Poker Pro Who Started Nonprofit for War-Affected Children Wins USPO Title

Aram Zobian entered Day 2 of Occasion #9: $15,000 NLH because the chip chief at his third straight 2026 U.S. Poker Open closing desk. After ending fourth in Occasion #7 for $70,000 and fifth in Occasion #8 for $68,625, the Armenian-American professional closed out right now to win $292,800 and his newest PokerGO title as he defeated heads-up opponent Brandon Wilson.

The penultimate occasion of the 2026 USPO drew 61 runners for a prize pool of $915,000. The ultimate desk included rising American execs Clemen Deng (sixth – $50,325) and Nicholas Seward (fifth – $68,625), German wizard Marius Gierse (4th – $91,500), and elder statesman Chino Rheem (third – $128,100).

“I am getting very fortunate and am very grateful for it,” Zobian advised PokerNews in a winner’s interview. “I am additionally making some good reads, additionally grateful to be flowing and have my nervous system be in place.”

Occasion #9 Ultimate Desk Outcomes

Enjoying for a Trigger

Zobian, who describes himself as an “Armenian Orthodox Mystical Christian,” wears his influences on his sleeves — or, on this case, on his head. He was draped in a checkered garb on the closing desk and waved a silver Ethiopian cross as he posed for winner’s photographs.

He additionally wore a shirt repping the Natna Youngsters’s Basis, a nonprofit he co-founded after visiting the Tigray area in Ethiopia, which suffered a genocide as a part of the Tigray battle from 2020 to 2022.

Zobian mentioned his Armenian heritage, one other nation that has been reeled by human rights abuses, makes him really feel linked to Ethiopia.

“There’s loads of want,” Zobian mentioned. “We’re doing mutual help, we distribute meals, we’re working within the instructional sector and establishing packages for schooling and psychosocial help to assist the children course of trauma and get again to place.”

Although he was coming off two shut calls in earlier occasions, Zobian mentioned he did not really feel any further stress to shut out at right now’s closing desk.

“I attempt to not put that stress on myself. I attempt to simply make the target play and have loads of gratitude and attempt to simply thank God frequently, just about. Reward God and play my greatest.”

Zobian, whose closing desk run included knocking out fourth-place finisher Gierse, acquired to heads-up play with a severe chip deficit to Wilson, who himself has made two USPO closing tables. Zobian finally took a slight lead earlier than a closing confrontation the place his king-six out-flopped Wilson’s ace-nine.

Connor Richards is a Senior Editor U.S. for PokerNews and host of the Life Outdoors Poker podcast. Connor has been nominated for 3 International Poker Awards for his writing.