Nick Guagenti, a World Series of Poker bracelet champion, tops the 2023 PokerGO Tour (PGT) Mixed Games player of the series race. He reached his second final table and won his first title in Event No.5: $10,300 Buy-In Triple Draw Mix tournament.
Guagenti defeated 68 opponents and got the $171,075 top prize. It was his fourth-largest poker career score and increased his lifetime poker earnings to over $2.3 million.
The player's recent victory earned him 186 PGT points which increased his total points to 290, as he amassed 104 points after finishing third in the H.O.R.S.E. tournament. Still, he is 19 points ahead of John Monnette.
ARIA Resort & Casino hosted the Triple Draw Mix event inside PokerGO Studio in Las Vegas, NV, over two days. Guagenti informed PGT journalists after the tournament that he has advanced to four final tables out of the six tournaments he took part in at the studio. He said he loves the atmosphere and structure since they help him calm down.
The event comprised three games; ace-to-five triple-draw lowball, Badugi, and deuce-to-seven triple-draw lowball. The top ten finalists, including Dan Zack, Brian Rast, and Brian Yoon, shared the prize money.
The Top Players' Prizes
Nick Guagenti-$171,075; 360 POY points and 186 PGT points
Alexander Livingston-$153,225;300 POY points and 138 PGT points
Mike Thorpe-$89,700;240 POY points and 90 PGT points
Mike Gorodinsky-$69,000;180 POY points and 69 PGT points
Dan Shak-$55,200;150 POY points and 55 PGT points
Damjan Radanov-$41,400;120 POY points and 41 PGT points
Daniel Zack-$34,500;90 POY points and 35 PGT points
How Things Unfolded on the Last Day
Alex Livingston had the largest stack when action on the final day began. Damjan Radanov got busted first in a round of ace-to-five lowball and finished seventh. His 5-4-2-Q draw lost to Livingston's 8-7-6-4-2 in the last round.
Radanov paired and left the tournament in the sixth position with $41,400. Guagenti's wheel beat Dan Shak's 6-5-4-2-A in the wheel and sent him packing in fifth place. The former had a brief chip lead before Livingston reclaimed it after his 7-6-4-3-2 defeated Mike Gorodinsky's 5-4-3-2.
The two-time bracelet champion held an eight as his final card and exited the tournament in fourth place with $69,000. Livingston's 8-6-4-2 Badugi won a big pot and collected some of Mike Thorpe's chips. The latter made a J-10-6-5-4, and Guagenti revealed a 9-8-7-4-3 that earned them the pot and sent Thorpe home in the third position.
Livingston ad a 7,450,000:2,900,000 chip advantage over Guagenti when their heads-up action began. The latter used a 7-6 low to win a deuce-to-seven hand, almost tying with the former.
The two finalists made a deal that assured each of them of taking home at least $150,000 while the winner would get the title and an extra $20,000. They exchanged the stack lead several times until Guagenti had an over 3:1 chip advantage over Livingston in the final hand.
Livingston made a button raise, and Guagenti placed a three-bet prompting his opponent to call. Guagenti put a three-bet on Livingston's raise. The latter called, and the former called as well.
They remained pat on the last draw before Guagenti wagered again, and Livingston made an all-in call. Guagenti wagered 7-5-4-3-2 for buts, ending Livingston's run as a runner-up with $153,225, bringing his career tournament earnings up to $6.7 million.
