David Coleman Dominates U.S. Poker Open Finale

David Coleman only cashed in a single event at the 2026 U.S. Poker Open, but he certainly made the most of his lone score at the festival. The 33-year-old New Jersey native, now based in Las Vegas, emerged victorious in the USPO’s $25,000 finale, securing his sixth career PokerGO Tour title and the top prize of $420,000.

Once upon a time, the former online grinder couldn’t seem to close out a live tournament. He finally broke through for his first victory at a brick-and-mortar casino in early 2024, and has gone on to compile eight more in-person wins on the circuit, including capturing his first bracelet last December with a win in a World Series of Poker Paradise Triton $125,000  high roller.

This latest triumph pushed Coleman’s earnings over $18.7 million. It also propelled the 2024 Card Player Player of the Year race runner-up inside the top 20 in the 2026 POY standings presented by CoinPoker. This was his first title and fifth final-table finish of the year.

Coleman also earned 252 PGT points as the champion. This lone score was enough to place him ninth in the USPO’s final standings, and also moved him to the same spot on the tour’s season-long leaderboard.

Coleman Leads Heading Into Final Day

The 48-entry turnout to the PokerGO Studio for this event created a $1.2 million prize pool, with only the top seven finishers earning a share. Brock Wilson, who came into this event as the leader in the clubhouse in terms of series ranking points, was knocked out on the bubble late on day 1. Coleman landed the final blow on Wilson’s stack, leaving him to watch from the wings to see if anyone might surpass his point total at the last minute.

Coleman took the chip lead into the final seven, with women’s all-time money leader Kristen Foxen hot on his heels. This was the first PGT final table to include three female players, with Cherish Andrews and Ebony Kenney entering the day among the shorter stacks.

The first elimination inside the money saw Kenney call off her last few big blinds with K♦6♣ after Coleman had opened from the button with Q♦5♣. Coleman turned a pair of queens and held from there to end Kenney’s run in seventh place ($48,000). She now has nearly $4.1 million in recorded scores after this latest strong performance.

Andrews’ Elimination Sees Wilson Lock Up Series Champion Honors

Andrews was ultimately the next to fall. The event no. 3 champion was at her third final table of the series, and had a shot to surpass her boyfriend, Wilson, with an outright win. Instead, she ran 4♠4♣ into the K♦Q♣ of Coleman and lost the flip. She committed the majority of her stack preflop, then check-called her remaining few blinds after the K♥10♠9♠ rolled off. The 7♣ turn changed nothing. A four had already been folded by another player, which left Andrews in need of the 4♥ on the river. The J♠ appeared instead to end her tournament in sixth place ($72,000). Andrews ultimately finished fifth in the series points race, with 325 PGT points and $255,807 in total earnings. The bracelet winner now boasts nearly $5.2 million in career cashes.

With that, Wilson was officially confirmed as the series champion, having won two titles and cashed for $434,900 across four in-the-money finishes during this festival.

Reigning POY award winner Jesse Lonis made his last stand with A♦3♦, shoving from the small blind for just shy of nine big blinds total. Coleman woke up with pocket fives in the big blind and called. Neither player connected with the king-high runout and Lonis was sent packing in fifth place ($96,000). The two-time bracelet winner is approaching $30.8 million in career cashes thanks to this, his 381st lifetime in-the-money finish. 

Coleman Out-Foxed In Big Pot

The two big stacks squared off in a sizable pot not long after Lonis’ departure. The action began with Coleman min-raising to 120,000 from the button with 10♥5♥. Foxen called from the big blind with A♣8♠ and the flop came down 9♣6♣5♠. Both players checked and the A♦ appeared on the turn. It checked through again and the 10♠ completed the board.

Foxen fired 165,000 into the pot of 330,000 on the end. Coleman raised to 575,000 with his rivered two pair. Foxen thought it over for a while before three-betting to 1,200,000. Coleman went into the tank, but ultimately decided to lay down his tens up. Foxen dragged the sizable pot without showdown, pulling within striking distance of the lead in the process.

THIS WAS SO FILTHY THAT WE’RE GONNA NEED A SHOWER

How awesome is @krissyb24poker?!?!?!

Watch the U.S. Poker Open on https://t.co/2RQh5ROjQG, live and on demand. pic.twitter.com/mNkcUWdOxH

— PokerGO (@PokerGO) April 23, 2026

Elias And Green Fall

Foxen lost a couple of key clashes with Darren Elias during four-handed action which saw her slip behind the four-time World Poker Tour champion. The two soon butted heads again, with Foxen making a straight against Elias’ flopped jacks and tens to more or less even their respective stacks. On the very next deal, Elias picked up A♦6♠ in the small blind and limped in for 80,000 total. Coleman raised to 240,000 from the big blind with A♣9♣ and Elias jammed for 1,805,000 total. Coleman made the call and held through a 10♥5♦4♦4♥7♣ runout to see Elias sent packing in fourth place. His career haul grew to nearly $16.2 million after adding the $126,000 that came with this deep run.

Richard Green found a double-up early on in three-handed play, but was still the next to head to the payout desk. Coleman was wielding his big stack aggressively and, in the process, wearing down both of his opponents’ stacks. Green was down to 12 big blinds when he woke up with K♣Q♦ on the button. He shoved and was called by Coleman, who once again had A♣9♣ in the big blind. Coleman flopped top pair on 9♥4♦3♠ and then improved to aces up with the A♠, leaving Green drawing dead. The J♣ was a mere formality. Green earned $174,000 as the third-place finisher, the second-largest score of his career.

Coleman Closes It Out In Style

Coleman took more than a 6:1 chip lead into heads-up play with Foxen. He soon expanded that advantage even further when he successfully bluffed Foxen off of rivered trips. The hand began with a limp from Coleman on the button with 6♠3♦. Foxen checked with Q♠2♠ and the flop came down K♦Q♣J♥. It checked through and the 6♦ rolled off on the turn. Foxen fired 120,000 and Coleman called with his bottom pair. The Q♦ on the end gave Foxen three queens. She led out for 250,000 and Coleman jammed for 750,000 total. Foxen went deep into the tank and elected to fold, leaving herself with just over six big blinds.

Are you ever doing this with 6-3 like David Coleman just did??? Wow.

Watch the U.S. Poker Open on https://t.co/2RQh5ROjQG, live and on demand. pic.twitter.com/45Zo0JWnrc

— PokerGO (@PokerGO) April 23, 2026

Foxen doubled on the next hand, with A-2 beating 8-5 suited to give her over a dozen big blinds to work with. Not long after that, she limped with 10♠10♥ and Coleman shoved holding Q♦8♠ in the big blind. Foxen called for just over 10 big blinds and was well-positioned for another double-up, but the Q♠J♣9♦Q♥4♠ runout gave Coleman trip queens and the title.

Foxen earned $264,000 as the runner-up, increasing her career total to nearly $17.2 million. The five-time bracelet winner now has more than a $6.2 million lead over the next highest-earning female player on the circuit, Vanessa Selbst.

Final Table Results

Final USPO Points Race Top Ten

Photo credit: PGT.