This Week’s Big Winner: Sam Greenwood Wins PokerStars Caribbean Adventure $100,000 Super High Roller

The PokerStars Caribbean Adventure has hosted the first $100,000 buy-in super high roller no-limit hold’em event each year since introducing the tournament back in 2011. The tradition continued in 2019, with this year’s running attracting a field of 61 entries, building a total prize pool of $5,918,220.

This was the second largest turnout in the event’s history, behind only the 66 entries made in 2015. After three days of high-stakes poker action, Sam Greenwood emerged victorious with the title and the top prize of $1,775,460.

This was Greenwood’s fourth seven-figure score in the past nine months and sixth overall, and it brought his lifetime live tournament earnings to nearly $14.7 million. He now sits in third place on the Canadian all-time money list, behind only Daniel Negreanu ($38.6 million) and Jonathan Duhamel ($18 million).

In addition to the money, Greenwood was also awarded 720 Card Player Player of the Year points, enough to see him climb into 13th place in the overall POY standings.
Here are the five biggest hands that propelled Greenwood to the title.

Tournament: PCA Super High Roller
Buy-In: $100,000
No. of Entries: 61
Prize Pool: $5,918,220
1st Place Prize: $1,775,460

The Action

Chidwick raised to 65,000 from under-the-gun and Greenwood called from the big blind. The flop fell K 8 7 and Greenwood checked. Chidwick bet 60,000, and Greenwood called. The turn was the 2 and Greenwood checked again. Chidwick bet 300,000 and Greenwood called. The river was the Q and Greenwood checked for a third time. This time Chidwick bet 590,000, leaving just one 5,000 chip behind. Greenwood moved all in, and Chidwick was forced to give up on his bluff with A J. Greenwood held A 6, having gone runner, runner for the nut flush. Chidwick was eliminated on the very next hand, pocketing $236,720 for eighth-place.

The Action

Greenwood raised to 95,000 from under-the-gun and Hecklen three-bet to 300,000. Hunichen then four-bet to 825,000 and Greenwood moved all-in behind him for 3,460,000. Hecklen folded, but Hunichen made the call with A K. Greenwood had the goods, however, with pocket aces, and held comfortably as the dealer produced a nine-high board. Greenwood doubled up to the chip lead while Hunichen was left among the short stacks.

The Action

Greenwood raised to 100,000 on the button and was met with a shove from Shakerchi in the small blind for his last 915,000. After the big blind folded, Greenwood made the immediate call with pocket queens, and saw that he was in great shape against J 9. Shakerchi flopped a pair and even turned an open-ended straight draw, but it wasn’t enough to survive the hand, ending his tournament run in fifth place. He picked up $485,300 for his efforts.

The Action

Greenwood raised to 160,000 on the button and Cortes made the call from the big blind. The flop came down K Q 9, and Cortes checked. Greenwood bet 200,000, and Cortes called. The turn was the 6 and Cortes checked again. Greenwood bet 550,000, and Cortes called again. The river was the 2 and Cortes checked one last time. Greenwood moved all in, and Cortes called off his last 1,980,000 with pocket queens for a set. Greenwood held J 10, however, having flopped a king-high straight. Cortes earned $828,560 for his third-place showing, while Grennwood took a huge chip lead into heads-up play.

The Action

Sitting on a massive heads-up chip lead, Greenwood limped in on the button. Hecklen responded by moving all-in for his last 1,380,000, and Greenwood made the easy call with pocket sevens. Hecklen was behind with A 6, and failed to connect as the board rolled out 8 8 3 4 2. Hecklen was eliminated in second place, earning a payout of $1,284,260. Greenwood was left with all of the chips, earning the title, the trophy, and the $1,775,460 first-place prize.

Final Table Results

1. Sam Greenwood — $1,775,460
2. Henrik Hecklen — $1,284,260
3. Jesus Cortes — $828,560
4. Chris Hunichen — $627,340
5. Talal Shakerchi — $485,300
6. Igor Kurganov — $378,760
7. Steffen Sontheimer — $301,820
8. Stephen Chidwick — $236,720