2018 Poker Masters

One of poker's premier high roller tournament series, the 2018 Poker Masters, kicked off Friday with Event #1: $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em at the PokerGO Studio just outside ARIA Resort & Casino.

At the end of Day 1, just six players remain from a field of 69 entries — that number representing a bigger field than any single event in last year's series, albeit sporting a smaller buy-in. One of the more successful players at that inaugural Poker Masters, Brandon Adams, leads those final six who will take to the felt on Saturday for the streamed final table on PokerGO.

In 2017, Adams finished sixth in the final money standings that determined the Poker Masters Purple Jacket winner. He won Event #40: $50,000 No-Limit Hold'em for $819,000, failing to cash in the other three events in which he played.

Now, Adams has positioned himself for a second Poker Masters title, though this one would only be worth $193,200. Plus, his lead isn't much to speak of. While Adams accumulated 2,385,000 from his 125,000 starting stack, German former Super High Roller Bowl champion Rainer Kempe is right on his tail with 2,230,000.

After that, more competition remains in the form of David Peters (1,585,000), Cord Garcia (1,125,000), Brian Green (880,000) and Isaac Haxton (410,000).

Poker Masters Event #1 Streamed Final Table

Adams won a massive pot to burst the bubble during Level 17 (15,000/25,000/25,000). After short stack Tom Marchese raised, Adams three-bet to 150,000 and big blind Matthias Eibinger called. Marchese called all in for less, and Adams would flop a set of tens against Eibinger's queens.

The rest of the money went in on the turn, and Adams still needed to dodge outs since Eibinger had picked up a combo draw plus he could still hit a queen to win. When Eibinger missed, Marchese bubbled out with his ace-high and Eibinger picked up a min-cash for $20,700 in 10th.

The other players busting in the money were Cary Katz, long-time chip boss Ali Imsirovic and David Eldridge, who was among the final players to register.

Plenty of other stars, like Daniel Negreanu, Erik Seidel, Phil Hellmuth and 2018's undisputed poker king, Justin Bonomo, took shots and fell short of the money. They'll have plenty of chances with the rest of the PokerGO schedule, but for now, it's down to these final six to battle for the first leg of the 2018 Poker Masters.

The remaining players come back Saturday with blinds and antes still at 15,000/30,000/30,000 for a few more minutes. They get cards in the air at noon with a stream to start an hour later on PokerGO. Meanwhile, the rest of the high rollers can gear up for another 2 p.m. start on Event #2: $25,000 No-Limit Hold'em.

David Peters raised the button to 70,000 and Rainer Kempe called in the small blind, as did David Eldridge in the big.

The flop landed and both Kempe and Eldridge checked to Peters who continued for 80,000.

Kempe called, and Eldridge check-raised all in for 290,000. Peters folded, but Kempe called.

Kempe:
Eldridge:

Eldridge was trailing, and at-risk, and when the turn and river landed the and , he was eliminated in 7th place for a $34,500 payday.

Brandon Adams opened under the gun to 65,000 and Brian Green shoved from two seats over for his 380,000 total. Action folded back to Adams, and he called.

Adams:
Green:

The board ran out and Green rivered a flush to double through.

David Eldridge shoved all in for 210,000 from the hijack and Cord Garcia called in the big blind.

Eldridge:
Garcia:

The board ran out and Eldridge doubled through.

Players agreed to a five-minute break, after which they'll will play until one elimination.

Rainer Kempe opened on the button for 60,000 and Ali Imsirovic shoved in the big blind for what he said was 485,000 when Kempe eyed his stack initially. Kempe quickly called.

Kempe:
Imsirovic:

The flop gave Kempe chopping outs, but even better was the turn. The river was a and Imsirovic wished everyone good luck.

Cord Garcia raised to 60,000 from under the gun and David Peters called in the small blind, as did Cary Katz in the big.

The flop landed and Peters checked to Katz who bet all in for his last 175,000. Garcia folded, and Peters called.

David Peters:
Cary Katz:

Despite being massively ahead, the board ran out with the on the turn and the on the river, eliminating Katz in 9th place.