Griffin Paul Wins PGT Stairway #1: $3,200 No-Limit Hold’em for $54,000
Following a roller coaster of emotions three-handed, Griffin Paul survived the waves to capture the PGT Stairway #1: $3,200 No-Limit Hold’em title for $54,000.
Paul came into three-handed play with nearly 60% of the chips in play, but after doubling Andrew Lichtenberger and losing a few small pots, Paul found himself third in chips on the break between levels 16 and 17.
Paul watched as Lichtenberger doubled through James Weatherman to take the chip lead with just south of three million chips, but Paul turned a full house against Lichtenberger a few hands later to retake the chip lead.
After being crippled down to less than 800,000 chips when he doubled Lichtenberger, Weatherman found himself all-in on the turn holding two pair, but Paul had turned a set of queens and rivered a flush to eliminate Weatherman in 3rd place for $25,200 and take 81% of the chips into heads up play.
Three hands into heads-up action, Lichtenberger was all in for 1.3 million, holding ace-eight against Paul’s king-jack of clubs. Paul rivered a straight, and Lucky Chewy was eliminated in 2nd place for $36,000.
U.S. Poker Open runner-up Tamon Nakamura continued his success in PGT events as the Japanese pro finished in 4th place for $18,000 after running his pocket sevens into the ace-king of Weatherman.
Also making the money included Jaime Cervantes in 5th for $14,400, Dylan Linde in fifth for $10,800, Ameer Wakil in seventh for $9,000, Nathan Zimnik in eighth for $7,200, and Jesse Lonis in ninth for $5,400.
Just missing out on the money included Brian Lamkin, who finished on the direct money bubble when the ace-king of Paul bested his ace-four. Others to finish outside the top nine included Jared Jaffee, Darren Elias, Kitty Kuo, and Ema Zajmovic.
The PokerGO Live Reporting Team will be back inside the ARIA Poker Room tomorrow, April 20, at 12:00 p.m. for the start of ARIA High Roller Event #4: $10,000 No-Limit Hold’em.
Andrew Lichtenberger Eliminated in 2nd Place ($36,000)
Andrew Lichtenberger limped, and Griffin Paul raised to 210,000. Lichtenberger moved all-in for approximately 1,300,000, and Paul called.
Paul: [KcJc]
Lichtenberger: [Ah8c]
The board ran out [QsTd8dQh9h], and Paul rivered a king-high straight to eliminate Lichtenberger in 2nd place for $36,000.
| Player | Chips | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Griffin Paul | 6,000,000 |
1,100,000  |
| Andrew Lichtenberger | Busted |
-1,100,000  |
James Weatherman Eliminated in 3rd Place ($25,200)
Griffin Paul limped the small blind, and James Weatherman checked his option in the big blind.
The flop fell [As8s7s] and Paul checked. Weatherman bet 150,000, and Paul called.
The dealer burned and turned the [Qh], and Paul checked. Weatherman moved all in for approximately 500,000 and Paul snap-called.
Weatherman: [8d7d]
Paul: [QsQd]
The river [2s] completed the board, and Paul made a flush to eliminate Weatherman in 3rd place for $25,200.
| Player | Chips | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Griffin Paul | 4,900,000 |
1,030,000 |
| Andrew Lichtenberger | 1,100,000 |
-245,000 |
| James Weatherman | Busted |
-785,000 |
Griffin Paul Re-Takes the Chip Lead From Andrew Lichtenberger
Andrew Lichtenberger raised to 250,000 from the small blind, and Griffin Paul called in the big blind.
The flop fell [Ac4c5s], and action checked through.
The dealer burned and turned the [As], and Lichtenberger checked. Paul bet 200,000, and Lichtenberger called.
The river [Td] completed the board, and Lichtenberger checked. Paul bet 1,000,000, and Lichtenberger called.
Paul tabled [4s4d] for a full house and Lichtenberger mucked.
| Player | Chips | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Griffin Paul | 3,870,000 |
1,895,000 |
| Andrew Lichtenberger | 1,345,000 |
-1,585,000 |
| James Weatherman | 785,000 |
-310,000 |
Andrew Lichtenberger Doubles Through James Weatherman
Action folded to James Weatherman in the small blind, and he limped. Andrew Lichtenberger was in the big blind, and he raised to 180,000 total. Weatherman re-raised to 560,000, and Lichtenberger moved all in for 1,435,000 total. Weatherman called.
Weatherman: [KcKd]
Lichtenberger: [AdKs]
The board ran out [KhTs7cJsQs], and Lichtenberger rivered broadway to crack Weatherman’s flopped set to double.
| Player | Chips | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Andrew Lichtenberger | 2,930,000 |
1,395,000 |
| Griffin Paul | 1,975,000 |
285,000 |
| James Weatherman | 1,095,000 |
-1,680,000 |
Updated Chip Counts on Break
| Player | Chips | Change |
|---|---|---|
| James Weatherman | 2,775,000 |
320,000 |
| Griffin Paul | 1,690,000 |
-955,000 |
| Andrew Lichtenberger | 1,535,000 |
635,000 |
Andrew Lichtenberger Doubles Through Griffin Paul
Andrew Lichtenberger moved all in from the small blind for 425,000, and Griffin Paul called in the big blind.
Lichtenberger: [9c9h]
Paul: [Ad9d]
The board ran out [QhJd6c5c7d], and Lichtenberger’s nines held to double.
| Player | Chips | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Griffin Paul | 2,645,000 |
-295,000 |
| James Weatherman | 2,455,000 |
155,000 |
| Andrew Lichtenberger | 900,000 |
140,000 |
Andrew Lichtenberger Hanging Around
Action folded to James Weatherman in the small blind, and he limped. Andrew Lichtenberger was in the big blind and raised to 125,000. Weatherman called.
The flop fell [Ks7s9c], and action checked through.
The turn [Ah] hit the felt, and Weatherman checked. Lichtenberger bet 150,000 and Weatherman folded.
| Player | Chips | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Griffin Paul | 2,940,000 |
-595,000 |
| James Weatherman | 2,300,000 |
335,000 |
| Andrew Lichtenberger | 760,000 |
260,000 |
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