Online poker expert takes US Poker Open event for $187,600

(PRESS RELEASE) -- Ben Tollerene, one of the best online cash game players of his generation, added another victory to his stellar resume by taking down the fifth event of the inaugural U.S. Poker Open. Tollerene took care of business by sending former WSOP Main Event winner Ryan Riess to the rail in third and Super High Roller Bowl runner-up Jake Schindler in second. Tollerene now has $3.8 million in live tournament earnings in the last 12 months.

The U.S. Poker Open comprises eight high-stakes tournaments ranging from $10,000 to $50,000, including a Pot-Limit Omaha and Mixed Game event. The player who grosses the most during these eight events will be crowned U.S. Poker Open Champion, taking home an enormous one-of-a-kind trophy.

"This is a much different feeling than winning in a cash game. It's rare to get a first place finish and actually win, and that feels great," Tollerene said.

"There's this drama that builds up in tournaments that I enjoy, where the deeper you get the more intense it gets until it's over. That's really fun. The gist of it is, I'm playing poker more for fun these days than financial gain, and I wasn't having as much fun buying the computer, but I'm still having fun in this setting."

Jake Schindler started the final table with a big chip lead as Ryan Riess and Ben Tollerene sat second and third with just slightly more chip combined than the leader. Rodger Johnson, getting his first cash at the U.S. Poker Open, was the first player out the door. Johnson cashed for $40,200 when he got eliminated holding ace-four suited versus Cary Katz's ace-queen.

Moments later, it was Kristina Holst who busted in fifth place for $53,600. Holst busted to Tollerene in a big coin flip holding threes against the man known as Ben86's ace-king. The turn brought an ace for Tollerene, and he tied Schindler for the lead.

Nearly 40 hands later, Tollerene was down to his final 10 big blinds, but he rebounded impressively. It took less than 20 hands for Tollerene to turn things around completely, sending Katz to the rail in fourth place for $67,000. Both Tollerene and Katz made a flush on the river, and as the latter held the inferior cards, he was sent packing.

Former WSOP Main Event champ Ryan Riess was next to go in third place, cashing for $87,100. Riess shoved all in holding jack-seven of spades and got looked up by Tollerene with ace-nine. The board brought no help. After a brief back-and-forth, Schindler found top pair holding queen-nine and on the turn all the chips went into the middle. To Schindler's dismay, Tollerene showed him two black aces, and the river couldn't turn things around.

Schindler collected his $134,000 and his third cash of the series, putting him in second place on the championship standings. Tollerene took home $187,600 and jumps into seventh place on the Championship standings.

U.S. Poker Open Event #5 $10,000 NLH Results
1. Ben Tollerene, U.S., $187,600
2. Jake Schindler, U.S., $134,000
3. Ryan Riess, U.S., $87,100
4. Cary Katz, U.S., $67,000
5. Kristina Holst, U.S., $53,600
6. Rodger Johnson, U.S., $40,200
7. Ben Yu, U.S., $33,500
8. Brent Hanks, U.S., $26,800
9. Keith Tilston, U.S., $20,100
10. David Peters, U.S., $20,100