Peters tops biggest U.S. Poker Open field ever
The 2021 live poker boom extends even into the high roller circuit, as the PokerGO Tour’s current high-stakes major series continues to draw record attendance.
U.S. Poker Open Event #7: $10,000 No-Limit Hold’em, saw 99 entries register, the most for any event in the history of the series. A familiar name topped the charts among that field.
David Peters clinched the Event #7 win Thursday night, securing a $217,800 payday. Peters outlasted Jared Jaffee (2nd - $158,400) in heads-up play to emerge through the record-breaking field with the win.
The previous U.S. Poker Open attendance record was set in Event #1: $10,000 No-Limit Hold’em from earlier in the 2021 U.S. Poker Open. That mark (95 entries) lasted just seven days, topped by the latest $10k NLHE event in this year’s series.
U.S. Poker Open Event #7 $10,000 No-Limit Hold’em final table results
| Place | Player Name | Prize |
| 1 | David Peters | $217,800 |
| 2 | Jared Jaffee | $158,400 |
| 3 | Andrew Lichtenberger | $118,800 |
| 4 | Brock Wilson | $89,100 |
| 5 | Alex Foxen | $79,200 |
| 6 | Ivan Zufic | $59,400 |
| 7 | Dan Shak | $49,500 |
Reigning series champion adds yet another title to his legacy
The Event #7 win adds $217,800 to Peters’ career live tournament earnings, which now stand at $33,980,539 according to the Hendon Mob database. Peters immediately entered U.S. Poker Open Event #8: $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha after Thursday’s Event #7 win.
Peters finished just short of a final table appearance in Event #8, finishing eighth for a $25,200 payday. The American high roller fixture sits in the top ten among all-time tournament earnings leaders. He came away as the U.S. Poker Open leaderboard champion the last time the series ran, in 2019.
Other final table finishers included Andrew Lichtenberger (3rd - $118,800), Brock Wilson ($118,800), Alex Foxen (5th - $79,200), Ivan Zufic (6th - $59,400) and Dan Shak (7th - $49,500).
Here’s a look at winners and second-place finishers from the 2021 U.S. Poker Open so far:
U.S. Poker Open winners (through seven events)
| Tournament | Winner | Runner-Up | First-Place Prize |
| Event #1: $10,000 No-Limit Hold’em | Jake Daniels | Dan Shak | $218,500 |
| Event #2: $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha | Sam Soverel | Jordan Cristos | $175,500 |
| Event #3: $10,000 No-Limit Hold’em | Joe McKeehen | Ray Qartomy | $200,200 |
| Event #4: $10,000 Big Bet Mix | John Riordan | Sean Perry | $163,200 |
| Event #5: $10,000 No-Limit Hold’em | Joey Weissman | Adam Hendrix | $204,400 |
| Event #6: $10,000 8-Game | Eli Elezra | Steve Zolotow | $169,600 |
| Event #7: $10,000 No-Limit Hold’em | David Peters | Jared Jaffee | $217,800 |
The Event #7 win cash puts Peters in the mix for a possible repeat performance as the U.S. Poker Open leaderboard champion.
Through seven events, former WSOP Main Event champ Joe McKeehen sits atop the leaderboard:
2021 U.S. Poker Open Championship Standings (through seven events)
| Place | Player Name | Series Points | Earnings |
| 1 | Joe McKeehen | 302 | $302,200 |
| 2 | Steve Zolotow | 289 | $289,000 |
| 3 | Dan Shak | 236 | $235,500 |
| 4 | John Riordan | 222 | $221,800 |
| 5 | Jake Daniels | 219 | $218,500 |
| 6 | David Peters | 218 | $217,800 |
| 7 | Sam Soverel | 214 | $214,300 |
The 2021 U.S. Poker Open continues through June 15. Stay tuned to Poker.org for continuing coverage of the high-stakes tournament series.
Featured image source: PokerGO
