After a grueling 15-hour contest, Aaron Pahlawani emerged as the champion of the €5,200 PLO Opener, part of the prestigious PLO Grand Slam hosted by the Diamond Poker Series at the Arena Casino Tirana. This remarkable event attracted a record-breaking field of 210 players, making it the largest Omaha tournament ever held at this buy-in level in Europe. Pahlawani’s impressive performance not only secured him the title but also a handsome prize of €176,100 after a heads-up deal with fellow competitor Pavel Izotov.
Heads-Up Deal and Final Outcome
The tournament concluded with an exciting heads-up encounter between Pahlawani and Izotov. When the deal was struck, Izotov held the largest stack and claimed €194,400, the lion’s share of the €1,000,000 prize pool. Nonetheless, the drama didn’t end there. In a thrilling final flip for the trophy, Pahlawani triumphed over Izotov, solidifying his status as the official victor of the tournament, while Izotov had to settle for the runner-up position despite his significant chip advantage during the deal.
A Career-Best Score for Both Champions
This victory marked an incredible milestone for Pahlawani, representing his best live cash by far and increasing his total live earnings nearly tenfold, a truly impressive feat in the competitive world of professional poker. Similarly, Izotov walked away with the most substantial cash prize of his career, effectively doubling his live tournament earnings. Not to be overlooked, Youness Barakat secured third place and a payout of €103,000, marking his own peak achievement at the tables.
Final Table Payouts
The payouts for the final table were as follows:
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aaron Pahlawani | Austria | €176,100* |
| 2 | Pavel Izotov | Belarus | €194,400* |
| 3 | Youness Barakat | Italy | €103,000 |
| 4 | Florian Kraft | Germany | €84,000 |
| 5 | Burak Simsek | Germany | €67,000 |
| 6 | Stanislau Melhui | Mexico | €51,500 |
| 7 | Giorgos Tsoupras | Greece | €37,500 |
| 8 | Hristo Bogdanov | Bulgaria | €27,000 |
*Denotes heads-up deal
Day 2 Action: From Late Registration to Money Bubble
The late registration remained open until the start of the final day, which saw players like Barakat and Florian Kraft capitalize on the opportunity. Unfortunately, others such as Alex Livingston and Chris Dowling were not as fortunate, exiting the tournament shortly after. Among the early notable eliminations was Day 1 chip leader Tom-Aksel Bedell, who became the bubble boy, ensuring that the remaining players walked away with at least €10,000.
The Intense Final Table Dynamics
The final table began with an exhilarating pace, but the action quickly slowed as players began to feel the pressure. Izotov, who had started the day with a middling stack, quickly elevated his position after eliminating Hristo Bogdanov, followed by Giorgos Tsoupras, as he navigated through the field to establish himself at the top.
As the eliminations continued, Stanislau Melhui fell victim to Kraft’s pocket kings, and Pahlawani demonstrated his prowess by sending Burak Simsek to the rail with a scintillating play that cracked Simsek’s aces. The intensity ramped up when the remaining players fought to secure their spots, with Barakat showcasing remarkable resilience before ultimately finishing in third place.
The Farewell Flip
After a relentless battle, Pahlawani and Izotov swiftly agreed to chop the remaining prize pool, setting the stage for a heads-up showdown for the coveted trophy. Despite a mostly uneventful heads-up match, both players agreed to play one final flip for honor. Pahlawani’s victory in that decisive moment crowned him the champion of the inaugural Diamond Poker Series event.
With the €5,200 PLO Opener now concluded, anticipation builds for the upcoming €10,300 PLO Championship, set to commence shortly. The PLO Grand Slam promises to keep players and fans alike on the edge of their seats in this high-stakes poker showcase.
Stay tuned to PokerNews for live updates and coverage of the upcoming events in what has already been an exhilarating series in the heart of Tirana!
