This Week's Big Winner: Mike Watson Wins 2016 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure Main Event

The PokerStars Caribbean Adventure main event in the Bahamas is always the first major tournament of the year and draws one of the biggest fields on the European Poker Tour. This year was no exception, with 928 players creating a total prize pool of more than $4.5 million.

After navigating through a final table that included the likes of Vladimir Troyanovskiy, Toby Lewis, and three-time PCA main event final tablist Tony Gregg, the win and the first-place prize of $728,325 ultimately went to longtime high-stakes tournament grinder Mike Watson. The Toronto native now has more than $9 million in lifetime live tournament earnings, good enough for 44th place all-time and fifth place on the Canadian leaderboard.

Here’s a look at the five biggest hands that propelled Watson to victory.

Tournament – PokerStars Caribbean Adventure Main Event
Buy-In: $5,000 • No. of Entries: 928 • Prize Pool: $4,500,800 • 1st Place Prize: $728,325

The Action

With ten players remaining in the tournament, playing at two five-handed tables, Matt Waxman moved all in for his last 1.245 million on the button. Vladimir Troyanovskiy folded the small blind, but Mike Watson woke up with A Q in the big blind and called for 21 big blinds. Waxman was dominated with A 7 and his situation got worse on a flop of Q Q 10. The turn was the A, improving Watson to a full house, but it actually gave Waxman one chop out with the case ace. Instead, the 9 hit the river and Waxman was sent to the rail in tenth place, earning $51,260.

The Action

With six players remaining, Mike Watson raised to 250,000 and Vladimir Troyanovskiy three-bet behind him to 575,000. Watson called and the flop was J 8 4. Troyanovskiy bet 425,000 and Watson called. Both players checked the 10 on the turn and the river was the 6. Watson bet 1.25 million and, after some thought, Troyanovskiy called with A J for top pair, top kicker. Watson revealed pocket queens, however, and took down the big pot. Troyanovskiy was left short stacked and eliminated shortly afterward in fifth place, taking home $207,940.

The Action

Philip McAllister limped on the button and Toby Lewis moved all in for his last 14 big blinds from the small blind. Mike Watson then moved all in from the big blind to isolate and McAllister folded. Lewis showed K 9 and saw that he had two live cards against Watson’s A J. According to the Card Player Poker Odds Calculator, Lewis would find a double up nearly 40 percent of the time. The flop fell 10 6 3, keeping Watson in the lead. The turn was the K, however, making Lewis an 84 percent favorite. But the river was the Q, giving Watson a Broadway straight and the knockout. Lewis picked up $267,340 for his fourth-place finish.

The Action

Philip McAllister limped from the small blind and Mike Watson raised all in from the big blind, having his opponent well covered. McAllister had set a perfect trap and immediately called all in for his last 13 big blinds with pocket jacks. Watson could only reveal 8 7 and knew he was way behind. But the 10 7 5 flop turned it all around and took him from a 21 percent underdog into a slight favorite. The 3 on the turn gave him the winning flush and the inconsequential river was the 5. McAllister banked $356,020 for his third-place showing and Watson took a 2-1 chip lead into heads-up play.

The Action

Sitting with a big chip disadvantage, Tony Gregg limped on the button and Mike Watson checked his option in the big blind. The flop came down 8 6 2 and Watson checked. Gregg bet 400,000 and Watson raised to 1.2 million. Gregg thought it over and then shoved for his last 4.1 million. Watson eventually called with 7 4, hoping his heart was live, and was relieved to see it was against Gregg’s A 8. According to the Card Player Poker Odds Calculator, Gregg was almost 52 percent to double up, but the 7 on the turn gave Watson additional outs. The river was the 5, completing the flush, and Gregg was eliminated in second place, pocketing $612,175. It was the record third time that Gregg had made the PCA main event final table. Watson took down the title and the $728,325 first-place prize.

Tournament Results

1. Mike Watson — $728,325
2. Tony Gregg — $612,175
3. Philip McAllister — $356,020
4. Toby Lewis — $267,340
5. Vladimir Troyanovskiy — $207,940
6. Randy Kritzer — $153,920
7. Ken Demlakian — $110,220
8. Timothy Ulmer — $78,540
9. David Eldridge — $62,020