Finnish Star Samuli Sipila Wins 2024 PGT PLO Series for $1 million

With challenges from fellow Finnish player Eelis Parssinen, American poker heroes Seth Davies, Allan Le and Alex Foxen and other stars such as the former Mixed Games Series winner Dylan Weisman, Samuli Sipila had his work cut out to make a profit when the 10-tournament PokerGO Tour PLO Series began. Instead, the Finnish pro made it look easy as two big event wins and a runner-up showing made sure he crushed the opposition and won over $1 million at the purple felt.

PLO Championship Sees Stars Come Out

The crown jewel of the 10-event schedule was the $25,000 buy-in PLO Championship and with 72 entries, only 11 places were paid as the best of the best PLO (Pot Limit Omaha) players arrived at the PokerGO Studio firing for the chance to win a massive $522,000 top prize.

As it happened, the two-day event ended its first day with the money bubble. Out without any money was Tomas Ribeiro who busted in 12^th place to Bruno Furth. It was only a few minutes later that the first person to cash left the cardroom, as Lou Garza busted. The American pro, who grabbed headlines in the summer after he proposed to his girlfriend after winning his first WSOP bracelet, cashed for $54,000 in 11^th position as his countryman Seth Davies flopped straight to reduce the field to ten players.

Day 2 – and the final day of action – began with Davies in charge, a big lead of 3.4 million chips only really threatened by Sipila with 2.3 million, everyone else having less than half of Davies’s stack. It didn’t take long for Davies to add to the pile of chips he started the final day with, his flopped flush rendering Dutch player Ronald Kelijzer’s pocket aces useless as Keijzer himself left for a score of $54,000 too.

Weisman Won’t Win

Having won an earlier event in the PGT PLO Series, Dylan Weisman was disappointed to leave the biggest event in ninth place for $54,000. Weisman was sent home by the impressive Bruno Furth, who continued his good run with an effective ace-high flush, especially as it came in on the river, leaving Weisman to lick his wounds on the rail.

Ian Matakis was the next player to exit, his tournament over when he walked into Furth’s pair of nines and he left with $72,000. As the final seven began, it was Furth who held the lead. Joao Simao from Brazil cashed for $72,000 in seventh place, leaving just six players fighting for the money but just as importantly, the title of PLO Championship winner.

Out in sixth for $90,000 was Sean Winter. The PokerGO Regular and American high roller hero to many had two pair on the turn but Samuli Sipila timed a full house on the same street just perfectly, reducing the field to five and moving into contention at the top of the leaderboard.

Sipila Falls Short but Claims Overall Victory

Down to five places, it was the winner of the opening event of the series, Allan Le, who busted next for $126,000. Allan Le shoved on the turn with two pair of aces and sevens but ran into Sipila’s full house with pocket aces in the hole. It was perfect timing for the Finn and he jumped into the lead.

Out in fourth place for $171,000 was Stefan Christopher. He too was strong, but not as strong as Furth, who had two pair of queens and jacks to eliminate the American short of the podium places. At the time, Furth looked destined for a long run but an extended period of three-handed play without anyone leaving changed all that. The chips went against Furth and he left in third for $243,000 when his flopped full house saw Seth Davies overtake him on the river with a superior one.

Going into heads-up play with the lead, Samuli Sipila’s 8.17 million chips were a little way clear of Davies’ 6.25 million but a rollercoaster ride where both men held the lead on multiple occasions concluded with Davies in the driving seat. The American’s pocket kings held when Sip[ila’s draws fell short and his paired sevens on the flop were no match. Sipila won $342,000 in second place, Davies claiming the $522,000 up top but the Finnish player’s overall series was way stronger, and he took home the thoroughly deserved Championship title, over $1m in cash and the bonus prize of a $10,000 PGT Passport.