2021 PokerStars EPT Online

Event #18: $10,300 NLHE [8-Max, Progressive KO, Super High Roller], $500k Gtd - Trophy Event #10
Day: 2
Event Info

2021 PokerStars EPT Online

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
aj
Prize
$81,432
Event Info
Buy-in
$10,300
Prize Pool
$690,000
Entries
69
Level Info
Level
26
Blinds
60,000 / 120,000
Ante
15,000
Players Info - Day 2
Entries
9
Players Left
1

Event #18: $10,300 NLHE [8-Max, Progressive KO, Super High Roller], $500k Gtd - Trophy Event #10

Day 2 Completed

Talal "raidalot" Shakerchi Wins PokerStars EPT Online Event #18: $10,300 NLHE for $81,432 + $132,563 in Bounties

Level 26 : 60,000/120,000, 15,000 ante
Talal Shakerchi
Talal Shakerchi

Talal "raidalot" Shakerchi defeated Mike "SirWatts" Watson in a lengthy heads-up battle to win Event #18: $10,300 NLHE [8-Max, Progressive KO, Super High Roller], $500k Gtd - Trophy Event #10 of the 2021 PokerStars EPT Online for the top prize of $81,432 + $132,563 in bounties, in addition to the EPT Online Trophy.

The event attracted 69 entries and the total prize pool of $690,000 smashed through the guarantee.

Players played down to the final table of nine yesterday and returned today. Shakerchi came into the day as the clear short stack with less than three percent of the chips in play, while Watson came in as the clear chip leader, before they faced off as the final two remaining. Today, the final table took just over four hours to crown a champion. Heads-up play by itself took around half of that time, but eventually it was Shakerchi who emerged victorious.

Event #18: $10,300 NLHE PKO Final Table Results

PlacePlayerCountryPrizeBountiesTotal
1Talal "raidalot" ShakerchiUnited Kingdom$81,432$132,563$212,995
2Mike "SirWatts" WatsonCanada$81,432$30,312$111,744
3Mark "AceSpades11" RadojaCanada$52,240$10,000$62,240
4Eelis "EEE27" PärssinenFinland$39,127$15,625$54,752
5"v0I<u"Germany$29,306$30,625$59,931
6Samuel "€urop€an" VousdenFinland$21,951$16,875$38,826
7Conor "1_conor_b_1" BeresfordUnited Kingdom$16,441$13,750$30,191
8Sam "Str8$$$Homey" GreenwoodCanada$12,314$10,000$22,314
9Lucio "WizardOffAz" LimaBrazil$10,756$3,750$14,506

Final Table Action

Although Shakerchi started at the short stack, he chipped up early and won a key race against Lucio "WizardOffAz" Lima, which led to the Brazilian Lima making his exit in ninth soon after.

Sam "Str8$$$Homey" Greenwood was the next one gone after Watson turned trips against him, and Conor "1_conor_b_1" Beresford found his way out of the tournament seventh after losing a couple of hands, including one where Samuel "€urop€an" Vousden turned a set on him to take his bounty.

Vousden was hoping to win another EPT Online Trophy after winning one just a couple of days ago, but that dream ended after he ran his pocket tens into Watson’s pocket rockets. Soon after, "v0I<u" got the rest of his chips in against Shakerchai and wasn’t able to improve his dominated hand, ending his run in fifth place.

Eelis "EEE27" Pärssinen hit the rail next when got his pocket eights in against Shakerchi’s ladies, ended the Finn's run in fourth place. Mark "AceSpades11" Radoja then found himself in a classic flip, holding ace-king against Shakerchi’s queens, but Shakerchi held and the heads-up matchup was set.

Heads-Up Play

When heads-up play began, Shakerchi held 10.5 million chips against Watson’s 6.7 million. Soon, the stacks were even, but Shakerchi then won a series of hands to take a big lead. After that, Watson doubled to stay alive and took the lead for himself after a bit.

The two players continued to trade chips before all of Shakerchi’s chips went into the pot on the river. He was at risk, but showed trip deuces against Watson’s pocket aces to take another huge lead of over 7:1. That lead didn’t last long though and Watson climbed his way back to even stacks before taking the lead again.

The turning point occurred when Shakerchi called Watson’s river bluff on a missed draw. Shakerchi showed top two pair to hold the majority of the chips, and this time he wouldn’t let the lead go. He whittled down Watson’s stack and eventually had Watson at risk for his last ten big blinds. Shakerchi held ace-jack against queen-deuce and locked up the title after turning trip aces, completing his final table comeback and putting him on the receiving end of a shiny EPT Online Trophy and $212,995 in total winnings.

This concludes the PokerNews coverage for this event in the 2021 PokerStars EPT Online. Stay tuned as PokerNews returns to bring you coverage of Day 1 of Event #22: $5,200 NLHE [8-Max, Super High Roller], $500k Gtd - Trophy Event #12 on Thursday, December 16th.

Tags: Conor BeresfordEelis PärssinenLucio LimaMark RadojaMike WatsonSam GreenwoodSamuel VousdenTalal Shakerchi

Mike "SirWatts" Watson Eliminated in 2nd Place ($81,432 + $30,313)

Level 26 : 60,000/120,000, 15,000 ante

Talal "raidalot" Shakerchi had recently won several pots against Mike "SirWatts" Watson and had slowly taken an overwhelming lead, with Watson having just over ten big blinds left.

On this hand, Shakerchi called the small blind and Watson jammed in his 1,476,762 chips from the big blind. Shakerchi called.

Mike "SirWatts" Watson: {q-Hearts}{2-Spades}
Talal "raidalot" Shakerchi: {a-Clubs}{j-Clubs}

Shakerchi was the favorite to win the title, and jumped out even further on the {a-Diamonds}{k-Hearts}{8-Diamonds} flop. The {a-Hearts} turn meant it was all over as the {3-Clubs} completed the board and gave Shakerchi the victory after a lengthy heads-up battle.

Watson came into the day as chip leader and will have to settle for the second-place prize. Meanwhile, Shakerchi was the short stack to start the day and has won the tournament and the EPT Online Trophy.

A recap is to follow.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Talal "raidalot" Shakerchi gb
Talal "raidalot" Shakerchi
17,250,000
5,736,678
5,736,678
Profile photo of Mike "SirWatts" Watson ca
Mike "SirWatts" Watson
Busted
EPT 2X Winner

Shakerchi Takes Another Big Lead

Level 26 : 60,000/120,000, 15,000 ante

Talal "raidalot" Shakerchi opened to 292,800 in the small blind and Mike "SirWatts" Watson defended the big blind.

The flop came {j-Diamonds}{10-Spades}{4-Clubs}. Shakerchi bet 221,616 and Watson called.

On the {8-Diamonds} turn, Watson check-raised Shakerchi's bet of 561,181 up to 1,800,000. Shakerchi called.

The {5-Spades} completed the board and Watson jammed. Shakerchi called off his remaining 4,387,935 chips and hands were revealed.

Talal "raidalot" Shakerchi: {j-Hearts}{10-Hearts}
Mike "SirWatts" Watson: {9-Diamonds}{6-Diamonds}

Watson missed his draws and Shakerchi scooped the big pot with his flopped top two pair to take another sizable chip lead.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Talal "raidalot" Shakerchi gb
Talal "raidalot" Shakerchi
13,434,702
4,675,935
4,675,935
Profile photo of Mike "SirWatts" Watson ca
Mike "SirWatts" Watson
3,815,298
-4,675,935
-4,675,935
EPT 2X Winner

Level: 26

Blinds: 60,000/120,000

Ante: 15,000

Stacks Once Again Nearly Even

Level 25 : 50,000/100,000, 12,500 ante

Mike "SirWatts" Watson has evened up stacks again against Talal "raidalot" Shakerchi.

One hand that added to Watson's stack was one where Shakerchi raised to 244,000 in the small blind, Watson three-bet to 900,000 in the big blind, and Shakerchi called.

The {q-Diamonds}{3-Hearts}{3-Clubs} flop saw a 456,250 bet by Watson and a call from Shakerchi.

Both players checked the {7-Spades} turn and Watson bet 2,000,000 on the {8-Hearts} river. That prompted Shakerchi to fold and sent the pot to Watson.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Talal "raidalot" Shakerchi gb
Talal "raidalot" Shakerchi
8,758,767
-2,447,250
-2,447,250
Profile photo of Mike "SirWatts" Watson ca
Mike "SirWatts" Watson
8,491,233
2,447,250
2,447,250
EPT 2X Winner

Shakerchi Cracks Aces With Three-Deuce to Take Massive Lead

Level 25 : 50,000/100,000, 12,500 ante

Talal "raidalot" Shakerchi opened to 226,000 in the small blind and Mike "SirWatts" Watson three-bet to 850,000 in the big blind. Shakerchi called.

The flop came {7-Diamonds}{2-Clubs}{2-Spades} and Watson bet 431,250. Shakerchi called.

On the {10-Diamonds} turn, Watson bet 1,650,000 and Shakerchi called again.

The {j-Hearts} completed the board and Watson put in enough chips to cover Shakerchi. Shakerchi didn't waste much time before calling for his remaining 4,699,950 chips and hands were revealed.

Talal "raidalot" Shakerchi: {3-Diamonds}{2-Diamonds}
Mike "SirWatts" Watson: {a-Hearts}{a-Clubs}

Shakerchi flopped trip deuces to crack Watson's rockets, and now has a huge chip lead of over seven times as many chips as Watson.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Talal "raidalot" Shakerchi gb
Talal "raidalot" Shakerchi
15,287,400
7,643,700
7,643,700
Profile photo of Mike "SirWatts" Watson ca
Mike "SirWatts" Watson
1,962,600
-7,643,700
-7,643,700
EPT 2X Winner