Francois Billard Wins 2019 partypoker LIVE MILLIONS North America Main Event

The 2019 partypoker LIVE MILLIONS North America $10,300 CAD no-limit hold’em main event attracted a total of 521 entries, surpassing the $5,000,000 CAD guarantee by more than $200,000 CAD. It took five full days of play and more than 14 hours of final table action to narrow that field down to a singular champion: Francois Billard. The Montreal area native earned $1,000,000 CAD ($740,000 USD) as the winner, the largest score of his live tournament career. Billard’s lifetime earnings now sit just shy of $2.9 million.

In addition to the title and the money, Billard also was awarded 2,100 Card Player Player of the Year points for coming out on top in this event. This was his first POY-qualified cash of 2019, but it alone was enough to catapult him into 22nd place in the overall standings for the POY race, which is sponsored by Global Poker.

The fifth and final day of this event began with six players remaining and Kevin Rabichow in the lead with over 110 big blinds. Billard had the second largest stack when play resumed, sitting with 90 big blinds.

Rabichow got off to a strong start, extending his lead by knocking out Danick Landriault in sixth place ($185,000 USD). Five-handed action lasted for 140 hands over the course of roughly six hours. The second elimination of the day finally took place when it folded to Billard on the button and he moved all-in holding J4. Paul Fontan called for his last 7 big blinds with Q7. Billard flopped a jack and held from there to send Fontan home in fifth place with $222,000 USD.

With four players remaining, Billard had taken control of the final table. Rabichow closed the gap somewhat by busting Alexandros Kolonias in fourth place ($273,800 USD). He then regained the lead by winning a huge preflop race against Billard, with his pocket nines beating Billard’s AK.

Billard was able to rebuild after that key hand, fighting his way back to the top of the chip counts by the time the next big showdown took place. Joni Jouhkimainen was the clear short stack. He shoved all-in for just under 14 big blinds with Q6 from the button. Billard made a quick call with AJ. Neither player improved and Billard’s ace high was enough to send Jouhkimainen to the rail in third place ($350,538 USD).

Billard took more than a 2.5-to-1 chip advantage into heads-up play against Rabichow. The two battled it out for 37 hands before the final hand of the tournament arose. Rabichow raised to 12 million on the button with J10. Billard three-bet to 42 million holding 109. Rabichow called and the flop brought the K98. Billard bet 26 million and Rabichow called. The 10 hit the turn, giving Billard two pair while Rabichow made a pair and picked up an open-ended straight draw. Billard moved all-in and Rabichow called for his last 168 million. The 6 on the river secured the pot and the title for Billard. Rabichow earned $481,000 USD as the runner-up finisher, by far the largest payday of his live tournament career.

Here is a look at the payouts and POY points awarded at the final table:

Winner photo via @partypokerlive Twitter account.

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