The $50,000 PCA Single Day High Roller was won by New Zealand's David Yan earlier this week. This 6-Max tournament attracted a star-studded High Roller cast, with Yan agreeing a heads-up deal with Orpen Kisacikoglu.
Yan banked $485,690 for this victory, after 14 hours of play, and told PokerNews that his victory was down to running "insane"
“I’m pretty grateful for the experience" Yan told PokerNews after his victory. "When you play such a little amount, it’s just basically anything can happen. Today I just ran insane, the field was one of the tougher ones we’ve seen".
Short-stacked Arthur Conan got it in preflop against big stack Bastian Hess, putting himself at risk of elimination.
Arthur Conan:
Bastian Hess:
Conan was ahead with his ace-high, but the flop of looked good for Hess as he flopped a flush draw. Luckily for Conan, the board ran out for him to win the hand for a double-up.
Chris Brewer raised to 5,000 on the button only to see Rick Bleakley three-bet to 17,000 in the big blind. Brewer called to see the flop, where Bleakley led out for 5,000. Brewers raised enough to put Bleakley all-in and the call was quickly made.
Rick Bleakley:
Chris Brewer:
Bleakley's set of tens was in danger and Brewer took the lead immediately by completing his flush on the turn.
The river was no help, ending the run of Platinum Pass winner Bleakley early in Level 11.
Sammy Lafleur opened to 5,500 from the hijack and Ricardo Caridade three-bet to 15,000 in the cutoff. Jen Shahade four-bet shoved all in for 85,500 from the small blind and the action was back on Lafleur. Lafleur re-shoved all in which forced Caridade to step aside.
Jen Shahade:
Sammy Lafleur:
The flop fell and there was no immediate help for Shahade. The on the turn and the on the river only improved Lafleur to a full house. Shahade exited the tournament area while wishing all of the women and those "red-headed" players the best of luck.
Late on Day 1 of the 2023 PokerStars Players No-Limit Hold’em Championship (PSPC), a man wearing a Boston Red Sox hat strolled into the ballroom and took a seat to compete. That man was none other than “Boston” Rob Mariano, who rose to fame nearly 20 years ago when he first appeared on the hit television show Survivor.
Mariano, who would go on to appear six times (so far), actually had a prior connection to the Bahamas – it’s where he got married to his wife Amber, who he met while competing on Survivor: All-Stars back in 2003.
“In general, I’m good with islands, but the Bahamas is special to me,” Boston Rob told PokerNews. “It’s where my wife Amber and I got married almost 18 years ago. I fell the magic that something else good is going to happen here.”
Mariano bagged 96,000 after Day 1 of the PSPC and was hopeful things would go well on Tuesday’s Day 2.
“It's funny. I’ve played poker for over 20 years now, but it’s like just recently I’ve rediscovered a passion for it. When my kids were really young I took some time off, dove into being a dad and that sort of stuff. I recently rediscovered the game and I have been having a lot of fun, particularly the last six months with the rings and being out here in the Bahamas.”
Alfie Poetra opened to 5,000 from under the gun and Sam Greenwood just called on the button. Brian England dropped in a raise to 100,000 in the small blind which got Poetra to fold but Greenwood instantly called off his stack of 90,500.
Sam Greenwood:
Brian England:
The flop of left Greenwood in the lead but England picked up a straight draw. The on the turn and the on the river bricked out and Greenwood scored a double-up.