James Lahey claims his first watch poker title in a dramatic Eventbrite showdown

From underdog to champion: Lahey's clutch hands turned the tide in a nail-biting finale. His ace-king sealed the deal—and his biggest career payday yet.

, and Administrator

2026 February 1 . 10:04 PM

1 min read

The image shows a woman standing in a boxing ring with her hands up in the air, wearing a black... — The image shows a woman standing in a boxing ring with her hands up in the air, wearing a black dress and a gold belt. In the background, there are a number of people standing and a few people sitting, as well as a few boards on the wall. On the top left corner of the image, there is a light on the ceiling, suggesting that the woman is celebrating her victory as a junior welterweight champion.

James Lahey claims his first watch poker title in a dramatic Eventbrite showdown

James Lahey has secured his first watch poker tournament victory by winning the Two-Day $1k Event on Eventbrite. The final match saw him overcome a tough challenge from Sebastian Crema in a high-stakes heads-up battle. This win also marks Lahey's biggest lifetime score in the game. Lahey entered the final stages at a disadvantage, with Crema holding a strong lead. But luck turned in his favor during a critical hand. Lahey flopped a straight and then hit a runner-runner wheel to stay alive against Crema's queen-nine. Later, Crema was eliminated in a cooler hand where his ace-jack clashed with Lahey's ace-king. The final showdown came when Lahey's ace-king beat Crema's queen-ten to seal the victory. This win follows Lahey's earlier success in January 2024, where he finished second in the Big 30 Stack event on Eventbrite. Unlike that near-miss, this tournament gave him his first official ring and live title. The victory represents Lahey's largest career earnings from a single poker event on Eventbrite. He overcame a significant deficit to claim the title in a high-stakes heads-up match. The tournament's exact number of participants remains unconfirmed.