Aria High Roller in Las Vegas Sees David Peters, Dan Smith, Ali Fazeli Make Out Like Bandits

Three unique Aria High Roller tournaments this past weekend on the Las Vegas Strip saw more than $3 million in prize money awarded to some of the game’s best players.

Aria Resort and Casino is one of the only casinos in the world to host regular high roller events. Over the past two years, the resort played host to a $500,000 and $300,000 buy-in Super High Roller Bowl. Monthly, the Aria poker room holds high roller tournaments ranging from $25,000 to $100,000.

This past weekend, many of the best and brightest in the poker world ascended upon Las Vegas to compete for big bucks. David Peters, a regular in these events, had a Fedor Holz-like weekend, winning one tournament and finishing 2^nd in another. In total, the Ohioan grossed over $800,000.

Peters got things going on Saturday with a 2^nd place finish for $168,400 in the $25,000 buy-in Aria High Roller 46. This no-limit hold’em tournament had 26 players and paid the top four. Dan Smith took down the title for $312,000. Jason Koon finished in 3^rd place ($93,000), and Charles Keith-Lehr went out in 4^th place ($49,920).

“If You’re Not First, You’re Last”

Peters may have taken Ricky Bobby’s (Will Ferrell) famous quote from the movie Talladega Nights to heart. His 2^nd place finish on Saturday just wasn’t good enough, in his own mind, for the man who now has $14 million in lifetime live poker tournament winnings.

On Sunday, he entered the $50,000 Aria Super High Roller along with 29 other players and claimed 1^st place ($511,970). It’s unknown exactly how much of those winnings he’ll actually be taking home. On Twitter, Peters said he chopped part of it with runner-up Erik Seidel. And of course, everyone gets to “chop” with the Internal Revenue Service to some degree.

Dan Smith had another impressive performance, finishing in 5^th place ($86,400). Isaac Haxton busted in 4^th ($129,600). Tom Marchese was the 3^rd place finisher ($201,600).

Local Wins on Friday

Ali Fazeli, who lives in Las Vegas, has become a regular in these Aria high roller events. A lesser-known player internationally, Fazeli is a feared tournament player. On Friday, he took town the $25,000 Aria High Roller 45 for $403,200, his third title since June.

He defeated Sean Winter ($230,400) heads-up to finish off the tournament. Marchese finished in 3^rd place for the first of two times this weekend ($134,400). Jake Schindler busted in 4^th ($86,400). Byron Kaverman, the 2015 GPI Player of the Year, was felted in 5^th place ($57,600). Erik Seidel was the 6^th place finisher ($48,000). There were 40 entries.