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Chance Kornuth emerged victorious in PokerGO's Stairway to Millions Event #3:$4,200 No-Limit Hold 'em on for $80,640. This victory comes just one day after winning the $2,000 buy-in event for $51,600 on Friday. Kornuth has had a strong start in 2022, cashing $136,040 in three events, and now has two victories under his belt. Kornuth has improved his live poker career earnings to $9,248,288.
Aside from cashing, the top 12 players received a free ticket into Saturday's $8,400 buy-in Stairway to the Millions event in Aria. The no-limit hold 'em tourney buy-ins increase as the festival progresses, beginning with the $1,000 opening event and ending with the $1.2 million guaranteed $100,000 buy-in event. Players who finish in the money, in any event, get a cash prize and entrance into the subsequent tournament.
Winning Back-to-Back Titles
Kornuth entered into Event #3 after winning $51,600 in Event #2, and his hot streak continued as he began collecting chips, and he had amassed an enormous chip lead as the tournament was down to its last six entrants. He eliminated short-stacked Jesse Lonis in sixth place after Lonis A♣3♦ did not materialize against Kornuth A♥9♥.Daniel Weinand busted in fifth place after his pocket eights ran into Kornuth's pocket aces and did not improve; he, however, earned $23,520 for his fifth-place finish. Kornuth continued his dominance in the final table by knocking out Mitchell Halverson in fourth place after calling Kornuth's river bet with the bottom pair versus Kornuth top pair; Halverson took home $30,240 for Halverson his efforts.
Nathan Zimnnik flopped top pair with 10♥6♠on a 10♠5♣2♣ flop and bet 100,000 after Kornuth checked, Kornuth then check-raised to 325,000. Zimnik then shoved his 1.3 million remaining chip stack, the turn card came 9♦ and the river card was 8♥, Kornuth showed 5♠2♠and won the hand with the bottom two pair busting Zimnik in third place for $40,320.
Kornuth entered heads-up play with a 5,575,000 chip stack to Joseph Cheong's 2,825,000. It did not take long before Kornuth was the champion. A limp from the button with J♠4♥ opened the action in the final tourney hand. Kornuth checked with 9♣3♥ holding. The flop read 9♥4♣2♠and Kornuth checked again. After flopping the middle pair, Cheong made a 100,000 bet, and Kornuth called. The turn card came 8♠and Kornuth checked again.
Cheong made a 400,000 continuation bet, and Kornuth snap-called; the river card was 9♦ which completed the board, and Kornuth decided to check for the third consecutive time. Cheong then shoved his 1.4 million chip stack, and Kornuth called. Kornuth won the hand and the second tournament in a row with three of a kind. Cheong earned $57,120 for his runner-up finish.
Final Results
| 1 | Chance Kornuth | $80,640 |
| 2 | Joseph Cheong | $57,120 |
| 3 | Nathan Zimnik | $40,320 |
| 4 | Mitchell Halverson | $30,240 |
| 5 | Daniel Weinand | $23,520 |
| 6 | Jesse Lonis | $20,160 |
