The $10,000-entry Pot Limit Omaha Event #2 of the Poker Masters was another star-studded affair. Last night, it was won for $186,000 by one of the most modest tournament pros on the circuit, the effervescent force of positivity in poker, Ryan Laplante, for $186,000.
Ryan Laplante was emotional as he took down a tournament that clearly meant the world to him and puts him in contention for the 2019 Purple Jacket that is awarded to the eventual series champion, along with $100,000 in added money.
With 62 entries compromising of some of the toughest tournament players in poker, Laplante took the title after edging out Chance Kornuth in second place. Yes, you read that right. Kornuth, who finished as runner-up in Event #1, also came second in Event #2. While that’ll frustrate the part of him that would have wanted to grab one of those wins, those two runner-up finishes do put him top of the leaderboard – for now.
With six men starting at the final table, one of those was Ali Imsirovic, who joked about his lack of experience heading into play:
https://twitter.com/aliImsirovic/status/1191980854165360645
While Imsirovic needed to overcome his own perceived limitations (this is the 2018 Poker Masters champion, after all), it was Laplante who led the field into the final day of action. Tim McDermott was first to bust, having entered play as the shortest stacked player in the room, but it was the unfortunate Imsirovic who would depart next. Earning a massive $49,600 for his fifth place finish, the 2018 champion will still be delighted to get some early points on the board.
Laplante held a strong chip lead and used it to wield the axe, sending John Riordan out in fourth place with a straight and when Thai Ha busted in third place, only Kornuth stood in Laplante’s way of becoming champion.
The heads-up duel was an exciting one, and Laplante sealed a victory that meant a huge amount to him when he made a flush in the final hand. Choking back tears as he celebrated, the ever-polite Kornuth congratulated his opponent and banked the 210 points that put him into an early lead in the race to wear this year’s Purple Jacket.
Poker Masters Event #2 payouts:
| Place | Name | Prize |
| 1st | Ryan Laplante | $186,000 |
| 2nd | Chance Kornuth | $124,000 |
| 3rd | Thai Ha | $86,000 |
| 4th | John Riordan | $62,000 |
| 5th | Ali Imsirovic | $49,600 |
| 6th | Tim McDermott | $37,200 |
| 7th | Damjan Radanov | $31,000 |
| 8th | Brent Roberts | $24,800 |
| 9th | Anthony Zinno | $18,600 |
Current Poker Masters leaderboard standings:
| Position | Name | Points | Cashes | Results |
| 1 | Chance Kornuth | 420 | 2 | $293,400 |
| 2 | Isaac Baron | 300 | 1 | $223,100 |
| 3 | Ryan Laplante | 300 | 1 | $186,000 |
| 4 | Thai Ha | 210 | 2 | $124,800 |
| 5 | Ralph Wong | 150 | 1 | $116,400 |
