The fourth event of the 2024 PokerGO Cup saw a terrific heads-up showdown between PokerGO owner Cary Katz and the former WSOP Online Main Event winner Stoyan Madanzhiev end with the former lifting the trophy. Capturing a top prize of $226,800, Catz pushed himself towards the top of the overall PokerGO Cup leaderboard but after the first four events of eight that will take place this January and February, who is leading the way?

Baldwin Bubbles as Seidel Sneaks into the Money

With 81 entrants each paying $10,100 to take part in Event #4, just a dozen players would make the money. The man to miss out at the last was Eric Baldwin. The two-time WSOP bracelet winner, who has won over $8.3 million in live tournament events in his career to date, was all-in with but ran into Richard Collins’ on a flop of . Collins had to fade hearts and eights, but things got easier for him when the turn landed. A on the river sealed the deal to boost Collins’ chances and Baldwin was sent to the rail with nothing.

Sneaking into the money was Erik Seidel, as the 10-time WSOP bracelet winner shoved with and Stoyan Madanzhiev called with . A board of played out and Seidel cashed for $20,250. The World Series and Poker Hall of Fame legend was followed from the felt by players such as Joelle Weinand (11^th) and Justin Saliba (10^th) and Richard Collins (9^th), who all departed for $24,300.

With eight players remaining, Kristen Foxen was busted for a score of $32,400. Foxen, who already has a PokerGO title to her name this year after getting the better of Daniel Negreanu earlier this month, moved all-in with the best hand of , being called by Cary Katz with . The flop of was a game changer, and after a landed on the turn, the on the river sent Foxen to the rail and reduced the field to seven players.

Wilson Makes Final Table but Misses the Last Day

With seven players left in the hunt for the title, everyone gathered at the final table, but one more player needed to bust before the last day’s six finalists could be found. That player transpired to be Brock Wilson, who was eliminated in seventh place for $32,400 when he was dominated to defeat. All-in with , Wilson was out when Madanzhiev’s held through the board of to bring about the final day, with the Bulgarian taking the chip lead with the final pot of the day.

It took very little time for the final day to produce its first victim. Jesse Lonis was all-in with a massive hand, shoving for 655,000 chips with . He was called by chip leader Stoyan Madanzhiev with , however, and a board of sent Lonis to the rail with a score of $40,500.

Next to go was another American PokerGO favorite. Jeremy Ausmus moved all-in for 400,000 chips with and he was quickly called only by Aram Zobian with , who has sold his action to the PokerGO Cup via our official PokerStake selling page for the festival and is selling to Events 6, 7 & 8 too. Ausmus couldn’t find any help on the board and departed in fifth place for a result worth $56,700.

Katz Gets the Cream

Down to four players, Madanzhiev had as many chips himself as his three opponents combined and it protected him from that first period of four-handed play where anyone vulnerable to all-in moves was in danger. The chips had evened up at the top by the time Chino Rheem was short stacked. Chino shoved for 885,000 chips with but he was well behind his caller, Cary Katz, with . A flop of kept Katz ahead with his second pair but did open up the possibility of a Broadway straight for Chino. Ajack was needed but a on the turn and on the river sent Chino home with a fourth-place score of $76,950.

Three remained and it was the ebullient Aram Zobian who departed next. A lengthy period of poker saw the lead change hands on numerous occasions, before Zobian shoved with . Madanzhiev quickly called with and the Bulgarian survived the board to take a slight lead into the heads-up battle as Zobian left with $105,300.

The final battle saw Cary Katz win the title after two major hands went his way. Katz made a little value after hitting middle pair on the flop against Madanzhiev’s bottom pair which the Bulgarian bet on the flop, turn and river only to be called on each street. That gave Katz a better than 2 to 1 chip lead. Katz soon moved all-in pre-flop with and Madanzhiev called with . A flop of looked to have ended matters, only for a on the turn gave the Bulgarian a flush draw. The on the river confirmed the American’s victory and gave Katz the top prize of $226,800 and the PokerGO Cup Event #4 trophy.

Who is Winning the PokerGO Cup Leaderboard? 

Going into the next event, Stephen Chidwick holds the chip lead, with 2.69 million the biggest stack of the remaining six. With players such as Joey Weissman (2.15m), Joris Ruijs (1.24m), Sam Soverel (1.65m), Justin Saliba (720,000) and Justin Zaki (1.92m) all challenging for that title, the overall Top 10 leaderboard could well change very soon.

Here’s how it looks at the halfway stage after four events: