Poker Stars Caribbean Adventure – Day 2Praz Bansi Leads With 960,800 |
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The two starting fields combined for day-2 action at the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure, and with the blinds mounting, the players fought all the way from 884 survivors down to an astonishing 275 or so, just about 50 spots from the money.
Speaking of the money, most were surprised to hear that the first-place prize for the eventual champion actually decreased from last year’s $3 million, despite an increase in field size. Due to a flatter payout structure with 15 percent of the players making the money, this year’s winner will receive $2.2 million. In exchange for the lower payout at the top, those fortunate enough to make the money will see at least a 50 percent return on their investment.
Here’s a look at the final table payouts:
Total number of players: 1,529
Total prize pool: $14,831,300
1. $2,200,000
2. $1,750,000
3. $1,350,000
4. $1,000,000
5. $700,000
6. $450,000
7. $300,000
8. $201,300
The players stormed out of the gates, and many short-stacks quickly hit the rail. As the field size quickly decreased, Eric Froehlich found himself near the top of the leader board with a monster stack, though his time there almost never happened thanks to an interesting hand against fellow big stack Daniel Negreanu.
Froehlich raised to 4,000, and Negreanu made the call from the big blind. The flop came down J
10
4
, and Negreanu checked. Froehlich bet 5,600, and Negreanu wasted no time before check-raising to 20,600. Froehlich called, and the turn was the K.
Negreanu took his time cutting out his stack before he decided to bet 42,000. Froehlich then announced all in, causing Negreanu to stand up and consider his tournament life with 135,000 behind.
Negreanu pondered out loud, coming to the conclusion that Froehlich did not have A-Q for the Broadway straight. He then said, “I put you on aces or kings, and a king hit.”
After about a minute of thought, Negreanu mucked his pocket tens face up, stunning many at the table. Froehlich quietly took the massive pot as Negreanu continued to comment. He stated that perhaps the king was a good card for him, implying that it might have saved him from busting against a set of jacks.
Froehlich then offered up a clue, saying, “It was a bad card for you,” as he chipped up to 285,000. Froehlich continued his run and ended the day with a solid 467,500. During one of the breaks, he spoke to Card Player TV about the hand and was kind enough to reveal what he had. Check it out below — the answer may surprise you.
Negreanu lost a few more pots, but overall held strong to stay in contention with 47,800 to end the day. He joins fellow PokerStars Team pro and the only remaining defending champion still in the hunt, Steve-Paul Ambrose, who has 49,300 and work of his own to do.
The chip leader heading into day 3 will be Praz Bansi with 960,800, who picked up most of his chips from another big stack in J.C. Alvarado. The Team PokerStars pro from Mexico held top set of queens when the money went in, but Bansi had turned a flush in clubs. The river failed to pair the board, and Bansi took the chip lead. A few more sizable pots went his way before the night came to an end, and he bagged up with the most chips in the room.
Card Player’s own Barry Shulman sits at 150,200 after a late double-up. Allyn Jaffrey Shulman was unfortunately eliminated during the day. The action will resume Friday at noon EST when the surviving 275 or so return to battle down through the money bubble.
Official chip counts are not yet available, but here’s a look at some notable big stacks in the room.
Praz Bansi — 960,800
Marc-Etienne McLaughlin — 702,100
Wayne Bentley — 602,400
Nasr El Nasr — 528,300
Daniel Ades — 501,400
Eric Froehlich — 467,500
Matt Graham — 428,900
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