they struck Zang received his $16 million, while Kenney cashed a massive $20,606,421.

The huge payout increased Kennedy’s lifetime life-poker earnings to $55,748,855, putting him ahead of  former record-holder Justin Bonomo as the top tournament money winner of all time.

Back to the tournament results, despite Kennedy’s chip lead, the cards went Zang’s way during heads up. About a dozen hands into heads up play Zang made a huge double up when his  pocket sixes topped Kenney’s King-Queen. Two hands later Zang took over the chip lead after he flopped trips.

On the final hand of the tournament, with Zang now well ahead Kenney pushed all-in with the flop showing 8s-4s-3c. After Zang called Kenney showed As-6s for a flush draw. Zang was ahead with 8d-5d for a pair of eights. Needing any spade or an Ace, Kenney came up short on the turn when the 9c fell. He also missed on the river when the Kd appeared giving the hand and the tournament title to Zang.

The full list of payouts at the final table were as follows:

1. Aaron Zang – $16,810,979
2. Bryn Kenney – $20,606,421
3. Dan Smith – $8,784,000
4. Stephen Chidwick – $5,380,200
5. Vivek Rajkumar – $3,660,000
6. Bill Perkins – $2,684, 000
7. Alfred Decarolis – $2,098,400
8. Tim Adams – $1,708,000