A busy night of action in the Poker Masters saw the fifth event of eight that will take place this series claimed by the 21-year-old David Chen for his first major title. A final table packed with poker talent such as Jeremy Becker, Chino Rheem and Isaac Haxton also saw the appearance of another player who cashed for the third time this series. Despite not having won an event yet, he went to the top of the leaderboard in the race for the Purple Jacket…. but who was it?

Foxen Bubbles Event #5

With 75 entrants each putting up the $10,000 entry fee, Kristen Foxen was the unlucky player to miss out on the top 11 paid places by just one spot. She moved all-in with after a flop of had landed but was picked off by Sam Laskowitz, who had flopped bottom set with and held through the turn and river to send Foxen home without return on her $10,000 buy-in.

Once inside the money places, there was a min-cash of $22,500 for Jeremy Ausmus in 11^th place after he lost a coinflip to the eventual winner Chen. Nick Seward made it four cashes in five events for the same score when he was crushed by a set of nines belonging to Filipp Khavin in 10^th place. And David Coleman netted another neat return on PokerStake investors’ money when he came 9^th for $22,500 too, his pocket eights crushed pre-flop and post-river by Jim Collopy’s pocket aces.

When the final eight started duelling, Laskowitz held the lead but Collopy scored his second elimination in a row when his got the better of Jeremy Becker’s . That cash of $30,000 was handy for Becker but it ruled him out of the reckoning for his second title of the series and an overall lead in the race fog the Purple Jacket.

Laskowitz Can’t Last

With seven remaining, the only non-American of that number, German professional Samuel Ju, departed for $30,000 too. All-in pre-flop from the small blind with , the German was called by David Chen in the big blind with and a board of somehow missed both players, leaving Chen’s high-card of an ace to play.

Isaac Haxton had drifted from earlier strength in terms of chips and called off his stack with . He was behind Chen’s which had prompted a shove and a board of again missed both players as Haxton headed home with $37,500 for his efforts in the two-day event.

Sam Laskowitz went from leading with seven remaining to out in fifth place for $52,500. After being fortunate to double through Chino Rheem’s with just , a ten coming on the flop, Laskowitz returned the favor to his fellow American. Rheem’s held against Laskowitz’ when a nine-high board landed and that left the former chip leader. Laskowitz got his last chips in with on a flop of and was well behind Chen’s , continuing to be so after a ironic [ and completed the board.

Collopy Misses but Leads Overall

With four men left, Jim Collopy led the remaining players as he bid to turn his third cash of the series into a first outright win. Filipp Khavin was the first to leave as his lost out to the dominating of Chen, a pair for both men on the flop changing nothing, and eventually leaving Khavin to pick up $71,250 on his way out of the PokerGO Studio at the ARIA.

Three-handed play led to a quick exit for Rheem in third for $101,250. On a flop of , Chen shoved with . Rheem called with and couldn’t hit on the [ turn or river as two bluffing hands had different strengths. If it was a fortunate pot for Chen to win, he took the lead it gave him and ran with it.

Two-pair for Chen soon followed as he built an impressive 4:1 chip lead and when Collopy shoved with , Chen took his chances and called with . A flop of killed any hopes Collopy had of a comeback off stone dead and he had to graciously accept $142,500 for coming second. It was the 21-year-old Chen who won the $217,500 top prize and in doing so claimed over 80% of his lifetime winnings in live poker tournaments.

While Chen’s victory leaves it wide open at the top of the overall leaderboard, there is a new leader, Collopy may not have won the fifth event of eight to be played this September but his third-place finish was enough to sneak him ahead of the chasing pack of five event winners behind him. Three cashes from five for Collopy leave him leading in the race for the Purple Jacket… butt nothing is close to over yet with three more events to come.