Poker Masters 2023: Lithuania’s Vladas Tamasauskas Takes Commanding Lead in the Race to Win Purple Jacket With Two Wins in First Three Events

Vladas Tamasauskas (cover image) is on a super roll at the ongoing eighth edition of PokerGO`s Poker Masters, underway at the PokerGO Studio in Las Vegas since September 15. Making a final table finish in the first three events, punctuated by two rousing title victories in the $10,000 No-Limit Hold’em Events #1 and #3, the Lithuanian poker podcaster has already raked in a combined $506,400 with seven high-stakes events left to unfold.

Taking a dominant position on the Poker Masters leaderboard, Tamasauskas has notched up 506 points. This impressive tally already surpasses the 466 points Sean Winter, the 2022 Poker Masters champion, accumulated during the entire series last year. Tamasauskas is now in a prime position to claim the series’ $50,000 championship bonus and don the esteemed Purple Jacket.

Tamasauskas’ dazzling start at the series has catapulted him to #5 on Lithuania’s all-time-money list. Boasting live tournament earnings nearing $2.50 Million, his resume includes remarkable feats like a fourth-place finish in the 2022 WSOP Europe Main Event for a career-best prize of $451,112. Just this month, he narrowly missed the top spot at EPT Barcelona’s €10,300 High Roller, settling for a commendable $439,650 in third place. With his latest wins at Poker Masters, Tamasauskas has broken free from a year-long title drought, and it seems there’s no stopping him now.

Vladas Tamasauskas Wins Event #1: $10,000 NLHE For $239,400

Vladas Tamasauskas drew first blood at the 2023 Poker Masters by topping the record-setting 114-entry field in Event #1: $10,000 NLHE, the largest in the series’ history. The Lithuanian won a satellite to the tournament and fought all the way to victory.

Starting the final table with the least chips, Tamasauskas battled fiercely throughout. His determination culminated in a triumphant win against Aram Zobian, the start-of-day chip leader. Despite being at a 3-to-1 deficit initially, Tamasauskas clinched the victory, securing his first Poker Masters title and pocketing $239,400. Zobian settled for the second spot with a prize of $171,000.

Event #1 final table was a star-studded affair, including runners like Ren Lin (3rd for $125,400), Filipp Khavin (4th for $102,600), Victoria Livschitz (5th for $79,800), Samuel Laskowitz (6th for $68,400) and Scott Jacewicz-O’Kelly (7th for $57,000).

Other notables who boarded the money bus included Ben Yu (9th for $45,600), John Krpan (10th for $34,200), Dylan Linde (11th for $34,200), Byron Kaverman (12th for $34,200), Ping Liu (13th for $22,800), Matt Bond (14th for $22,800), Ryan Riess (15th for $22,800), Bin Weng (16th for $17,100), and Anthony Zinno (17th for $17,100).

The $10K buy-in NLHE event`s record attendance created a prize pool of $1,140,000. The top 17 finishers earned at least $19,400. Steve Zolotow, unfortunately, was the last to exit without a cash reward.

The entire final table action was live-streamed on PokerGO`s YouTube channel. You can relive the excitement below.

Final Table Results (USD)

1. Vladas Tamasauskas – $239,400
2. Aram Zobian – $171,000
3. Ren Lin – $125,400
4. Filipp Khavin – $102,600
5. Victoria Livschitz – $79,800
6. Samuel Laskowitz – $68,400
7. Scott Jacewicz-O’Kelly – $57,000

Vladas Tamasauskas Triumphs Again in Event #3: $10,000 NLHE, Pocketing $208,800

Vladas Tamasauskas continued his winning streak at the 2023 Poker Masters. After championing Event #1 and securing a commendable sixth-place finish in Event #2, he dominated Event #3: $10,000 NLHE. Outplaying the 87-player field in the two-day event, Tamasauskas found himself as the short stack on the final table yet gain. However, he staged yet another superb comeback to walk away with a $208,800 winner’s due and his second title of the series.

China’s Ren Lin, previously finishing third in Event #1, had to settle for second this time, taking home $147,900.

The final table saw poker elites like Daniel Rezaei (3rd for $104,400), Alex Foxen (4th for $87,000), Michael Rocco (5th for $69,600), and Chance Kornuth (6th for $52,200) rounding out the top six.

Other participants who secured a slice of the prize included Andrew Lichtenberger (7th for $43,500), Dan Shak (8th for $34,800), Filipp Khavin (9th for $34,800), Jose Diaz (10th for $26,100), Ryan Riess (11th for $26,100), Brock Wilson (12th for $17,400), and Jeremy Becker (13th for $17,400).

With 87 participants, the event amassed an $870,000 prize pool, shared by the top 13. Unfortunately, Adrian Mateos just missed out, landing in the 14th spot.

The entire final table action was live-streamed on PokerGO`s YouTube channel. You can relive the excitement below.

Final Table Results (USD)

1. Vladas Tamasauskas – $208,800
2. Ren Lin – $147,900
3. Daniel Rezaei – $104,400
4. Alex Foxen – $87,000
5. Michael Rocco – $69,600
6. Chance Kornuth – $52,200

Content & Images Courtesy: PokerGO Tour

Keep following PokerGuru for more updates from the 2023 Poker Masters!