Ivan Zufic Wins ARIA $15,000 High Roller Poker Tournament For $198,000

Image courtesy of PokerGO.com

Croatia’s Ivan Zufic scooped the final event of the Aria’s February high roller triptych, picking up $198,000 and moving him to within a whisker of breaking the $million live winnings barrier.

There were 33 entries to the $115k buy-in tournament and only five would see a return on their money, with highroller reg Jake Schindler the unfortunate bubble-boy after his queens were cracked by Zufic’s ace-nine.

That left the final five and Zufic was facing some of the biggest names in the game: Daniel Negreanu and Alex Foxen stood between him and the title, with Sean Perry and Johan Guilbert no strangers to the big occasion either.

Guilbert was another victim of Zufic’s middling ace play, his suited king-queen losing out leaving the Dutchman with a $34,650 payday.

Next to hit the rail was Negreanu, who was looking good for a much-needed double-up after flopping top pair...

Negreanu: A♦ 5♦
Foxen: 8♠ 8♥

Flop: A♠ 9♦ 3♣
Turn: 8♣
River: 6♠

That turn card ended DNegs’ hopes, but it was another $54,450 and a bundle of PokerGO Tour points as Negreanu continues his assault on the highest levels of the highroller circuit.

Sean Perry, runner-up in last month’s PokerGO Cup, had already bagged his 3rd cash out of 3 in the Aria’s February series, with a 5th and 4th spot to his name. He couldn’t improve on 3rd spot and a $79,200 cash, however, as Zufic showed trip deuces at showdown to KO Perry’s two pair.

Heads-up saw Alex Foxen trying to pull back a significant chip deficit, but it wasn’t to be, despite getting his chips in good on what would prove to be the final hand...

Foxen: 7♠ 7♥
Zufic: 5♠ 5♣

Flop: J♦ 5♥ 3♦
Turn: 6♣
River: 10♣

That meant 2nd spot and $128,700 for Foxen, with the title and $198,000 going to Zufic.

Final results

The highroller crew have now moved on to the Wynn Millions series, and we’ll be bringing you the best of the results and action as it happens this week, so be sure to check in regularly.