2026 Pure Poker Tour Series #1 – Event #9: $560 PLO Big Bounty

It was a pretty swingy heads-up match between Paul Shakir and Cam Stewart. Both players traded the lead throughout the 2-way portion, though neither ever looked to be dominating the play.

In the end, Paul Shakir ended up with all the chips, but it could have gone either way. In the final hand, it was straight over straight after they both turned it. Stewart turned the queen-high straight, but Shakir went straight to the king for the win.

Stewart picked up his 5th second-place finish in this one, after 4 different heads-up spots in 2025. He’s been coming on strong in the past year, but so far he’s been unable to take that final step up to the top of the podium.

Both players were looking to chase away some monkeys, in fact. Stewart wanted to finally put his runner-up status to bed with a win, while Shakir was also looking for his first live win. His best previous result was 3rd place in the PLO Deepstack Hyper from PPT #5 in 2025, worth $3,125, so this will not only be his first win, but also his biggest live score.

Cam Stewart is leading now with about 1.5 million to 1 million for Paul Shakir. Stewart also has the most bounties, with 12, compared to 3 for Shakir. Shakir said that he was down to 25k when late reg closed, so he’s made a pretty decent run back.

Paul Shakir limped in, then called when Cam Stewart raised to 75k. Stewart led for 80k on the 10♦6♦2♦ flop, and Shakir called.

The 10♥ paired the board, and Stewart fired 120k. Shakir came over the top to 400k, and Stewart quickly mucked the nut diamonds face up as the pot went to Shakir.

Cam Stewart raised to 50k and Paul Shakir called to the Q♣2♦10♦ flop. They both checked to the A♣ turn, where Shakir check-called for 60k.

The 8♥ river drew another check-call from Shakir, this time for 160k. He showed A♠9♣8♣6♠ for two pair, and Stewart mucked his hand. They are basically even in chips now.

The pace has suddenly picked up on the PLO game, and they are down to heads-up. Matej Bosnjak was the 3rd-place finisher tonight, though once again I missed the action while writing the previous post. He got 3 bounties today to add $600 to his $3,350 prize.

I missed the action while writing up the Hopkins bust, but Kenny Gooding followed him to the cage shortly after. Gooding picked up 10 bounties tonight, for an additional $2k added to his $2,390 from the prize pool.

Kenny Gooding called under the gun before James Hopkins potted to 90k, leaving just 5k behind. It folded back to Gooding, who raised to get the extra 5k in.

James Hopkins: 8♣7♠7♦4♦
Kenny Gooding: A♠J♠9♠5♥

Gooding hit two pair on the 6♣2♠J♥A♣Q♦ board, and held for the win. Hopkins got 5 bounties for an extra $1k on top of the $1,795 prize.

I missed the action while I was writing up the previous hand, but Mike Samchuk hit the rail for 6th place tonight, collecting $1,290 for his troubles.

Matej Bosnjak limped in from the hijack, and Kenny Gooding followed suit from the button. Cam Stewart checked his option to the flop of 9♥2♦9♦.

It checked around to the K♦ turn and, after a couple of checks, Gooding bet 20k. Stewart called, while Bosnjak got out of the way. The remaining players checked the 2♣ river, and Stewart showed 10♦9♠8♠6♣ for the flopped trips and the win.

Cam Stewart raised early to 25k, and Matej Bosnjak called from the button, as did Kenny Gooding from the small blind. After a check from Gooding on 10♦8♠10♥, Stewart fired 30k.

That pushed Bosnjak out, but Gooding called to the A♦ turn, where he check-called for 65k. They both checked the Q♠ river.

“I have a ten,” Gooding said.

“No good,” replied Stewart, showing K♣J♠7♠2♣ for rivered Broadway. Gooding studied the board and his hand for a few seconds before mucjing face down.

I missed the action, but AJ James was the 7th-place finisher tonight in the PLO Bounty. He had a couple of bounty chips in his hand on the way to the cage, so in addition to the first 4-figure score, he got an additional $400 in bounties today.

AJ James limped in from the middle, and Kenny Gooding called from the hijack, as did Michael Flanagan from the button, and Cam Stewart from the small blind before big blind Mike Samchuk potted to 48k.

It folded back to Flanagan, who shoved for 68k. That pushed out Stewart, but Samchuk called the extra 20k.

Mike Samchuk: K♣K♥J♦10♣
Michael Flanagan: J♥9♠7♥6♠

The board of 2♥Q♣J♣2♠6♦ wasn’t enough for Flanagan. Despite rivering 2 pair, Samchuk had the higher two pair with his pocket kings and the deuces on board to take it down.

Kenny Gooding is the leader of the final 8 players, all in the money now. He has almost 900k, which is more than a third of the chips in play. Matej Bosnjak is second with just over 500k.

Dagan Maxwell was the first off the final table, scoring $620 for 9th place tonight. I’ll grab chip counts for the final 8 shortly.

The PLO Bounty field is down to 10 players, and the clock is now paused for bubble play. There are 18:15 remaining in Level 15, and they’ll take two minutes off the clock manually for each hand played until the next elimination puts them in the money.

They are two off the money in the PLO Bounty game now, with 11 players left. They’ll be hand-for-hand after the next elimination, with the money spots all at the final table of nine players.

They are nearing the money now, with 13 players left in the game and 9 paid spots. Just over 10 minutes remain in Level 14, with the next break scheduled following Level 16. The average stack right now is about 50 big blinds.

Cam Stewart is leading the way in the final 18 players tonight. He has 365k in front of him, while Kenny Gooding is second with just 245k, and three other players over 200k.

They are down to 20 remaining with just a couple of minutes remaining until the break following Level 12. I should be able to get a full count on the break for all remaining players.

The prizes are in, and the field is confirmed at 87 entries today. That means 9 players will take a piece of $23,925 from the prize pool, with an extra $17,400 in bounties to be won throughout the night.

The field is now down to 24 players remaining, with Level 12 just underway. They’ll be heading out for a break following this level, and I’ll grab some chip counts while they are away — the field should be small enough for me to get a full count of remaining players.

Entries are now closed for the PLO Bounty game, and the field ended on 87 entries. That is still unofficial, but is it holds, 9 players will take a share of $23,925 from the prize pool, with an extra $17,400 in bounties to be won throughout the night.

I’ll confirm the numbers shortly once the prizes are posted.

The PLO Bounty game is now on the dinner break, with a bit less than 30 minutes left to enter today’s event. There are 84 entries to start the dinner break, but I expect to see a few more entries before the action gets going again for Level 9.

Right now, it looks like 9 players will share in $23,100 worth of prizes at the end of the night, with an extra $16,800 in the bounty pool as well. If they get more than 6 entries on dinner, then the paid spots should jump to 10. I’ll update the final prizes shortly after dinner is complete.

There are quite a few familiar faces in the group today, as usual. Most of the final table from last night’s NLH/PLO Mix is in action today, including Stefan Maloney, Leo Zhang, Mehmet Siginc, Haven Taylor, Ron Lauzon, and Paul Shakir, as well as Thomas Taylor, David Cox, Deven Lane, Cam Stewart, and Nu Teliani.

Just under 2 hours remain to enter the PLO Big Bounty today, with the field at 66 entries with 20 minutes to play in Level 6. There are two more levels after this one before the dinner break, and the registration desk will be closed when they sit down for Level 9.

Event #9: $560 PLO Big Bounty ($300 + $200 + $60)

Tuesday is all about the 4-card poker, with bounties to sweeten the deal. There’s a $200 flat bounty on every player’s head for the game, with another $300 per player going into the prize pool for the top 10% of the field.

Cards go in the air at 1 PM, with blinds lasting 30 minutes. There are 8 levels of open entry to buy or rebuy a 30k stack, with the desk set to shut down at 5:45 PM after the dinner break following Level 8. From there, they’ll play down to a winner.

Monday was a pretty late night, so I’ll be late to the floor for this one. I’ll absolutely be there before dinner, but I expect I’ll manage to get in after the first break, sometime in Level 6 or 7.

The PLO Bounty field is up to 77 entries now, for combined prizes of $36.5k. $15.4k of that is in the bounty pool, with the rest waiting to pay prizes to the top 10% of the field later tonight.

Just over an hour remains to buy into this game.

It was a pretty swingy heads-up match between Paul Shakir and Cam Stewart. Both players traded the lead throughout the 2-way portion, though neither ever looked to be dominating the play.

In the end, Paul Shakir ended up with all the chips, but it could have gone either way. In the final hand, it was straight over straight after they both turned it. Stewart turned the queen-high straight, but Shakir went straight to the king for the win.

Stewart picked up his 5th second-place finish in this one, after 4 different heads-up spots in 2025. He’s been coming on strong in the past year, but so far he’s been unable to take that final step up to the top of the podium.

Both players were looking to chase away some monkeys, in fact. Stewart wanted to finally put his runner-up status to bed with a win, while Shakir was also looking for his first live win. His best previous result was 3rd place in the PLO Deepstack Hyper from PPT #5 in 2025, worth $3,125, so this will not only be his first win, but also his biggest live score.

Cam Stewart is leading now with about 1.5 million to 1 million for Paul Shakir. Stewart also has the most bounties, with 12, compared to 3 for Shakir. Shakir said that he was down to 25k when late reg closed, so he’s made a pretty decent run back.

Paul Shakir limped in, then called when Cam Stewart raised to 75k. Stewart led for 80k on the 10♦6♦2♦ flop, and Shakir called.

The 10♥ paired the board, and Stewart fired 120k. Shakir came over the top to 400k, and Stewart quickly mucked the nut diamonds face up as the pot went to Shakir.

Cam Stewart raised to 50k and Paul Shakir called to the Q♣2♦10♦ flop. They both checked to the A♣ turn, where Shakir check-called for 60k.

The 8♥ river drew another check-call from Shakir, this time for 160k. He showed A♠9♣8♣6♠ for two pair, and Stewart mucked his hand. They are basically even in chips now.

The pace has suddenly picked up on the PLO game, and they are down to heads-up. Matej Bosnjak was the 3rd-place finisher tonight, though once again I missed the action while writing the previous post. He got 3 bounties today to add $600 to his $3,350 prize.

I missed the action while writing up the Hopkins bust, but Kenny Gooding followed him to the cage shortly after. Gooding picked up 10 bounties tonight, for an additional $2k added to his $2,390 from the prize pool.

Kenny Gooding called under the gun before James Hopkins potted to 90k, leaving just 5k behind. It folded back to Gooding, who raised to get the extra 5k in.

James Hopkins: 8♣7♠7♦4♦
Kenny Gooding: A♠J♠9♠5♥

Gooding hit two pair on the 6♣2♠J♥A♣Q♦ board, and held for the win. Hopkins got 5 bounties for an extra $1k on top of the $1,795 prize.

I missed the action while I was writing up the previous hand, but Mike Samchuk hit the rail for 6th place tonight, collecting $1,290 for his troubles.

Matej Bosnjak limped in from the hijack, and Kenny Gooding followed suit from the button. Cam Stewart checked his option to the flop of 9♥2♦9♦.

It checked around to the K♦ turn and, after a couple of checks, Gooding bet 20k. Stewart called, while Bosnjak got out of the way. The remaining players checked the 2♣ river, and Stewart showed 10♦9♠8♠6♣ for the flopped trips and the win.

Cam Stewart raised early to 25k, and Matej Bosnjak called from the button, as did Kenny Gooding from the small blind. After a check from Gooding on 10♦8♠10♥, Stewart fired 30k.

That pushed Bosnjak out, but Gooding called to the A♦ turn, where he check-called for 65k. They both checked the Q♠ river.

“I have a ten,” Gooding said.

“No good,” replied Stewart, showing K♣J♠7♠2♣ for rivered Broadway. Gooding studied the board and his hand for a few seconds before mucjing face down.

I missed the action, but AJ James was the 7th-place finisher tonight in the PLO Bounty. He had a couple of bounty chips in his hand on the way to the cage, so in addition to the first 4-figure score, he got an additional $400 in bounties today.

AJ James limped in from the middle, and Kenny Gooding called from the hijack, as did Michael Flanagan from the button, and Cam Stewart from the small blind before big blind Mike Samchuk potted to 48k.

It folded back to Flanagan, who shoved for 68k. That pushed out Stewart, but Samchuk called the extra 20k.

Mike Samchuk: K♣K♥J♦10♣
Michael Flanagan: J♥9♠7♥6♠

The board of 2♥Q♣J♣2♠6♦ wasn’t enough for Flanagan. Despite rivering 2 pair, Samchuk had the higher two pair with his pocket kings and the deuces on board to take it down.

Kenny Gooding is the leader of the final 8 players, all in the money now. He has almost 900k, which is more than a third of the chips in play. Matej Bosnjak is second with just over 500k.

Dagan Maxwell was the first off the final table, scoring $620 for 9th place tonight. I’ll grab chip counts for the final 8 shortly.

The PLO Bounty field is down to 10 players, and the clock is now paused for bubble play. There are 18:15 remaining in Level 15, and they’ll take two minutes off the clock manually for each hand played until the next elimination puts them in the money.

They are two off the money in the PLO Bounty game now, with 11 players left. They’ll be hand-for-hand after the next elimination, with the money spots all at the final table of nine players.

They are nearing the money now, with 13 players left in the game and 9 paid spots. Just over 10 minutes remain in Level 14, with the next break scheduled following Level 16. The average stack right now is about 50 big blinds.

Cam Stewart is leading the way in the final 18 players tonight. He has 365k in front of him, while Kenny Gooding is second with just 245k, and three other players over 200k.

They are down to 20 remaining with just a couple of minutes remaining until the break following Level 12. I should be able to get a full count on the break for all remaining players.

The prizes are in, and the field is confirmed at 87 entries today. That means 9 players will take a piece of $23,925 from the prize pool, with an extra $17,400 in bounties to be won throughout the night.

The field is now down to 24 players remaining, with Level 12 just underway. They’ll be heading out for a break following this level, and I’ll grab some chip counts while they are away — the field should be small enough for me to get a full count of remaining players.

Entries are now closed for the PLO Bounty game, and the field ended on 87 entries. That is still unofficial, but is it holds, 9 players will take a share of $23,925 from the prize pool, with an extra $17,400 in bounties to be won throughout the night.

I’ll confirm the numbers shortly once the prizes are posted.

The PLO Bounty game is now on the dinner break, with a bit less than 30 minutes left to enter today’s event. There are 84 entries to start the dinner break, but I expect to see a few more entries before the action gets going again for Level 9.

Right now, it looks like 9 players will share in $23,100 worth of prizes at the end of the night, with an extra $16,800 in the bounty pool as well. If they get more than 6 entries on dinner, then the paid spots should jump to 10. I’ll update the final prizes shortly after dinner is complete.

There are quite a few familiar faces in the group today, as usual. Most of the final table from last night’s NLH/PLO Mix is in action today, including Stefan Maloney, Leo Zhang, Mehmet Siginc, Haven Taylor, Ron Lauzon, and Paul Shakir, as well as Thomas Taylor, David Cox, Deven Lane, Cam Stewart, and Nu Teliani.

Just under 2 hours remain to enter the PLO Big Bounty today, with the field at 66 entries with 20 minutes to play in Level 6. There are two more levels after this one before the dinner break, and the registration desk will be closed when they sit down for Level 9.

Event #9: $560 PLO Big Bounty ($300 + $200 + $60)

Tuesday is all about the 4-card poker, with bounties to sweeten the deal. There’s a $200 flat bounty on every player’s head for the game, with another $300 per player going into the prize pool for the top 10% of the field.

Cards go in the air at 1 PM, with blinds lasting 30 minutes. There are 8 levels of open entry to buy or rebuy a 30k stack, with the desk set to shut down at 5:45 PM after the dinner break following Level 8. From there, they’ll play down to a winner.

Monday was a pretty late night, so I’ll be late to the floor for this one. I’ll absolutely be there before dinner, but I expect I’ll manage to get in after the first break, sometime in Level 6 or 7.

The PLO Bounty field is up to 77 entries now, for combined prizes of $36.5k. $15.4k of that is in the bounty pool, with the rest waiting to pay prizes to the top 10% of the field later tonight.

Just over an hour remains to buy into this game.