2017 PokerStars Championship Barcelona

Main Event
Day: 4
Event Info

2017 PokerStars Championship Barcelona

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
ak
Prize
€987,043
Event Info
Buy-in
€5,300
Prize Pool
€8,157,700
Entries
1,682
Level Info
Level
41
Blinds
800,000 / 1,600,000
Ante
200,000

Andre Akkari Leads the Final 16 Players of the PokerStars Championship Barcelona Main Event

Level 26 : 25,000/50,000, 5,000 ante
Andre Akkari
Andre Akkari

What was originally scheduled as a short day ended up being a marathon session with 6 levels of play. Day 4 of the PokerStars Championship Barcelona Main Event started with still 70 hopefuls remaining. When the dust had settled just after midnight, only 16 players remained with nonother than PokerStars Team Pro Andre Akkari in the lead.

TableSeatNameCountryChip Count
11Andrew HedleyUnited Kingdom1,005,000
12Andre AkkariBrazil6,160,000
13Tsugunari TomaJapan3,440,000
14Usman SiddiqueUnited Kingdom4,650,000
15Sebastian SorenssonSweden2,555,000
16Aeragan ArunanUnited Kingdom3,480,000
17Yaron Zeev MalkiIsrael1,510,000
18Albert DaherLebanon3,810,000
     
21Mauricio Salazar SanchezColombia655,000
22Brian Kaufman EspositoUruguay5,480,000
23Donald Duarte SierraNicaragua2,510,000
24Lachezar Plamenov PetkovBulgaria3,630,000
25[Removed:146]France4,065,000
26Rens FeenstraNetherlands1,565,000
27Alex DifeliceCanada2,775,000
28Raffaele SorrentinoItaly3,000,000

While sometimes action starts out slow with players nervous at the start the day, plenty of all ins were seen this time around. "All in and a call!" could be heard left and right and the camera teams trying to catch the action for PokerStars.tv ran around like their lives depended on it.

Gregory Janin was the first to go, his ace-nine couldn't outrun the ace-ten of Nuno Pereira Ascensao in the first hand of the day. Many would follow him out the door with Martin, Gabriel Chiva, and Pim Kuipers close behind him.

Andre Akkari got involved in a big hand early on as well, busting Erik Friberg in a monster pot with ace-queen against pocket tens. The queen on the river busted Friberg but was only the start of the run good for Akkari. The Brazilian PokerStars Team Pro later busted his neighbor Patrick Leonard with ace-king against queens (king on the river) and Jakub Senk with ten-six against ten-nine (back door straight after it had gone in on the flop). Akkari surpassed the 5 million mark when he did in German high roller Jan Eric Schwippert, hitting an eight with king-eight against ace-five.

He wasn't the only one to start with some nice increase of his stack. Scott Wellenbach coolered Daniel Smiljkovic in a set over set situation where the latter had fours but Wellenbach had queens. Wellenbach would add to his stack throughout the beginning of the day, but wouldn't finish it. After a long day of poker, the last 2 levels weren't too good for the Canadian where few pots were won. With the end of the day already insight, Wellenbach got it in with ace-jack against jacks.

"It's funny, I always get knocked out of tournaments with ace jack," Wellenbach said before the dealer got underway dealing the board.

The community cards brought the amicable Canadian no help and with 11 minutes left on the clock in the last level of the night, the clock was paused and the bagging and tagging began for the remaining 16 players as Wellenbach made his exit.

On Day 5 of the PokerStars Championship Barcelona, the plan is to play down from 16 to 6. The players are all guaranteed €61,400 but looking for that first place prize of over €1.4 million. Andre Akkari is in best position with over 6 million in chips, followed by Brian Kaufman Esposito who'll bring almost 5.5 million in chips.

Regulars like Rens Feenstra and Albert Daher are still in contention but a lot of eyes will also be on Raffaele Sorrentino. It took the PokerStars Championship's predecessor, the European Poker Tour, 10 seasons to find a 2-time winner, but Sorrentino might pull it off in the inaugural first season of the PokerStars Championship. He won the PokerStars Championship presented by Monte-Carlo Casino back in April for €466,714 and will try tomorrow to make another final table and win it on Sunday.

Day 2 chip leader Mauricio Salazar Sanchez is the shortest player still in. The 655,000 he brings to the penultimate day of the event is worth 13 big blinds, soon to be 11 big blinds when the next level gets underway.

The tournament resumes at noon local time with blinds at 25,000/50,000 (5,000 ante). After 11 minutes and without a break, the tournament's next level of 30,000/60,000 with 10,000 ante will get underway. PokerNews will again be on the floor from start to finish to bring you all the updates.

Tags: Aeragan ArunanAlbert DaherAndre AkkariAndrew HedleyBrian Kaufman EspositoMauricio Salazar SanchezRaffaele SorrentinoSebastian SorenssonTsugunari TomaUsman SiddiqueYaron Zeev Malki

Scott Wellenbach Eliminated in 17th Place (€61,400)

Level 26 : 25,000/50,000, 5,000 ante
Scott Wellenbach
Scott Wellenbach

Usman Siddique raised from under the gun to 115,000 and Scott Wellenbach moved all in for approximately 790,000 out of the big blind. Siddique called and the camera crews rushed by to film the showdown.

Scott Wellenbach: {A-Diamonds}{J-Diamonds}
Usman Siddique: {J-Spades}{J-Hearts}

"It's funny, I always get knocked out of tournaments with ace jack," Wellenbach said before the board ran out {K-Clubs}{Q-Hearts}{5-Hearts}{2-Clubs}{2-Spades}. Wellenbach failed to improve and he takes home €61,400 for his efforts, leaving the tournament with a smile and shaking hands with all opponents.

The remaining 16 players are now bagging up and will return tomorrow at 12 p.m. local time for Day 5 with 11 minutes left in the current level. A redraw for the last two tables will take place and the full chip counts and a recap of today's action are to follow.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Usman Siddique gb
Usman Siddique
4,650,000
700,000
700,000
Profile photo of Scott Wellenbach ca
Scott Wellenbach
Busted

Tags: Scott WellenbachUsman Siddique

Heorhii Doroshev Eliminated in 18th Place (€53,200)

Level 26 : 25,000/50,000, 5,000 ante
Heorhii Doroshev
Heorhii Doroshev

Raffaele Sorrentino opened the cutoff for 125,000 and small blind Heorhii Doroshev shoved for 1,130,000. Big blind Brian Kaufman Esposito seemed interested and after about 30 seconds or so, he shoved all in over the top.

Sorrentino instantly folded, later claiming he had {10-Hearts}{8-Hearts}.

Heorhii Doroshev: {4-Hearts}{4-Clubs}
Brian Kaufman Esposito: {A-Clubs}{Q-Hearts}

It was a fair fight to begin, and the flop didn't change that as they still both had about equal chances of winning: {K-Clubs}{10-Hearts}{7-Spades}.

The {5-Diamonds} on the turn was a blank but the {A-Spades} on the river wasn't. With the elimination of Soroshev, the tournament is now down to 17 players. The remaining players now earn €61,400.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Brian Kaufman Esposito uy
Brian Kaufman Esposito
5,425,000
1,900,000
1,900,000
Profile photo of Heorhii Doroshev ua
Heorhii Doroshev
Busted

Tags: Brian Kaufman EspositoHeorhii DoroshevRaffaele Sorrentino

Nick Petrangelo Eliminated in 19th Place (€53,200)

Level 26 : 25,000/50,000, 5,000 ante
Nick Petrangelo
Nick Petrangelo

Tsugunari Toma opened the action with a raise to 125,000 and Nick Petrangelo moved all in for 715,000 from the cutoff. Raffaele Sorrentino moved all in out of the big blind and Toma asked for a count. Sorrentino was all in for 1,79,000 and Toma eventually folded.

Nick Petrangelo: {A-Spades}{8-Spades}
Raffaele Sorrentino: {9-Hearts}{9-Clubs}

"You folded tens?" Sorrentino asked and Toma shook his head. The flop fell {7-Hearts}{3-Diamonds}{2-Hearts} and nothing much changed, but on the {Q-Hearts} turn Toma said "i folded ace-queen" while shaking his head again. The {K-Hearts} river improved Sorrentino to a flush and Petrangelo grabbed his media ticket, tossed it over into the stack of Brian Kaufman Esposito before quickly heading out of the tournament area.

Petrangelo takes home €53,200 and there are just 18 players remaining.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Tsugunari Toma jp
Tsugunari Toma
3,900,000
Profile photo of Raffaele Sorrentino it
Raffaele Sorrentino
2,650,000
905,000
905,000
Day 5 Chip Leader
Profile photo of Nick Petrangelo us
Nick Petrangelo
Busted
WSOP 2X Winner

Tags: Brian Kaufman EspositoNick PetrangeloRaffaele SorrentinoTsugunari Toma

Hugo Gomes Andrade Eliminated in 20th Place (€53,200)

Level 26 : 25,000/50,000, 5,000 ante
Hugo Gomes Andrade
Hugo Gomes Andrade

Hugo Gomes Andrade moved all in for 840,000 from under the gun and the action folded around to [Removed:146] in the big blind, who called.

Hugo Gomes Andrade: {A-Diamonds}{K-Diamonds}
[Removed:146]: {8-Spades}{8-Clubs}

The board ran out {7-Diamonds}{5-Clubs}{3-Clubs}{3-Spades}{4-Spades} and Andrade had to settle for 20th place and a payday of €53,200

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of [Removed:146] fr
[Removed:146]
3,450,000
775,000
775,000
Profile photo of Hugo Gomes Andrade pt
Hugo Gomes Andrade
Busted

Tags: Hugo Gomes Andrade

Niek Minten Eliminated in 21st Place (€45,000)

Level 25 : 20,000/40,000, 5,000 ante
Niek Minten
Niek Minten

With only 2 seconds left in the level, the dealer started a shuffle and so one last hand was played while players from other tables were already enjoying their break.

Niek Minten opened under the gun plus one on the 7-handed table. Usman Siddique in the cutoff 3-bet to 275,000 and action folded back around to Minten. He 4-bet shoved for what looked like 1.3 million and Siddique called.

Niek Minten: {A-Spades}{8-Spades}
Usman Siddique: {A-Hearts}{K-Hearts}

The {10-Diamonds}{J-Spades}{5-Diamonds} flop wasn't helping Minten much but the {9-Diamonds} on the turn gave him some outs. The {K-Diamonds} on the river, however, wasn't one of them and Minten exited in 21st place for €45,000.

The remaining 20 players went on break and will return to 25,000/50,000 with 5,000 ante. They are all guaranteed €53,200 now.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Usman Siddique gb
Usman Siddique
4,850,000
1,470,000
1,470,000
Profile photo of Niek Minten nl
Niek Minten
Busted

Tags: Niek MintenUsman Siddique

Kent Roed Eliminated in 22nd Place (€45,000)

Level 25 : 20,000/40,000, 5,000 ante
Kent Roed
Kent Roed

Raffaele Sorrentino moved in once and then raised to 100,000 the next hand to steal the blinds and antes twice. Kent Roed raised to 100,000 twice in a row to pick up the blinds once and then see Sorrentino call in the big blind the second hand.

On the {J-Hearts}{9-Diamonds}{6-Clubs} flop both players checked and the {8-Clubs} fell on the turn. Sorrentino bet 110,000 and was called before checking the {A-Spades} river. Roed moved all in and Sorrentino was the player at risk for 695,000. He tanked for quite some time and Roed tapped the table, then said "I ask for time."

The clock ran down to five seconds when Sorrentino called and Roed tabled {K-Hearts}{Q-Hearts} for king-high while Sorrentino doubled with {J-Diamonds}{10-Diamonds} for two pair.

The next hand, Roed was forced all in for 35,000 in the big blind and Brian Kaufman Esposito raised to 80,000. Nick Petrangelo three-bet to 240,000 and Kaufman moved all in to force a fold from Petrangelo.

Kent Roed: {5-Diamonds}{4-Diamonds}
Brian Kaufman Esposito: {A-Hearts}{K-Spades}

The board ran out {K-Clubs}{10-Hearts}{6-Diamonds}{8-Hearts}{6-Clubs} and Roed was eliminated in 22nd place for €45,000.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Brian Kaufman Esposito uy
Brian Kaufman Esposito
4,560,000
560,000
560,000
Profile photo of Raffaele Sorrentino it
Raffaele Sorrentino
1,870,000
880,000
880,000
Day 5 Chip Leader
Profile photo of Kent Roed no
Kent Roed
Busted

Tags: Brian Kaufman EspositoKent RoedNick PetrangeloRaffaele Sorrentino

Benjamin Richardson Eliminated in 23rd Place (€45,000)

Level 25 : 20,000/40,000, 5,000 ante
Benjamin Richardson
Benjamin Richardson

Soon after suffering the huge blow to his stack, Benjamin Richardson was all in and at risk for his last 10 big blinds out of the small blind. Sebastian Sorensson on the button looked him up and Richardson was in need of help with the inferior hand.

Benjamin Richardson: {A-Clubs}{10-Hearts}
Sebastian Sorensson: {A-Diamonds}{K-Diamonds}

The {Q-Diamonds}{7-Hearts}{5-Diamonds} flop took away one out from Richardson, and the {9-Spades} turn changed nothing whatsoever. For good measure, Sorensson improved to a flush with the {8-Diamonds} river and Richardson was eliminated in 23rd place for €45,000.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Sebastian Sorensson se
Sebastian Sorensson
1,875,000
360,000
360,000
Profile photo of Benjamin Richardson au
Benjamin Richardson
Busted
Day 3 Chip Leader

Tags: Benjamin RichardsonSebastian Sorensson

Mykhailo Hladilin Eliminated in 24th Place (€37,300)

Level 25 : 20,000/40,000, 5,000 ante
Mykhail Hladilin
Mykhail Hladilin

Heorhii Doroshev raised to 90,000 and Mykhailo Hladilin moved all in for what appeared to be more than 425,000. Doroshev quickly called and both Ukrainians tabled their cards.

Mykhailo Hladilin: {J-Hearts}{10-Hearts}
Heorhii Doroshev: {A-Diamonds}{A-Clubs}

The board ran out {10-Spades}{4-Hearts}{2-Clubs}{5-Spades}{2-Hearts} and Hladilin had to settle for 24th place and a payday of €37,300. All remaining 23 players have locked up €45,000 by now.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Heorhii Doroshev ua
Heorhii Doroshev
1,775,000
435,000
435,000
Profile photo of Mykhailo Hladilin ua
Mykhailo Hladilin
Busted

Tags: Heorhii DoroshevMykhailo Hladilin

Lecomte Busts in Battle of the Frenchmen

Level 24 : 15,000/30,000, 5,000 ante
Quentin Lecomte
Quentin Lecomte

Over on the feature table, a big pot was brewing between [Removed:146] from under the gun and Quentin Lecomte in the hijack. After a three-bet preflop and a checked flop, Guerfi checked the {Q-Clubs}{5-Hearts}{4-Clubs}{10-Clubs} turn and Lecomte bet 180,000. Guerfi check-raised to 400,000 and called the shove of Lecomte for 700,000 in total.

Quentin Lecomte: {Q-Spades}{Q-Diamonds}
[Removed:146]: {A-Clubs}{9-Clubs}

Lecomte needed to pair the board in order to remain in contention, but the {K-Clubs} river was of no help to see Lecomte exit in 29th place for €31,900.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of [Removed:146] fr
[Removed:146]
3,150,000
1,035,000
1,035,000
Profile photo of Quentin Lecomte fr
Quentin Lecomte
Busted

Tags: Quentin Lecomte