2025 Pure Poker Tour Series #1 – Event #8: $340 NLH/PLO

If there’s one game that Stefan Maloney looks forward to every series, it’s this one. He is a regular on the Omaha streets and he’s very well-versed in the four-card game and while he holds his own in the straight PLO events, he truly loves the mix of two-card and four-card poker to be found in this format.

This was his first win in the format (and third lifetime win overall), but he was 2nd in this event twice on last year’s PPT in Feb and Sept. This year he was able to go one better with the win.

He held the lead through most of the final table after sending the first two players out and building a stack of almost 1 million with seven left. That was about a third of the chips in play and he never really faltered from there. He sent Leonard Siebenga home in 6th despite misreading his hand when he rivered two pair, then sent Eric Taylor to the cage when he flopped top pair and rivered the straight against Taylor’s pocket deuces.

That set heads-up play against Garry Sandu where once again, he got there with a straight to take it all down. He had Sandhu covered nearly 3:1 and the money went in when Sandhu flopped two pair against the pair and open-ended draw for Maloney. Maloney turned the straight and Sandhu was unable to catch a boat on the river, giving Maloney all the chips.

Read more in our front page recap

Pure Poker Tour

Stefan Maloney Wins First Mix Event of the Series on Day 5 of PPT

February 18, 2025

Gary Sandhu was the short stack going into heads up with about 800k to start compared 2.2 million for Stefan Maloney. It didn’t take long to send all the chips over to Maloney as they found a bit of a heads up cooler on a flop shortly after they got two ways.

The money went in on the 5♥J♦10♦ with Sandhu on two pair with J♠10♥3♦2♠ against the pair and straight draw with Q♥10♠9♣5♦ for Maloney. Maloney turned his straight on the 8♣3♣ runout and it was all over.

Eric Taylor’s luck finally ran out tonight after he shoved his button and both Stefan Maloney and Garry Sandhu called. They both checked it down through the 8♦Q♦7♣J♥9♥ until the river when Maloney bet 100k. Snadhu folded and Maloney had the queen-high straight with queen-ten cracking the pocket deuces for Taylor.

Maloney has the big lead now with about 2.2 million to 800k for Garry Sandhu.

Eric Taylor looks unkillable now. He’s not building much of a stack, but he’s staying alive when he has to. He just ran out to another jack-high straight against Garry Sandhu after Sandhu shoved the small with J♥3♥ and Taylor called with A♦8♠. Sandhu flopped his jack, but that was the top end of Taylor’s straight by the time the 7♥J♦10♣9♦4♥ board was complete.

Garry Sandhu raised to 80k from the button, then snapped it off when Eric Taylor shoved the small blind. Snadhu was on kings against jacks for Taylor but once the board of A♣7♦8♣10♥9♠ was out, Taylor ran out to a straight to survive. That puts him back to about 500k again after he’d lost a few rounds of blinds and antes.

They are down to three left after George Mounsef flopped a set but couldn’t hold when Garry Sandhu turned a straight and held for the win.

Sandhu and Stefan Maloney are nearly even with about 1.2 million each while Eric Taylor is the shorty right now with about 500k.

I missed the action while writing up the previous bust out, but George Broumas quickly followed Leonard Siebenga to the cash cage in 5th place.

Stefan Maloney raised under the gun to 90k before Leonard Siebenga potted to 285k, leaving very little behind. Maloney called, and Siebenga put the rest in blind before the 3♥J♠9♣ flop.

Maloney snapped it off saying “top set” but when he rolled his hand over he apologized saying he was sure he had pocket jacks. He was actually playing K♦J♥10♥5♣ against A♣A♥6♥3♠ for Siebenga. Maloney rivered a five for two pair and the win, cracking SIebenga’s aces even after misreading his hand.

Tony Comely was on fumes and called all-in from the small blind after George Broumas raised the cutoff to 45k. Comely had exactly 45k and it went in for the call, and big blind Eric Taylor also called. Both players checked the [JcQc9d[/pcn] flop, but after a check from Taylor on the K♠ turn, Broumas fired out 45k.

Taylor folded and it left Broumas on K♥J♦ for two pair against Comely’s A♥2♠ looking for a ten to Broadway. The river 2♦ technically hit Comely but not hard enough to overcome Broumas’ two pair and he was out in 7th place tonight.

The short stacks have been doubling through most of the final table, but in the final hand of Level 20, Stefan Maloney sent two players to the rail. All the money was in before the flop with Alex Liu on A♠A♣K♥9♠, Thi Ngo on J♣7♣3♦2♦, and Maloney on Q♣Q♥4♦4♥.

Liu flopped a set on the 5♥9♣A♥3♥2♣ runout, but Maloney turned the hearts for the win. Ngo was the short stack and ended in 9th tonight while Liu picked up 8th place. Below is a look at the remaining stacks in play.

In the first hand, Leonard Siebenga got a double through Tony Comely when his aces held against Comely’s queens. A couple of hands later, George Mounsef opened under the gun to 35k and Geroge Broumas defended his big blind with a call.

It all kicked off on the K♣J♠4♠ flop when Broumas led for 45k, then shoved over the raise from Mounsef. Mounsef was on ace-king-queen-ten for a pair of kings and straight outs, while Broumas had jacks and was drawing to spades with Q♠J♠8♦6♥. Broumas turned his spades and held on the 7♠2♥ runout.

Garry Sandhu raised to 35k from the early and George Mounsef called the hijack before Tony Comely shoved 69k from the cutoff. Both Sandhu and Mounsef called and checked the 5♣Q♠9♥ flop.

Sandhu bet 50k on the 4♣ turn and Mounsef mucked his hand to leave Comely facing down Sandhu. With the cards on their backs, Comely was ahead with ace-ace-ten-five against ace-king-queen-seven and the aces held when the 3♠ river was a brick.

They are now in the money with 12 players left in the game. There are about 5 minutes gone in Level 18 with players getting four cards this level. Garry Sandhu, Leonard Siebenga, Stefan Maloney, Thi Ngo, Ed Zurawell, Georger Broumas, Gerald Chung, Tony Comely, George Mounsef, Johnny Dalphond, Eric Taylor, and Alex Liu are the players still remaining in the money all guaranteed at least $670.

The final 18 players are on a break now and I’ve had a chance to get full counts from all remaining players. Garry Sandhu is leading with 350k and Thi Ngo is also playing a 300k stack.

George Mounsef raised then called when Bruce Drake shoved 52.5k. Drake was on [invalid notations] against K♣Q♣J♦10♦. Drake hit an ace on the flop as well as a wheel draw, then turned two pair with ace-deuce for the win and the double to about 120k. The hand left Mounsef on about the same stack, 120k.

They are now 6 off the money spots with 18 players left on the final two tables.The next break is just over half an hour away and I’ll grab full chip counts then, but in the meantime, below is a look at the final 18 players in action.

It looks like Thi Ngo is the leader right now with more than 300k in front of her. Johnny Dalphond is back up close to 300k now as well with Mal Hagan at about 250k. I’ll grab full counts for the remaining players in about 45 minutes when they go on their next break.

Below is a look at the final three tables in action tonight in the NLH/PLO Mix. I’ll grab full chip counts on the next break in about an hour.

They are dow to 28 left in the Mix game now with Level 14 just underway. Players are being dealt four cards in this level and they’ll break down to the final three tables after the next elimination. Once they hit three tables I’ll get a complete list of the remaining players.

After a quick look at the chips on break it looks like George Mounsef is the leader with 237.5k in front of him. Malcolm Bolger is playing about 220k while Garry Sandhu and Johnny Dalphond are both just over 200k.

They are down to 36 players left in the NLH/PLO mix with about 15 minutes to play in Level 11. They’ll take another break following the end of Level 12, and I’ll have a look around at the stacks then.

They are down to 42 left now on the final five tables in the NLH/PLO Mix. The action is now in Level 10 with about 15 minutes remaining, and players are all being dealt four cards in this level.

Entries are now closed for Event #8 with 116 on the board. That number is confirmed with the prizes posted as well. The winner tonight is set to pocket $9,205 with 12 players sharing in $33,060 in prizes. Full prize details will be loaded under the Payouts tab shortly.

With the players on their dinner break, I had a look around the room at some of the stacks, and it looks like Johnny Dalphond is the leader right now with just shy of 300k in play. Malcolm Bolger is playing about 250k while Garry Sandhu is on 127.5k. Vince Lam is playing 122k whole Colten Yamagishi is on about 115k right now.

The prizes are now over $30k with 109 entries on the board as the dinner break kicks off. There are now a bit less than 45 minutes left to enter the game.

The field is now up to 100 entries with about an hour to go in registration. There are still 48 players left in the game with the prizes now at $28,500.

The prize pool just pushed over $25k with 88 entries on the board as Level 7 begins. There are just under 1 hour and 45 minutes left to get into the game, so it looks likely the field will eventually cap 100 before entries close.

The game is now one entry off of $20k in prizes with 70 entries on the board for $19,950 in prizes right now. I’ve just had another wander around the room and spotted a few more familiar faces including Main Event winner from last Oct Kevin Lee, Sal Haji, Julius Roque (who is a beast at this format with multiple wins in the mix), Leonard Siebenga, Garry Sandhu, Francis Fan, Brady O’Hara, Johnny Dalphond, Mal Hagan, Keith Graham, Nadav Bitton, and Nu Teliani.

Entries are still open for just under 2.5 hours.

Level 4 has just begun with 56 entries on the board. I’ve just arrived in the room and am still getting set up but I noticed a few familiar faces in the crowd as I came in. Malcolm Bolger, Kirk Nilson, and Dylan Descheneaux are in for their first games this series so far, but I also spotted Benny Sarnelli, Ross Wilson, Ron Lauzon, Darrell Moore Tony Comely, Ryan Comely, Ed Zurawell, and Stefan Maloney in the mix so far today.

The main game on Monday is the NLH/PLO Mix. The action starts at 2 pm with 25k to start. They’ll play 30-minute levels throughout the night until heads up when it will drop to 20 minutes.

Late entries will be available for 8 levels, with the entry desk scheduled to shut down at about 7 PM. Once Level 9 begins, it will be a race to the finish.

I’ll likely be late to the floor for this one, but as it’s the only cash-prize action on for Monday (the evening game on Monday is a satellite), I’ll be watching it to the end. Expect the coverage to pick up sometime before the first break.

If there’s one game that Stefan Maloney looks forward to every series, it’s this one. He is a regular on the Omaha streets and he’s very well-versed in the four-card game and while he holds his own in the straight PLO events, he truly loves the mix of two-card and four-card poker to be found in this format.

This was his first win in the format (and third lifetime win overall), but he was 2nd in this event twice on last year’s PPT in Feb and Sept. This year he was able to go one better with the win.

He held the lead through most of the final table after sending the first two players out and building a stack of almost 1 million with seven left. That was about a third of the chips in play and he never really faltered from there. He sent Leonard Siebenga home in 6th despite misreading his hand when he rivered two pair, then sent Eric Taylor to the cage when he flopped top pair and rivered the straight against Taylor’s pocket deuces.

That set heads-up play against Garry Sandu where once again, he got there with a straight to take it all down. He had Sandhu covered nearly 3:1 and the money went in when Sandhu flopped two pair against the pair and open-ended draw for Maloney. Maloney turned the straight and Sandhu was unable to catch a boat on the river, giving Maloney all the chips.

Read more in our front page recap

Pure Poker Tour

Stefan Maloney Wins First Mix Event of the Series on Day 5 of PPT

February 18, 2025

Gary Sandhu was the short stack going into heads up with about 800k to start compared 2.2 million for Stefan Maloney. It didn’t take long to send all the chips over to Maloney as they found a bit of a heads up cooler on a flop shortly after they got two ways.

The money went in on the 5♥J♦10♦ with Sandhu on two pair with J♠10♥3♦2♠ against the pair and straight draw with Q♥10♠9♣5♦ for Maloney. Maloney turned his straight on the 8♣3♣ runout and it was all over.

Eric Taylor’s luck finally ran out tonight after he shoved his button and both Stefan Maloney and Garry Sandhu called. They both checked it down through the 8♦Q♦7♣J♥9♥ until the river when Maloney bet 100k. Snadhu folded and Maloney had the queen-high straight with queen-ten cracking the pocket deuces for Taylor.

Maloney has the big lead now with about 2.2 million to 800k for Garry Sandhu.

Eric Taylor looks unkillable now. He’s not building much of a stack, but he’s staying alive when he has to. He just ran out to another jack-high straight against Garry Sandhu after Sandhu shoved the small with J♥3♥ and Taylor called with A♦8♠. Sandhu flopped his jack, but that was the top end of Taylor’s straight by the time the 7♥J♦10♣9♦4♥ board was complete.

Garry Sandhu raised to 80k from the button, then snapped it off when Eric Taylor shoved the small blind. Snadhu was on kings against jacks for Taylor but once the board of A♣7♦8♣10♥9♠ was out, Taylor ran out to a straight to survive. That puts him back to about 500k again after he’d lost a few rounds of blinds and antes.

They are down to three left after George Mounsef flopped a set but couldn’t hold when Garry Sandhu turned a straight and held for the win.

Sandhu and Stefan Maloney are nearly even with about 1.2 million each while Eric Taylor is the shorty right now with about 500k.

I missed the action while writing up the previous bust out, but George Broumas quickly followed Leonard Siebenga to the cash cage in 5th place.

Stefan Maloney raised under the gun to 90k before Leonard Siebenga potted to 285k, leaving very little behind. Maloney called, and Siebenga put the rest in blind before the 3♥J♠9♣ flop.

Maloney snapped it off saying “top set” but when he rolled his hand over he apologized saying he was sure he had pocket jacks. He was actually playing K♦J♥10♥5♣ against A♣A♥6♥3♠ for Siebenga. Maloney rivered a five for two pair and the win, cracking SIebenga’s aces even after misreading his hand.

Tony Comely was on fumes and called all-in from the small blind after George Broumas raised the cutoff to 45k. Comely had exactly 45k and it went in for the call, and big blind Eric Taylor also called. Both players checked the [JcQc9d[/pcn] flop, but after a check from Taylor on the K♠ turn, Broumas fired out 45k.

Taylor folded and it left Broumas on K♥J♦ for two pair against Comely’s A♥2♠ looking for a ten to Broadway. The river 2♦ technically hit Comely but not hard enough to overcome Broumas’ two pair and he was out in 7th place tonight.

The short stacks have been doubling through most of the final table, but in the final hand of Level 20, Stefan Maloney sent two players to the rail. All the money was in before the flop with Alex Liu on A♠A♣K♥9♠, Thi Ngo on J♣7♣3♦2♦, and Maloney on Q♣Q♥4♦4♥.

Liu flopped a set on the 5♥9♣A♥3♥2♣ runout, but Maloney turned the hearts for the win. Ngo was the short stack and ended in 9th tonight while Liu picked up 8th place. Below is a look at the remaining stacks in play.

In the first hand, Leonard Siebenga got a double through Tony Comely when his aces held against Comely’s queens. A couple of hands later, George Mounsef opened under the gun to 35k and Geroge Broumas defended his big blind with a call.

It all kicked off on the K♣J♠4♠ flop when Broumas led for 45k, then shoved over the raise from Mounsef. Mounsef was on ace-king-queen-ten for a pair of kings and straight outs, while Broumas had jacks and was drawing to spades with Q♠J♠8♦6♥. Broumas turned his spades and held on the 7♠2♥ runout.

Garry Sandhu raised to 35k from the early and George Mounsef called the hijack before Tony Comely shoved 69k from the cutoff. Both Sandhu and Mounsef called and checked the 5♣Q♠9♥ flop.

Sandhu bet 50k on the 4♣ turn and Mounsef mucked his hand to leave Comely facing down Sandhu. With the cards on their backs, Comely was ahead with ace-ace-ten-five against ace-king-queen-seven and the aces held when the 3♠ river was a brick.

They are now in the money with 12 players left in the game. There are about 5 minutes gone in Level 18 with players getting four cards this level. Garry Sandhu, Leonard Siebenga, Stefan Maloney, Thi Ngo, Ed Zurawell, Georger Broumas, Gerald Chung, Tony Comely, George Mounsef, Johnny Dalphond, Eric Taylor, and Alex Liu are the players still remaining in the money all guaranteed at least $670.

The final 18 players are on a break now and I’ve had a chance to get full counts from all remaining players. Garry Sandhu is leading with 350k and Thi Ngo is also playing a 300k stack.

George Mounsef raised then called when Bruce Drake shoved 52.5k. Drake was on [invalid notations] against K♣Q♣J♦10♦. Drake hit an ace on the flop as well as a wheel draw, then turned two pair with ace-deuce for the win and the double to about 120k. The hand left Mounsef on about the same stack, 120k.

They are now 6 off the money spots with 18 players left on the final two tables.The next break is just over half an hour away and I’ll grab full chip counts then, but in the meantime, below is a look at the final 18 players in action.

It looks like Thi Ngo is the leader right now with more than 300k in front of her. Johnny Dalphond is back up close to 300k now as well with Mal Hagan at about 250k. I’ll grab full counts for the remaining players in about 45 minutes when they go on their next break.

Below is a look at the final three tables in action tonight in the NLH/PLO Mix. I’ll grab full chip counts on the next break in about an hour.

They are dow to 28 left in the Mix game now with Level 14 just underway. Players are being dealt four cards in this level and they’ll break down to the final three tables after the next elimination. Once they hit three tables I’ll get a complete list of the remaining players.

After a quick look at the chips on break it looks like George Mounsef is the leader with 237.5k in front of him. Malcolm Bolger is playing about 220k while Garry Sandhu and Johnny Dalphond are both just over 200k.

They are down to 36 players left in the NLH/PLO mix with about 15 minutes to play in Level 11. They’ll take another break following the end of Level 12, and I’ll have a look around at the stacks then.

They are down to 42 left now on the final five tables in the NLH/PLO Mix. The action is now in Level 10 with about 15 minutes remaining, and players are all being dealt four cards in this level.

Entries are now closed for Event #8 with 116 on the board. That number is confirmed with the prizes posted as well. The winner tonight is set to pocket $9,205 with 12 players sharing in $33,060 in prizes. Full prize details will be loaded under the Payouts tab shortly.

With the players on their dinner break, I had a look around the room at some of the stacks, and it looks like Johnny Dalphond is the leader right now with just shy of 300k in play. Malcolm Bolger is playing about 250k while Garry Sandhu is on 127.5k. Vince Lam is playing 122k whole Colten Yamagishi is on about 115k right now.

The prizes are now over $30k with 109 entries on the board as the dinner break kicks off. There are now a bit less than 45 minutes left to enter the game.

The field is now up to 100 entries with about an hour to go in registration. There are still 48 players left in the game with the prizes now at $28,500.

The prize pool just pushed over $25k with 88 entries on the board as Level 7 begins. There are just under 1 hour and 45 minutes left to get into the game, so it looks likely the field will eventually cap 100 before entries close.

The game is now one entry off of $20k in prizes with 70 entries on the board for $19,950 in prizes right now. I’ve just had another wander around the room and spotted a few more familiar faces including Main Event winner from last Oct Kevin Lee, Sal Haji, Julius Roque (who is a beast at this format with multiple wins in the mix), Leonard Siebenga, Garry Sandhu, Francis Fan, Brady O’Hara, Johnny Dalphond, Mal Hagan, Keith Graham, Nadav Bitton, and Nu Teliani.

Entries are still open for just under 2.5 hours.

Level 4 has just begun with 56 entries on the board. I’ve just arrived in the room and am still getting set up but I noticed a few familiar faces in the crowd as I came in. Malcolm Bolger, Kirk Nilson, and Dylan Descheneaux are in for their first games this series so far, but I also spotted Benny Sarnelli, Ross Wilson, Ron Lauzon, Darrell Moore Tony Comely, Ryan Comely, Ed Zurawell, and Stefan Maloney in the mix so far today.

The main game on Monday is the NLH/PLO Mix. The action starts at 2 pm with 25k to start. They’ll play 30-minute levels throughout the night until heads up when it will drop to 20 minutes.

Late entries will be available for 8 levels, with the entry desk scheduled to shut down at about 7 PM. Once Level 9 begins, it will be a race to the finish.

I’ll likely be late to the floor for this one, but as it’s the only cash-prize action on for Monday (the evening game on Monday is a satellite), I’ll be watching it to the end. Expect the coverage to pick up sometime before the first break.