Through the Lens: Day 6 Arrives

Posted February 18, 2019 by Drew Amato

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We have officially reached the halfway point of the 2019 US Poker Open. Today we have an exciting and stacked final table with Event #5, the $25K NL playing out to a winner. Leading the way is no other than 2018 Poker Masters Champion, Ali Imsirovic. Imsirovic will have his work cut out for him however, as he is trailed by the likes of Nick Petrangelo, Dan Shak, and Kristen Bicknell. Today also kicks of the Event #6, the $25k PLO. As the smallest buy-in moving forward is now $25k, we will get to see the best of the best battle it out over the remainder of the series. Here is a look back at my favorite images from yesterday!

It should come as no surprise to see Ali Imsirovic back at another no-limit final table. Perhaps the youngest player in the field, Imsirovic is coming off of his breakout year on the high roller scene. He capped off 2018 by taking home the purple jacket in the 2018 Poker Masters. Coming into today’s final table with a big chip lead, Imsirovic is easily the favorite to take home the title and $442,500 top prize. 
It was just 48 hours ago when Lauren Roberts became the first woman to win a USPO event. Today Kristen Bicknell has the opportunity to match Roberts, as she comes into the $25k final table sitting 3/6. Bicknell, who climbed her ranks crushing online poker, has now become one of the most successful live pros over the last two years. Bicknell has nearly 3 million in live earnings, along with 2 WSOP bracelets. She is without a doubt my one to watch today as play gets underway. 
As if 4 consecutive final tables wasn’t enough, Sean Winters clawed his way back from one of the shorter stacks yesterday to take down the $10K Short Deck event. The win boosts Winters into first place in the USPO points race, and also bumps my team out of first in the Poker Central fantasy draft (damn you, Brent!) With PLO as one of Winter’s best games, certainly keep an eye out for him in today’s field. 
The man, the myth, the legend! Cary Katz is back at his second final table today, chasing his first USPO title. Katz will have to get things going early as he is the second shortest stack, but with perhaps the most experience in high roller fields, it would surprise to no-one if he can manage to get the wheels turning. Katz is fresh off of a $1,072,000 score when he took down the $100K at Aussie Millions earlier this month, adding to his already impressive $18 million plus in live earnings.