Day 1 of PPT #2 saw a third victory for Donnelly High School, with their seniors in the limelight
Pure Poker Tour Kicks Off Second Edition with Two Winners and Over $60k in Prizes
Today marks the commencement of the second edition of the 2025 Pure Poker Tour. The opening day was jam-packed with action as two tournaments came to a close, celebrating a repeat champion and a newcomer's first big win. With more than 200 entries across both games, the night culminated in awarding nearly $60k in prizes.
John Donnelly Claims 3rd Seniors Title and 4th PPT Trophy
The Seniors event saw a marathon run lasting more than 13 hours, culminating in a familiar face securing the victory. John Donnelly, a name synonymous with the local poker scene since bursting onto it in 2023, scooped a monumental win after three attempts to secure a buy-in.
Donnelly's journey to the top involved some tense moments, particularly during a hand against a fellow journalist that sent them to the rail before the money. Donnelly had a kicker that proved to be better than his opponent's, ultimately propelling him into a commanding position. He maintained his lead and managed to dispose of challengers like Murray Duval, Francis Fan, and Bill Thomson to take the title.
Seniors Leaders
Zachary York Seals Biggest Cash Ever in Half & Half Win
The side game of the day was the half & half, where levels alternated between No-Limit Hold'em (NLH) and Pot-Limit Omaha (PLO). With 81 entries in the game, a prize pool of over $23k was created.
Zachary York demonstrated an impressive display of skills throughout the game, remaining in the same seat from start to finish while driving most of the action towards the end. York proved unstoppable as he eliminated opponents like Leo Zhang, Stefan Maloney, Curtis Glyngsdal, and Cameron Stew to claim the victory.
York's victory marked his first win and his second-ever result on Hendon Mob, doubling his previous $3,500 prize from the opening Monthly event at Pure Casino Edmonton.
Half & Half Results
The PPT #2 action continues for another 10 days, offering two big multi-day games, the High Roller, and the 6-Max, among others. Day 2 features the opening flight of the $670 Multi-Day game and an exciting Deepstack Hyper PLO side event. Stay informed by tracking the reporting at poker.pro.
- John Donnelly, a well-known name in the local casino-and-gambling scene, claimed his third Seniors title and fourth PPT trophy in the 2025 Pure Poker Tour, having played casino-games such as poker for more than 13 hours.
- Zachary York bagged his biggest cash ever in the half & half game, a side event that alternated between No-Limit Hold'em and Pot-Limit Omaha, proving his skill in sports and casino-games during the tournament.
