Justin Bonomo Wins US Poker Open Opening Event for $190,400

Justin Bonomo is the man of the moment in the poker world’s big tournaments and yesterday he secured the opening event of the US Poker Open, taking down the $190,400 top prize after seeing off the majority of a very tough field before overcoming Lebanese amateur Boutros Naim heads-up.

Less than two weeks ago Bonomo topped another excellent field to take down the SHRPO $25K High Roller for over $½million as well as a 3rd in the $50K, and the week before that he was in the Caribbean picking up more than $1million for his runner-up spot in the $100K event, and $300K+ in another High Roller – Bonomo himself stating after yesterday’s latest victory:

"I've just had an incredible run of cards in the last two months, and I hope it continues."

Sixty-eight players had entered the opening event of the inaugural US Poker Open, among them of course Daniel Negreanu who had been drumming up business beforehand in a series of side-bets of $50K apiece in his bid to fulfil a New Year’s resolution, although the Canadian wouldn’t be running deep after his kings were runner-runner ‘Shak-cracked’…

After a hard-fought opening day, six players eventually returned for day two’s final table at the Aria Resort and Casino in Vegas, host to the 8-event series which will see the overall winner decided by who walks off with the most money of course – and among them were some of the biggest names in the High Roller world, with lifetime earnings in brackets:

It was  easy to spot the odd-man-out at the table, but remarkably the Lebanese recreational player was the one to take the fight to his more famous table companions, taking over the chip lead early on and watching as the more illustrious pros toppled one by one.

Soverel bowed out in 6th when his pocket 7’s were overtaken by Chidwick’s Ace-Jack, and then the Englishman himself hit the rails courtesy of David Peters, with Justin Young falling out of the race in 4th when Bonomo snagged a king on the flop.

Peters was taken care of by an expensive one-two combination hit by Bonomo then Naim and this left the Lebanese amateur fighting against the man the cards are in love with right now – Justin Bonomo.

Both men were at risk at several points in the heads-up battle, but eventually a massive cooler swung the fight Bonomo’s way – Naim’s big slick running into the pocket rockets of the Las Vegas man and that was pretty much that.

Afterwards Bonomo said to his tough opponent: "You put me in some really tough spots, man," with a delighted Naim replying: "I enjoyed it."

Final table results