Jake Daniels Claims $218,500 Top Prize with 2021 U.S. Poker Open Event #1 Win
Jake Daniels started off the 2021 U.S. Poker Open in the best possible way by securing the win in Event #1: $10,000 No-Limit Hold’em for $218,500 after beating Dan Shak heads up. Event #1 drew a total of 95 entries making this the largest U.S. Poker Open event in history. Shak came into today as the chip leader and you can read all about his journey to the final table on our Day 1 Live Reporting page. Watch this entire final table on PokerGO right here.
The first player to hit the rail was Tim McDermott. McDermott, sitting on just six big blinds, called a raise by Sergi Reixach from the big blind with four-deuce of diamonds before flopping an open-ended straight draw on five-five-three. McDermott moved all-in for 460,000 and his Spanish opponent called immediately. The board ran dry for McDermott who took home $47,500.
Knocking out McDermott was not the start of a big surge for Reixach as the high-roller regular was the next player to get knocked out. Reixach shoved his last five big blinds holding nine-five of spades only to get called by Barry Hutter’s sevens. The board gave Reixach a pair and straight draw but it was not enough to secure a double up. Reixach cashed for $57,000.
The elder statesmen of this final table, two-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner Steve Zolotow, was next to bust after hanging around for quite some time sitting on a short stack. Zolotow moved all-in with ace-king suited over a raise from Hutter who found himself priced in to make the call. Hutter tabled nine-seven of clubs and spiked a seven to send Zolotow to the cage to collect $76,000.
Stephen Chidwick, the winner of the inaugural U.S. Poker Open in 2018, saw his run for another title end in fourth place today. After Daniels raised, Chidwick moved all-in with pocket threes for just shy of six big blinds, only to get called by the initial raiser who held fives. The flop gave Chidwick a backdoor straight draw that was helped by Daniels hitting a set on the turn, but the river could not give him the wheel, and the Brit was knocked out for $95,000.
Three-handed play went back and forth for a while before Hutter ultimately busted to Dan Shak. On his final hand, Hutter raised the button with king-seven of spades off a 13-big blind stack and Shak defended his big blind with five-four offsuit. Shak checked the ten-seven-six flop that included a diamond flush draw, and Hutter continued for 1 big blind. Shak quickly put a big raise, nearly putting Hutter all in, and after a while, he shoved with middle pair. Shak paired his four on the turn but it was the three of hearts on the river that sealed Hutter’s fate in third place for $114,000.
Heads-up play started with Shak sitting on 7.2 million versus Daniel’s with 4.6 million chips but a massive cooler reversed the roles almost immediately. Both players made a straight on the river when most of the money went into the pot as Daniels doubled up to over 9 million. Shak was not able to mount a comeback as he hit the rail after shoving with king-seven into the ace-three suited of Daniels.
The final table payouts are as follows.
| 2021 U.S. Poker Open Event #1: $10,000 No-Limit Hold’em | ||||
| Name | Country | Payout | Points | |
| 1 | Jake Daniels | USA | $218,500 | 219 |
| 2 | Dan Shak | USA | $152,000 | 152 |
| 3 | Barry Hutter | USA | $114,000 | 114 |
| 4 | Stephen Chidwick | UK | $95,000 | 95 |
| 5 | Steve Zolotow | USA | $76,000 | 76 |
| 6 | Sergi Reixach | Spain | $57,000 | 57 |
| 7 | Tim McDermott | USA | $47,500 | 48 |
Connect with PokerGO Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Use code “USPO21” for $20 off an annual PokerGO.com subscription now! Follow Event #2 $10,000 Pot Limit Omaha via our Live Reporting right now. Watch the PLO final table on PokerGO tomorrow at 1pm PT.
Watch the Event #1 Final Table on PokerGO.com at 1 p.m. PT
The final table of Event #1: $10,000 No-Limit Hold’em of the 2021 U.S. Poker Open is set and will be airing on PokerGO.com at 1 p.m. ET.
Watch the Event #1 final table on PokerGO.com here!
Dan Shak finished Day 1 as the chip leader with 2,570,000 in chips ahead of Jake Daniels who spent the majority of the evening on top. Behind those two are Steve Zolotow, Tim McDermott, Sergi Reixach, Stephen Chidwick, and Barry Hutter. The final seven players are all guaranteed $47,500 in prize money, but eyes are on the title and $218,500 first-place prize.
| Event #1 Final Table | |||
| Seat | Name | Country | Chip Count |
| 1 | Sergi Reixach | Spain | 1,440,000 |
| 2 | Barry Hutter | United States | 985,000 |
| 3 | Jake Daniels | United States | 2,120,000 |
| 4 | Steve Zolotow | United States | 2,100,000 |
| 5 | Dan Shak | United States | 2,570,000 |
| 6 | Stephen Chidwick | United Kingdom | 1,085,000 |
| 7 | Tim McDermott | United States | 1,565,000 |
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Dan Shak Leads Final 7 Players of Event #1: $10,000 No-Limit Hold’em
The opening event of the 2021 U.S. Poker Open saw plenty of old and new faces make their way through the PokerGO Studio as the event drew 95 entrants for a total prize pool of $950,000 with a first-place prize of $218,000.
Dan Shak leads the final seven players into day 2, as Shak vaulted into the chip lead in the final 20 minutes of the day when he picked up pocket aces to eliminate Aram Zobian in eighth place on the final table bubble.
Joining Shak at the final table are Jake Daniels, Tim McDermott, Barry Hutter, Stephen Chidwick, Sergi Reixach, and Steve Zolotow.
Daniels, who held the chip lead for most of the afternoon and well into the evening, heads into the final table second in chips, followed closely by Zolotow.
Chidwick comes into the final table sitting 6th in chips after making the most of a two big blind stack nine-handed, doubling up on consecutive hands before eliminating Shannon Shorr in 9th place. Hutter will have work to do as he will start day 2 as the short stack.
Other players finishing in the money included Junichi Nakanowatari 14th, John Riordan in 13th, Sam Soverel in 12th, Bin Duan 11th, and Johan Guilbert in 10th.
Alex Foxen finished on the money bubble when his king-queen suited lost to the rivered straight of Chidwick. Other players to finish outside the money included Ali Imsirovic, Sean Perry, Daniel Negreanu, and Chris Brewer.
| Event #1 Final Table | |||
| Seat | Name | Country | Chip Count |
| 1 | Sergi Reixach | Spain | 1,440,000 |
| 2 | Barry Hutter | United States | 985,000 |
| 3 | Jake Daniels | United States | 2,120,000 |
| 4 | Steve Zolotow | United States | 2,100,000 |
| 5 | Dan Shak | United States | 2,570,000 |
| 6 | Stephen Chidwick | United Kingdom | 1,085,000 |
| 7 | Tim McDermott | United States | 1,565,000 |
The final seven players will return to the PokerGO Studio on Friday, June 4, at 12 p.m. PT with the final table airing on PokerGO.com at 1 p.m. PT.
Connect with PokerGO Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Use code “USPO21” for $20 off an annual PokerGO.com subscription now!
Final Table Chip Counts
| Player | Chips | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Dan Shak | 2,570,000 |
495,000  |
| Jake Daniels | 2,120,000 |
20,000 |
| Steve Zolotow | 2,100,000 |
125,000 |
| Tim McDermott | 1,565,000 |
95,000 |
| Sergi Reixach | 1,440,000 |
-260,000  |
| Stephen Chidwick | 1,085,000 |
180,000 |
| Barry Hutter | 985,000 |
20,000 |
Aram Zobian Eliminated in 8th Place ($38,000)
Action folded to Dan Shak in middle position, and he opened to 125,000. Action folded to Aram Zobian on the button, and he moved all-in for approximately 800,000. Shak called, and the cards were tabled.
Shak: [AsAd]
Zobian: [KdQd]
Shak had aces, and Zobian would need help to stay alive.
The flop fell [Qh3s6c], and Zobian flopped a pair of queens but would need more help on the turn and river.
The turn [7s] and the river [4d] offered no help to Zobian and he was eliminated in eighth place for $38,000.
| Player | Chips | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Dan Shak | 2,075,000 |
325,000 |
| Aram Zobian | Busted |
-800,000 |
Unofficial Final Table
| Player | Chips | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Jake Daniels | 2,100,000 |
-490,000 |
| Steve Zolotow | 1,975,000 |
595,000 |
| Dan Shak | 1,750,000 |
275,000 |
| Sergi Reixach | 1,700,000 |
20,000 |
| Tim McDermott | 1,470,000 |
550,000 |
| Barry Hutter | 965,000 |
-80,000 |
| Stephen Chidwick | 905,000 |
120,000 |
| Aram Zobian | 800,000 |
-250,000 |
Shannon Shorr Eliminated in 9th Place ($38,000)
As reported by the table, Shannon Shorr moved all-in from under the gun for his last 295,000, and action folded to Stephen Chidwick in the big blind, and he called.
Chidwick: [KcTc]
Shorr: [Jh9h]
The board ran out all low cards, and the king-high of Chidwick held to eliminate Shorr in ninth place for $38,000.
| Player | Chips | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Stephen Chidwick | 785,000 |
385,000 |
| Shannon Shorr | Busted |
-860,000 |
Stephen Chidwick Doubles Through Jake Daniels, Again
Action folded to Jake Daniels in the small blind, and he moved all-in, covering Stephen Chidwick in the big blind.
Chidwick called, and the cards were tabled.
Chidwick: [Js3s]
Daniels: [7s6h]
The board ran out [Tc4c4h2cKs], and Chidwick doubled.
| Player | Chips | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Jake Daniels | 2,590,000 |
-295,000 |
| Stephen Chidwick | 400,000 |
140,000 |
Stephen Chidwick Doubles Through Jake Daniels
Stephen Chidwick was all in for his last 100,000 and had been called by Jake Daniels.
Daniels: [Jx3x]
Chidwick: [Kh4c]
The board ran out [QhJsTh2s9d], giving Chidwick a rivered straight to double.
| Player | Chips | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Jake Daniels | 2,885,000 |
-100,000 |
| Stephen Chidwick | 260,000 |
-50,000 |
Johan Guilbert Eliminated in 10th Place ($28,500)
Dan Shak opened to 125,000 from under the gun, and action folded to Johan Guilbert in the big blind, and he called.
The flop fell [Ts4d7d], and Guilbert checked. Shak continued for 225,000.
Guilbert moved all-in for his last 550,000, and Shak snap-called.
Guilbert: [9h8h]
Shak: [AsTc]
Shak had flopped top pair while Guilbert had an open-ended straight draw.
The turn [Th] improved Shak to trip tens, and when the river [5d] hit the board, Guilbert missed his straight and was eliminated in 10th Place for $28,500.
| Player | Chips | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Dan Shak | 1,475,000 |
575,000 |
| Johan Guilbert | Busted |
-760,000 |
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