Philadelphia Poker Tournament Delivers $127K for Single Father

For almost 15 years, Michael Linster was an everyday on the poker scene and tasted loads of success alongside the best way. Then got here a break to give attention to household, placing poker on maintain for the final a number of years and leaving Linster much less time to chase playing cards like he had up to now.

Linster arrived on the 2026 PokerStars Open Philadelphia collection this week trying to make the most of the uncommon alternative, and capped off a formidable run to take down the $1,100 Important Occasion for his first profession PokerStars trophy at Dwell! On line casino & Lodge Philadelphia. The New York native defeated a subject of 896 entries to assert the biggest share of the $860,160 prize pool.

“I had a son and took a break,” Linster defined to PokerNews moments after claiming the title. “I began enjoying method much less poker as a result of I am a single dad, and acquired to spend extra time with him, cannot journey as a lot, so it is very nice once I can get away for a visit. So once I get away, it is like an actual deal with for me, so that is very nice to have the ability to capitalize on.”

Linster had already compiled a stellar resume that included greater than $2,300,000 in earnings in accordance the The Hendon Mob, and added this newest victory after a brief heads-up battle with Michael Klein. That introduced an finish to the 15-hour remaining day, and left Linster posing for photographs after incomes $126,705.

“I used to play on a regular basis and had a child, and plus I am I am getting older now. I’ve had like one foot out the door with poker, sort of like prepared to surrender. And my buddy Greg, we studied a lot poker and stuff, and he stated all it takes is one rating, you will be again in there once more, and right here we’re once more, again in it once more. However yeah, it is superior, man.”

2026 PokerStars Open Philadelphia $1,100 Important Occasion Closing Desk Outcomes

Closing Day Motion

The ultimate day noticed 114 gamers return within the cash, having locked up at the least $2,200 after bagging one of many 4 opening flights. Linster started play with simply over 20 large blinds, and began to spin his method into competition.

“I got here in with 137,000 to begin the day, I acquired fortunate to get some good palms early on. I chipped up fairly fast to love 600,000 or 700,000, so I simply had an actual good begin.”

From there, Linster stayed regular till a giant hand in opposition to the beginning of day chip chief, Rajath Tangam, when his pocket jacks held to soar up the leaderboard.

“Yeah, that was a giant spot. I used to be glad to see that he did not have two overs, and I haven’t got to sweat the flip.”

By that time, the sector had been trimmed and included some notable names. Defending champion Edward Leonard (77th – $3,300) was unable to get on observe on the ultimate day, whereas PokerStars Ambassador Jennifer Shahade (61st – $4,000) went out quickly after.

Fellow PokerStars Workforce Professional Arlie Shaban ran all the best way to the ultimate desk earlier than dropping a flip to Linster, ending in sixth place for $25,400.

Linster had already sized up the remaining gamers, and knew the place he stood whereas sitting with a giant stack within the latter phases of the match.

“There have been two different gamers that I do know fairly effectively on the remaining two tables. I used to be joyful to be at a remaining desk that no person actually had a ton of outcomes. Everyone performed fairly effectively, however it definitely might have been more durable on the East Coast.”

A kind of expertise gamers was Jason Rivkin, who misplaced a flip to Linster to exit in seventh place.

“That was large, as a result of he is in all probability probably the most skilled individual left on the desk apart from me. It is a kind of spots the place I will both be flipping or buried. I stated let’s go together with it, and he had sevens and we gained the flip, in order that was large. That propelled me.”

The knockout of Shaban got here shortly after, and Linster took out the ultimate two gamers to take the title. Jason Raber fell in third place, earlier than Klein known as off with an inferior two pair to convey an finish to the match. Linster acquired his palms on the trophy shortly afterwards, and was immediately impressed.

“It is one of many nicest trophies that I’ve. I in all probability have, I do not know, six or seven, however this one’s actually heavy and effectively made, one of many nicest trophies I’ve seen. I am going to positively cherish it, get it residence, let my son get pleasure from it slightly bit, put it within the rack and see what daddy did.”

Linster admits that the victory will not change his poker plans an excessive amount of, as he has priorities at residence, however is joyful that the monetary burden of being a single dad has been alleviated slightly bit.

“It is actually cool now as a result of I’ve my son, and the cash has a function now. Earlier than it was simply a reimbursement into poker, however it will go, you recognize, in the direction of one thing good, proper?”