Ian Matakis ships the tournament and adds $117K to his growing stack
After registering 22 cashes and a bracelet at the 2023 World Series of Poker, Ian Matakis was back at the tables on Sunday, winning the 2023 Canterbury Park Fall Poker Classic $1,100 buy-in Main Event in his home state of Minnesota for $117,668.
Matakis beat Wesley Cannon heads-up after they agreed to flatten the payouts and then play for another $10,000 and the championship trophy.
Matakis topped 679 runners in the FPC Main Event, creating a prize pool of $651,840. Mid-States Poker Tour Hall of Famer and Minnesota’s all-time money leader Blake Bohn (4th for $44,977) and Nghia Le (5th for $33,896) were also present at the final table.
After Ben Frisch was eliminated in third for $60,621, Matakis and Cannon agreed to a chop before continuing heads-up play, where Cannon doubled up against Matakis with ace-jack vs. ten-eight to make things even.
Cannon would then jam a three-bet with pocket fours, putting himself at risk after Matakis called with ace-eight. Matakis paired the ace on the turn, but Cannon would get the double after hitting a four on the river, leaving Matakis with few chips.
However, Matakis would surprisingly double up in four straight hands to get even before another preflop matchup saw his ace-seven win over Cannon’s pocket threes. The latter was left with one small blind and busted in the next hand.
It was an emotional win for Matakis, happening on the third anniversary of his mother’s passing, as he remarked on social media. “This one’s for you, Momma,” he said.
Shipped the Fall Poker Classic Main on the 3 year anniversary of my mother passing, this one’s for you Momma ❤️❤️ https://t.co/tRPsdlEilF
— Ian Matakis (@IMatakis) October 9, 2023
Five of Matakis’ six biggest career cashes were in 2023, including a career-best $205,696 for third in Event #82: $3,000 Pot-Limit Omaha (6-Handed) at the 2023 WSOP. He now has $1.7 million in tournament earnings.
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