Ali Imsirovic Wins Second Event at 2018 Poker Masters

Ali Imsirovic Wins Second Event at 2018 Poker Masters

Ali Imsirovic got off to a slow start at this year’s Poker Masters taking place at the ARIA Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. Six days into the nine day series, the Washington State pro had just one tournament cash to his name, having finished Event #1: $10,000 No Limit Hold’em in 8th place for $27,600.

The 28 year-old has since made up for lost time and one day after taking down Event #5: $25,000 No-Limit Hold’em for $462,000 has now done likewise in Event #6: $50,000 No-Limit Hold’em, this time scooping a huge $799,000 prize for his impressive efforts. Commenting upon his remarkable performance thus far and his chances of claiming the coveted Purple Jacket award, Imsirovic stated:

“I was thinking about that last night. I was just happy to be at another final table. I knew I could take over the lead with another good showing. But with the Main Event coming up, I think I’ll save the partying for later.”

Poker Masters Purple Jacket Standings

Ali Imsirovic now boasts $2,404,499 in live career earnings since 2015, with all but $245,572 of that amount won in 2018 alone. Imsirovic also collected 300 points for his latest victory, propelling him to number one on the Purple Jacket race on 660 points, ahead of his nearest rivals Brandon Adams (510), Isaac Haxton (480), Jake Schindler (390), and Ben Yu (360).

With just Event #7: $100,000 No-Limit Hold’em left to reach its conclusion, however, Imsirovic seems set to pick up the award. That is because Imsirovic is currently sitting 5th in chips out of the remaining 8 players, with Adams and Haxton already eliminated, and Schindler and Yu having chosen to skip the event altogether. Nevertheless, registration for the $100,000 buy-in contest is open on Day 2 until 1 p.m. local time, and with 350 points going to its eventual winner, anything is still possible.

Event #6: $50k NLHE

The $50,000 No-Limit Hold’em event attracted 47 entries, resulting in a prize pool worth $2.35 million. Imsirovic subsequently made it through to the final table of six in pole position, before proceeding to banish all those who challenged him to the rail.

First to go was Justin Bonomo, who got his remaining chips all-in holding J-8 to Imsirovic’s K-2, only to be eliminated in 6th after the board ran out 9-5-3-J-A. He was followed out the exit by Sam Soverel in 5th, whose A-K hand faltered against Imsirovic’s pocket queens.

Next, Imsirovic (7-5) moved all-in from the small blind against Jake Schindler, who deliberated a while before making the call with pocket fours. Unfortunately for him, though, the dealer proceeded to lay out a J-9-5-8-A board to see him ousted from the competition in 4th place.

Three-handed play then saw Imsirovic (6-5) limp from the small blind before calling Seth Davies’ raise holding pocket tens. Imsirovic laid his trap by first checking the A-6-5 flop, and then check-raising his opponent all-in. Davies may have wasted no time making the call, but he was soon confronted by the bad news, with a 3 and Q dealt on turn and river ultimately sealing his fate for a 3rd place finish.

Ali Imsirovic vs Koray Aldemir

Imsirovic started heads-up play holding a sizeable chip lead over his German challenger Koray Aldemir, who even manage to wrestle the lead on a number of occasions before seeing his stack diminish to just 10 big blinds. The final hand subsequently saw Aldemir push all-in preflop holding 9-8, and receive a call from Imsirovic with K-Q. The queen on the turn then sealed the deal for Imsirovic, while Koray Aldemir collected $517,000 for his runner-up finish.

Final Table Result

1st: Ali Imsirovic $799,000
2nd: Koray Aldemir $517,000
3rd: Seth Davies $352,500
4th: Jake Schindler $235,000
5th: Sam Soverel $188,000
6th: Justin Bonomo $141,000

Event #7: $100,000 No-Limit Hold’em

All eyes are now upon the final tournament of the 2018 Poker Masters, the $100,000 No-Limit Hold’em event, which is held over three days and  concludes on September 15th. The tournament will also begin streaming later today, with the action available on PokerGO, albeit on a one hour delay.