Joey Weissman, a professional poker player from Boca Raton, Florida, has clinched his second U.S. Poker Open title after defeating a field of 105 entries in the $10,000 buy-in no-limit hold’em tournament. The 2023 USPO kickoff event victory has earned Weissman $231,000, the second-largest payday of his career, which now boasts more than $5 million in recorded tournament earnings.
Weissman’s first USPO win was at the 2021 festival, where he won a $10,000 NLH event and took home $204,000. In addition to the prize money, Weissman also earned 600 Card Player Player of the Year points and 231 PokerGO Tour points, moving him into 39th and 35th place, respectively, in those standings.
The tournament spanned two days, with six contenders making it to day 2. Jonathan Little was the first to fall on day 2, followed by current POY race leader Jose ‘Nacho’ Barbero. Weissman and World Poker Tour champion Justin Young were the final two contenders, with Weissman coming out on top after more than 90 minutes of heads-up play. In the final hand, Weissman’s ASpade SuitQClub Suit trumped Young’s AClub Suit7Diamond Suit to win him the trophy and title.
Young finished in second place, taking home $168,000 and increasing his career earnings to over $6.3 million. Matthew McEwan finished fourth, earning $99,750, and Andrew Moreno finished third, earning $126,000 and increasing his career earnings to $3,908,360.
Final table results of 2023 USPO kickoff event
| Place | Player | Earnings | POY Points | PGT Points |
| 1 | Joey Weissman | $231,000 | 600 | 231 |
| 2 | Justin Young | $168,000 | 500 | 168 |
| 3 | Andrew Moreno | $126,000 | 400 | 126 |
| 4 | Matthew Mcewan | $99,750 | 300 | 100 |
| 5 | Jose Barbero | $78,750 | 250 | 79 |
| 6 | Jonathan Little | $63,000 | 200 | 63 |
