This Week’s Big Winner: Adrian Mateos Wins Back-To-Back Titles At 2019 Caribbean Poker Party

Adrian Mateos is just 25 years old, but he has already managed to establish himself as one of the very best tournament poker players in the world. He is the youngest player in history to win three World Series of Poker bracelets, and with $19.4 million in career earnings is the all-time money leader for his home country of Spain. Mateos further cemented his spot on the list of the game’s best players this past week by winning back-to-back marquee events at the 2019 Caribbean Poker Party.

The first of his two huge title runs came in the $25,000 buy-in, $2 million guaranteed high roller event. The tournament drew a sizable turnout of 125 entries, blowing away the guarantee to create a final prize pool of $3,125,000. Mateos ended up earning $520,464 for the victory.

Just four days later, Mateos found himself in the winner’s circle again. This time around he outlasted a field 948 total entries in the $10,000 buy-in, $10 million guaranteed main event.

Despite the big field, the final table was still overrun with top tournament talent. German high roller and two-time WPT Alpha8 winner Philipp Gruissem finished ninth for $140,000. High-stakes cash game star Peter Jetten earned $250,000 as the seventh-place finisher, and 2019 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure main event third-place finisher Scott Wellenbach placed fourth for $650,000.

The final three players struck a deal. Recent Poker Masters main event runner-up Chris Hunichen locked up $1,097,19, WPT Legends of Poker main event winner Aaron Van Blarcum ensured himself $970,000, and Mateos secured $1,062,805. The three left the title and $100,000 to play for, which ultimately went to Mateos to wrap up his stellar week in the Bahamas.

Here are the five key hands that propelled Mateos to the title.

Tournament: Caribbean Poker Party Main Event
Buy-In: $10,300
No. of Entries: 948
Prize Pool : $9,480,000
1st Place Prize: $1,162,805

The Action

With 21 players left, Mateos raised to 2,400,000 in early position and was called by Giuseppe Carbone. Papazian then three-bet to 20,000,000, and Mateos moved all-in over the top. Carbone folded and Papazian called off his last 1,000,000 with pocket queens. Mateos was in trouble with A Q, but the A on the turn gave him the three-outer he needed to score the knockout.

The Action

Zamani raised to 3,500,000 from under the gun and Mateos three-bet to 10,500,000 from the cutoff. Zamani then shoved for 51,500,000 and Mateos decided to go with his big slick. Zamani had a slight advantage with pocket eights, but once again, the A♦ on the turn gave the pot and the massive stack to Mateos. Zamani was eliminated in 18th place.

The Action

Baird moved all in on the short stack and was called by Mateos on the button. Prehm then decided to move all-in over the top from the big blind. Mateos didn’t enjoy calling off more than half of his stack with A Q, and his instincts were confirmed when Prehm showed pocket kings. To make matters worse, Baird also held A-Q, killing some outs. Nonetheless, the dealer produced an ace on the flop, and Prehm exited the tournament with a bad beat story in tenth place. Mateos earned the bigger side pot, and chopped up the main pot with Baird, who was just happy to stay in contention.

The Action

Hunichen raised his button to 15,000,000 and Mateos defended from the big blind. The flop fell A J 6 and Mateos checked. Hunichen bet 20,000,000 and Mateos called. The turn was the 7 and this time Mateos check-called another 69,000,000. The river was the 10 and Mateos checked once again. Hunichen moved all in, and Mateos instantly called all-in with pocket sevens for a turned set. Hunichen held A K, and saw nearly half of his stack shipped across the table to the new chip leader.

The Action

Mateos and Van Blarcum started their heads-up match virtually even, but it was Mateos who would strike first and ultimately gain a lead he would never relinquish. Mateos raised the button and Van Blarcum called from the big blind. The flop fell K 8 5 and both players checked. The turn was the 3 and Van Blarcum check-called a bet of 45,000,000. The river was the 8 and Van Blarcum checked for a third time. Mateos then bet 110,000,000, and Van Blarcum called. Mateos showed 8 7 for rivered trips, and Van Blarcum mucked his hand, giving Mateos a nearly 3:1 chip advantage.

Final Table Results

1. Adrian Mateos — $1,162,805*
2. Aaron Van Blarcum — $970,000*
3. Chris Hunichen — $1,097,195*
4. Scott Wellenbach — $650,000
5. William Blais — $500,000
6. Mandzjuk Oleg — $350,000
7. Peter Jetten — $250,000
8. Greg Baird — $180,000
9. Philipp Gruissem — $140,000

*Based on a deal made during heads-up play.