Sunday was the day of the 2015 European Poker Tour (EPT) PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA) Main Event during which many players had to make the decision on whether to go for the gold or just try to grab a couple pieces of silver. Day 3 was the day the money bubble burst during the first EPT Main Event of the New Year; 175 players began the day, but only 119 would end up cashing. By the time the day was through, the field was whittled to half the in-the-money finishers, as just 57 survived to make it to Monday’s Day 4. Leading the charge into the home stretch of the tourney is Juan Etcheverry with 1,704,000 chips.
As the money bubble draws near in any tournament, it always becomes tough for the short stacks to decide on whether to try to wait it out and squeak into the money or make a move to take matters into their own hands. I have been there myself – not in a tournament of this magnitude, but I know what it’s like (I was saved by the bell – someone got knocked to put me in the money the hand before I was about to go all-in with any two cards). Connor Drinan made the decision to go all-in with A-3 suited, but was knocked out by Chance Kornuth and his Queens in 121st place.
The bubble boy was Arne Kern, who, with blinds and antes at 2,000/4,000/500, put his 93,000 chips into the middle with A♣-K♠. He was looked up by Ambrose Ng, who had two red Tens. The flop put Kern in the lead, as it came down 3♦-8♥-K♥. But the 3♥ gave Ng more hearts, making a flush draw possible. As it turned out, that card was just a tease, as the river was the T♣, giving Ng a full house and the pot. Kern bubbled, making everyone else in the tournament very, very happy.
Etcheverry didn’t make his move to the top until late in the day. In his biggest hand, he called a pre-flop raise by Mario Puccini to see a flop of A♥-T♦-6♣. Puccini bet 22,000 and Etcheverry called, presenting the J♦. Puccini bet again, this time for 50,000 chips, Etcheverry again called. The river was the 7♦, prompting Puccini to bet 150,000, but this time, Etcheverry moved all-in over the top for 650,000. After a few minutes, Puccini finally called, only to see Etcheverry turn over A♦-3♦ for the runner-runner flush. That double-up took Etcheverry to 1,500,000 and into the chip lead, where he stayed the rest of the night.
Day 4 of the 2015 PCA is just getting going at the Atlantis in the Bahamas as the tournament gets closer to some very serious cash.
2015 EPT PokerStars Caribbean Adventure Main Event – Day 3 Chip Leaders
1. Juan Etcheverry – 1,704,000
2. Chance Kornuth – 1,165,000
3. Kevin Schulz – 1,165,000
4. Juan Martin Pastor – 930,000
5. Jim Collopy – 889,000
6. Ambrose Ng – 877,000
7. Emrah Cakmak – 815,000
8. Diego Ventura – 815,000
9. Rami Boukai – 625,000
10. Eugenio Pacelli Mattar – 607,000
*Our thanks to PokerNews.com for the tournament updates.
