Benjamin Pollak Wins US Poker Open $25,000 High Roller For $416,500

(Photo: WSOP.com)

Frenchman Benjamin Pollak added his name to the list of winners at the US Poker Open, landing the $25k No Limit event 6 for $416,500 to launch himself onto the overall leaderboard – a $50k side-bet with Daniel Negreanu sweetening the pot as the series reaches its most exciting stage.

The victory sees the 34-year old - who finished 3rd at last summer’s WSOP Main Event for a whopping $3.5million payday – cement his place as number two in the all-time French tournament moneywinner’s list, $6.5million of his $8.8million earnings coming in the past 12 months. The reason for the year-long heater?

"I wanted to prove myself that I can beat the best," said Pollak after topping a field of stars at the Aria casino in Vegas, leaving Negreanu, Ike Haxton, Jason Koon and overall US Poker Open leader Stephen Chidwick in his wake in a quick and decisive day two.

There were 49 entries to the second of the $25K No Limit events, a share of $1,225,000 on offer to the seven who would make the money – Negreanu taking that 7th spot at the end of day 1, adding just over $60k to his chances of securing the overall title, but watching on as Stephen Chidwick once again set the pace…

A deep-stacked final six sat down to decide the destination of the top prize and it was the lesser-known and shortest-stacked Elijah Berg who fell at the first hurdle, the ER doctor describing the competition afterwards as "a really challenging event."

Brian Green followed in 5th at the hands of the man-of-the-moment Chidwick, and when Isaac ‘Ike’ Haxton check-called off his stack against Koon it was a three-way affair between Chidwick, Koon and Pollak.

With $30million almost evenly split between them in tournament cashes it was hard to predict a favourite, but England’s Chidwick was destined not to take another title, although his third spot was more than enough to consolidate his position at the top of the leaderboard, commenting afterwards:

"I've definitely lost any rights to complain for a while."

Pollak, who had flown in to Vegas at the last-minute, was one of those who had taken Negreanu up on his offer of a $50K sidebet, the Canadian setting himself the goal of cashing more than anyone else in the series. The Frenchman was soon to leapfrog the PokerStars frontman, building up a commanding 6-1 chip lead before finishing Jason Koon off with a flush draw which hit on the river and the $416,500 and title was his, and well-earned.

Event 6 Final results

Overall Standings: