Well, that was fast. After starting with 52 entries yesterday, the 2014 European Poker Tour (EPT) PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA) $100,000 High Roller Event has already ground its way down to the final table. Of course, with such a small field (and with that buy-in, it’s to be expected) it should not come as a big surprise that the tournament is going to wrap up quickly. It should be a great battle today as the leaders are separated by just a few chips.
Those leaders are Dan Shak and Vanessa Selbst, themselves no strangers to big buy-in poker. Shak has the most chips heading into final table play with 3,700,000, but Selbst is only a big blind behind him with 3,645,000. Antonio Esfandiari and Fabian Quoss are well within striking distance, as well, with 2,830,000 and 2,650,000 chips, respectively. After the top four, there is a steep drop off to the short stacks: Matt Glantz (480,000), Tony Gregg (410,000), and Ole Schemion (280,000).
Normally, EPT final tables consist of eight players, but on this day, there will just be seven thanks to a double elimination. On the final table bubble hand, Paul Newey had just a couple chips left, so he went all-in pre-flop. Mike “timex” McDonald was also just about down to the felt, so he put his remaining 50,000 in the middle as well, though not without some hemming and hawing. Glantz called the two tiny bets, but after him, Quoss raised. Glantz got out of the way and it was a three-way pot with Quoss holding A♣-Q♣, McDonald holding K♠-Q♦, and Newey holding 9♥-6♦. The flop came down 8♠-3♦-A♠, pairing Quoss’ Ace, but the turn 6♣ gave Newey a glimmer of hope. That hope was dashed with the 5♣ on the river and both he and McDonald were eliminated.
Four more players entered the tournament before the start of play Monday, including Daniel Negreanu, who busted twice Sunday (and again Monday), bringing the total field to 56. After accounting for the rake, the total prize pool amounted to $5,433,120 with $1,629,940 going to the winner. Only the top eight players were paid, meaning Mike McDonald got the min-cash of $217,320 because he had more chips than Paul Newey on the simultaneous elimination. Everyone remaining in the event, of course, will profit.
The final table will begin at 1:00pm ET as the seven remaining players gun for the first significant tournament payout of 2014.
2014 European Poker Tour PokerStars Caribbean Adventure $100,000 High Roller Event – Final Table Chip Counts
1. Dan Shak – 3,700,000
2. Vanessa Selbst – 3,645,000
3. Antonio Esfandiari – 2,830,000
4. Fabian Quoss – 2,650,000
5. Matt Glantz – 480,000
6. Tony Gregg – 410,000
7. Ole Schemion – 280,000
