Robert Notkin Wins PokerStars Canada Cup Main Event After Four-Way All-in

May 29, 2014

The PokerStars Canada Cup $3,300 Main Event at Playground Poker Club in Kahnawake, Quebec has found a champion. Robert Notkin was left standing on top of the field of 578 entries after five days of play in the $2 million guaranteed event.

What is most noteworthy about his win is the way in which it happened. The final hand of the tournament is likely one that will be talked about for years. Play was four-handed and Notkin had the chip lead, but after a four-way all-in, he knocked out the three other players and ended the tournament in a single blow.

Notkin limped under the gun with K♣K♥ and Justin Miller pushed his small stack with K♠Q♥ followed by Vincent Jacques coming all in over the top with A♥10♦ and Ryan Rivers making the call with 8♣8♥. Notkin, with the largest stack at the table, quickly called to create a four-way all-in. Notkin’s cowboys held as the best hand on the 3♥7♦J♠7♥5♣ board and the tournament went from four-handed to finished in one hand!

Notkin, a satellite qualifier, earned $366,660 for the win and second through fourth were determined by the stack sizes when the hand began. Jacques claimed second while Rivers and Miller earned third and fourth, respectively.

The incredible final hand created plenty of excitement on Twitter:

The final table returned to play down to a champion on Wednesday, Day 5 of the event. Here's how those last nine players finished:

James Armstrong was the first player to pack up on the final day just as players were getting warmed up in the first few minutes of play. Armstrong raised on the button with the 5♥5♠ and Francois Goulet three-bet with the K♣K♥ which Armstrong called. Things were sure to get ugly when both players hit a set on the 3♥K♦5♣ flop. Goulet bet and Armstrong called. With the 10♥ on the turn, Goulet decided to check and Armstrong bet. Goulet raised and Armstrong reraised all in which Goulet quickly called. Armstrong’s second-best set had him exit the tournament in ninth for $36,660.

Despite the increased stack, Goulet was the next player to make his exit. He three-bet shoved with the A♠Q♥ but Thiago Nishijima, the original raiser, called him off with the A♣K♦. The board ran out 3♣3♥8♣3♦10♥ and Goulet’s run was over. He headed to the cashier to collect $48,880.

A trend began to develop as Nishijima was the next player to exit. It seemed busting a player meant your tournament life was next to end. The Brazilian got it all in preflop with the K♠10♠ against Notkin’s A♠J♦. Neither of them connected with the 9♣3♣2♦Q♠Q♥ board, and Notkin scooped the pot his way with his ace. Nishijima earned $61,300 for his effort.

Ankush Mandavia was the next to go. With a short stack of fewer than 15 big blinds, he jammed from middle position with the [A9s]. Miller woke up with a pair of red nines on the button and made the call. The J♣2♦6♦Q♦5♦ gave Miller a flush with his 9♥9♦ and Mandavia left to pick up $73,520.

Rayan Chamas found himself short stacked a while later. He pushed from under the gun with K♣J♥ and Notkin called with A♦Q♦. Chamas couldn’t catch up on the 6♥7♦6♣Q♣9♣ board and he finished in fifth for $91,760.

This win is the largest cash for Toronto-based Notkin by far. He had a decent cash in the 2012 WPT Montreal Main Event and his largest previous prize was first place in a smaller tournament for $16K, according to his Hendon Mob profile. This win of $366,660 is almost 10 times his lifetime live earnings prior to the Canada Cup Main Event.

_{Photos and data courtesy of the Playground Poker Club Blog.}

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