Galen Hall Wins 2011 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure Main Event

With one major laydown, Galen Hall avoided disaster and overcame a monster chip disadvantage to win the 2011 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure main event and $2.3 million.

Hall battled with Chris Oliver heads up for over three hours and at one point was down more than 5-1 in chips. The tournament looked over early on when Hall rivered a straight against Oliver’s full house, but the San Francisco resident found a way to fold and salvage his tournament.

Shortly after winning, the 24-year-old had trouble putting his victory into words. “I feel pretty awesome,” he said. “It still hasn’t set in yet. We played heads up for a really long time, so I haven’t been thinking about the win.”

Oliver, who finished fourth in the Card Player Online Player of the Year race, earned $1.8 million for his runner-up performance. Romania’s Anton Ionel played very few hands, but was able to successfully move up the money ladder to bank $1,350,000 for third place.

Here are the final table results.

1. Galen Hall — $2,300,000
2. Chris Oliver — $1,800,000
3. Anton Ionel — $1,350,000
4. Sam Stein — $1,000,000
5. Mike Sowers — $700,000
6. Bolivar Palacios — $450,000
7. Max Weinberg — $300,000
8. Philippe Plouffe — $202,000

Take a look at how it all went down below.

Philippe Plouffe Eliminated in Eighth Place ($202,000)

Oliver called and Stein raised. Plouffe then moved all in and Oliver folded. Stein made the call with AK and was racing against Plouffe’s pocket queens.

The board fell J10104A and Plouffe was eliminated after Stein rivered an ace to make a better two pair.

Max Weinberg Eliminated in Seventh Place ($300,000)

Hall raised to 240,000 from the cutoff and Weinberg moved all in for his last 900,000 from the big blind. Hall felt priced in and made the call with J10 and was happy that his cards were live against Weinberg’s A8.

The board rolled out K109QK and Hall made a straight to send Weinberg to the rail.

Bolivar Palacios Eliminated in Sixth Place ($450,000)

Hall raised to 320,000 and Palacios moved all in for his last 1,600,000. Hall called with A4 and was ahead of Palacios and his KJ.

The board fell 984Q3 and ace high was enough to eliminate Palacios from the tournament.

Mike Sowers Eliminated in Fifth Place ($700,000)

Sowers raised to 340,000 in early position and Oliver reraised to 775,000 on the button. Sowers called and the flop fell 832.

Sowers checked and Oliver bet a little over 1 million. Sowers then moved all in and Oliver immediately called with 82 for two pair. Sowers held pocket fours and needed a lot of help, but the turn and river fell K7 to send him packing.

Sam Stein Eliminated in Fourth Place ($1,000,000)

Oliver raised to 455,000 on the button and Stein reraised to 1,189,000 from the small blind. Oliver moved all in and Stein called after some time in the tank.

Stein showed A9, but he was dominated against AQ. The board ran out Kh10s5K3 and Stein was eliminated.

Anton Ionel Eliminated in Third Place ($1,350,000)

Hall raised on the button and Oliver called from the small blind. Ionel then moved all in from the big blind and Hall made the call.

Oliver folded and Ionel showed K6. Hall revealed KQ and it held when the board fell Q9753. Heading into heads up play, Oliver held 33,395,000 to Hall’s 13,100,000.

Hall Makes Amazing Laydown

Hall raised to 450,000 on the button with 8c4h and Oliver made the call with A2. The flop came down 532 and Oliver checked. Hall bet 575,000 and Oliver called.

The turn was the 2 and both players checked. The river was the A. Oliver checked and Hall fired in 2,000,000. Oliver then moved all in and Hall took a few minutes before mucking his straight, making an amazing laydown against Oliver’s full house.

Hall Doubles Up To Chip Lead

Oliver raised to 750,000 on the button and Hall reraised to 1,900,000. Olive then reraised to 4,300,000 and Hall minraised it back to him. Oliver moved all in and Hall immediately called with pocket kings.

Oliver showed A9 and needed to catch up in order to claim the title. Instead, the board ran out 8734Q to give Hall the pot and more than a 4-1 chip advantage.

Chris Oliver Eliminated in Second Place ($1,800,000), Galen Hall Wins 2011 PCA Main Event ($2,300,000)

After a series of preflop raises, Oliver found himself all in holding pocket queens against the A8 of Hall.

Oliver was in great shape to tie the match up, but the board fell AK82K to give Hall the title.

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