PokerStars wrapping the 2023 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA) with the conclusion of the second ever PokerStars Players No-Limit Hold’em Championship (PSPC). That $25,000 buy-in tournament attracted 1,014 entries and will award the winner a $4,053,200 top prize.
The PokerNews Live Reporting Team has been on-site to offer live updates from a slew of PCA tournaments. Here’s a look at five of the more interesting hands captured in our live updates from the PSPC.
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Barbero Makes an Ill-Timed Misclick
At the final table in Level 31 (125,000/250,000/250,000), Aliaksandr Shylko opened to 500,000 from under the gun with j♠️
Menzel folded and Shylko jammed all in for around 12,000,000 which got a quick fold from the dumbfounded Barbero as the chip lead exchanged hands. Whether or not that hand will ultimate cost Barbero, who began the final table as chip leader, remains to be seen as the tournament is still in progress as of this publication.
"Why Did You Fold?" "'Cuz The Rest of the Table is So Bad"
On Day 1 in Level 6 (400/800/800), Shaun Deeb was out of position in a heads-up pot against Xuan Liu on a board of 8♠️10♣️j♣️4♣️.
Deeb checked on the turn and Liu bet 7,000. Deeb called. Deeb checked again on the 8♦️ river and Liu announced "all in" with Deeb covered, sending the American into a deep tank that extended several minutes. Eventually, Deeb folded to maintain his tournament life.
"Good fold," commented table mate Eric Worre.
"I don't think it was," replied Deeb.
"Then why did you fold?" questioned Liu.
"'Cuz the rest of the table is so bad," replied Deeb as he was met with a big laugh from Worre, though no one else at the table seemed to think it was funny.
"Tell us how you really feel," said Liu.
Rocco and Addamo Clash
In Level 10 (1,000/2,000/2,000) on Day 2, Michael Addamo raised to 4,500 from the hijack and was called by Michael Rocco in the big blind.
The flop came 8♠️8♦️7♣️ and Addamo continued for 2,000. Rocco put in a check-raise to 13,500. Addamo called.
The j♣️ was the turn and Rocco checked. Addamo paused before betting 27,000. Rocco paused before calling.
The river was the k♣️ and Rocco checked. Addamo went into the tank before betting 70,000. Action was on Rocco who moved all in for 123,000. Addamo went into the tank for several minutes before making the call. Rocco showed 8♣️7♦️ for full house to secure the double up as Addamo showed 10♠️9♥️ for a straight.
Addamo stood still in his chair as the remaining players went on break.
Volkmann's Bluff Hunted Down
On Day 3 in Level 20 (10,000/20,000/20,000), Bruno Volkmann opened to 40,000 from under the gun and Matthew Hunt defended out of the big blind.
Hunt checked on the flop of 8♥️9♠️8♠️ and Volkmann continued for 20,000. Hunt called. Hunt check-called again on the 7♣️ turn when Volkmann bet 50,000.
Hunt checked a third time on the a♥️ river and the Brazilian took about a minute before putting out an overbet of 460,000. Hunt took some time and called. Volkmann showed just an underpair with 5♥️5♠️ and Hunt tabled ♦️aq♣️ to win the big pot.
Death By Quads for Gong
In Level 23 (20,000/40,000/40,000) on Day 4, Philipe Pizzari opened to 80,000 from under the gun before Jiachen Gong jammed for around 400,000 from the big blind. Pizzari called.
Jiachen Gong: a♠️j♥️
Philipe Pizzari: a♥️9♣️
"You like ace-nine," said Gong as the cards were tabled.
Gong was in great shape for a double up but was immediately drawing thin after Pizzari made trips on the 9♥️9♠️2♠️ flop.
The 9♦️ turn gave Pizzari quads and the checkmark for the pot.
"I see why you like it," commented Gong as the dealer finished the board off with the k♣️.
The Birth of Tragedy: Nitsche Bluffs Into Full House
Also on Day 4, albeit in Level 24 (25,000/50,000/50,000), Thomas Eychenne was in the big blind in a heads-up pot against Dominik Nitsche and got to the river on a board of q♥️5♣️♦️a5♥️k♣️.
The full action is unclear, but somehow all of Nitsche's chips ended up in the middle on the river as he moved all in with Eychenne covered. Eychenne quickly called with the effective stack of 1,815,000.
Eychenne showed k♠️5♦️ for a full house before Nitsche sheepishly turned over 9♥️7♥️ for an epic nine-high bluff. The German was left with crumbs as the Frenchman shot to the top of the counts.
