Cary Katz Grabs ARIA High Roller Event #1 Title and $137,340
The first event of the 2022 Aria High Roller Series saw 41 entries create a prize pool of $410,000 at the PokerGO Studio at ARIA Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Six players made it into the money, and Cary Katz claimed the title and $137,340 after a heads-up deal with Brian Rast ($108,660)
Michael Lang ($65,600), Jake Schindler ($45,100), Sean Perry ($32,800), and Alex Foxen ($20,500) round out those who were able to grab a piece of the prize pool.
The money bubble was burst when Ed Sebesta’s aces fell to Lang’s straight as the rest of his chips went in on the river. From there, the six remaining players played for over three hours before they would see another elimination. One of the hands during that time period saw Katz triple his short stack with a rivered straight on his path to eventual victory.
Eventually, it was Foxen to hit the rail in sixth when Lang flopped a pair and held against him. Perry was next to go when Rast flopped a set of jacks over him, and Schindler fell in fourth when losing almost the entirety of his stack to Katz on a flip and exited shortly after.
Katz began as the short stack in three-handed play, but his pocket eights held versus Lang’s ace-jack and Katz soon had a small chip lead. Lang then got the rest of his chips in from the big blind with suited ace-nine and was at risk against Katz’s ace-king. The turn provided a sweat and gave Lang a flush draw, but the river bricked and Lang was eliminated in third.
Katz then held the majority of chips with almost 80% of the chips in play and agreed to a deal with Rast to forego heads-up play and chop the remaining prize pool based on the stack sizes. Rast claimed the runner-up spot, while Katz took the lion’s share of the prize pool, in addition to the title.
With his victory, Katz moves up to sixth on the 2022 PokerGO Tour leaderboard with 483 points. Perry increased his total to 740 points with his cash and sits in second on the leaderboard, while Nick Petrangelo still holds the top spot with 1,066 points.
2022 Aria High Roller Series Event #1 Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
| 1 | Cary Katz | United States | $137,340 |
| 2 | Brian Rast | United States | $108,660 |
| 3 | Michael Lang | United States | $65,600 |
| 4 | Jake Schindler | United States | $45,100 |
| 5 | Sean Perry | United States | $32,800 |
| 6 | Alex Foxen | United States | $20,500 |
The 2022 Aria High Roller Series will continue on Friday, February 25, at 12 p.m. PT with Event #2: $10,000 No-Limit Hold’em.
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Brian Rast Takes 2nd Place ($108,660) in Heads-Up Chop
After the elimination of Michael Lang in third place, Cary Katz and Brian Rast decided to forego heads-up play and chop the remaining prize pool based on their stack sizes.
Katz held more chips and claims the title, winning $137,340 and adding 137 PokerGO Tour points to his total, while Rast will take home $108,660 and 109 PokerGO Tour points.
Michael Lang Eliminated in 3rd Place ($65,600)
Cary Katz limped the small blind and Michael Lang raised to 175,000 in the big blind. Katz had his opponent covered and jammed, and Lang called for his 1,535,000 chips.
Lang: [Ah9h]
Katz: [AdKh]
The board ran out [Kd9d5hQh8c] and although both players flopped a pair and Lang turned a flush draw, Katz held the best hand to secure the pot, as Lang was eliminated in 3rd for $65,600.
| Player | Chips | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Cary Katz | 3,245,000 |
1,760,000  |
| Brian Rast | 855,000 |
-165,000  |
| Mike Lang | Busted |
-1,595,000 |
Cary Katz Doubles Through Michael Lang
Michael Lang opened to 100,000 on the button and Cary Katz jammed for 705,000 in the big blind. Lang called.
Katz: [8c8s]
Lang: [AsJs]
The two were flipping, and the board ran out [Tc6d4d3h4c] to secure the double for Katz.
| Player | Chips | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Mike Lang | 1,595,000 |
-705,000 |
| Cary Katz | 1,485,000 |
705,000 |
| Brian Rast | 1,020,000 | - |
Jake Schindler Eliminated in 4th Place ($45,100)
Cary Katz moved all-in for 390,000 in the cutoff and Jake Schindler got his chips in from the small blind.
Katz: [KhtH]
Schindler: [9d9c]
The board ran out [AsQdTdKc4h] to improve Katz to two pair and give him the pot.
Schindler was left with a single blue T-5,000 chip, and won a couple of hands in a row to pick up antes and blinds to get back to roughly 200,000 chips. He then got his remaining stack in from the small blind against Brian Rast in the big blind.
Schindler: [Qh2s]
Rast: [7d6s]
The board ran out [AcAd9hJs6c] to give Rast the pot and eliminate Schindler in fourth for $45,100.
| Player | Chips | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Mike Lang | 2,300,000 |
90,000 |
| Brian Rast | 1,020,000 |
70,000 |
| Cary Katz | 780,000 |
290,000 |
| Jake Schindler | Busted |
-625,000 |
Cary Katz Doubles Through Jake Schindler
Cary Katz shoved in his 215,000 chips on the button and Jake Schindler called the big blind.
Katz: [Js9h]
Schindler: [QhQs]
The [Jd6s5h] flop provided Katz some hope, and the [9d] turn vaulted him ahead. The [Jh] complete the board to improve Katz to a boat as he claimed the pot to double.
| Player | Chips | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Jake Schindler | 625,000 |
-75,000 |
| Cary Katz | 490,000 |
250,000 |
Michael Lang vs. Brian Rast
Michael Lang opened to 80,000 in the cutoff and Brian Rast three-bet to 305,000 in the small blind. Lang called.
The dealer spread the [Kc7c4s] flop and Rast bet 230,000. Lang called.
The [7s] came on the turn, and Rast check-folded to a 425,000 bet by Lang.
| Player | Chips | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Mike Lang | 2,210,000 |
690,000 |
| Brian Rast | 950,000 |
-680,000 |
| Jake Schindler | 700,000 |
150,000 |
| Cary Katz | 240,000 |
-210,000 |
Sean Perry Eliminated in 5th Place ($32,800)
Brian Rast opened to 80,000 in the hijack, Michael Lang called the button, and Sean Perry jammed for 600,000 in the big blind. Rast rejammed, and Lang flashed [ThTd] before putting his cards in the muck.
Perry: [AsTs]
Rast: [JcJs]
The board ran out [JdTc4s5s2c] to improve Rast to a set and eliminate Perry in fifth for $32,800.
| Player | Chips | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Brian Rast | 1,630,000 |
780,000 |
| Mike Lang | 1,520,000 |
-100,000 |
| Jake Schindler | 550,000 |
-70,000 |
| Cary Katz | 450,000 |
-290,000 |
| Sean Perry | Busted |
-300,000 |
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