2011 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure

$25,000 High Roller
Day: 2
Event Info

2011 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
a5
Prize
$1,072,850
Event Info
Buy-in
$25,000
Entries
151
Level Info
Level
29
Blinds
60,000 / 120,000
Ante
10,000

$25,000 High Roller

Day 2 Completed

Day 2 Concludes With Mercier Leading The Way

Level 16 : 3,000/6,000, 500 ante
Jason Mercier
Jason Mercier

The PokerStars Caribbean Adventure $25,000 High Roller event continued Saturday with the remaining 90 players of the original 151 entrants. The players, staff, and media were settling in for a long day as the field was scheduled to play down to a final table. However, after more than 14 hours of play, tournament officials halted the action at 12 players, who will all return tomorrow to play down to a winner.

Leading the way is chip leader and Team PokerStars Pro (USA) Jason Mercier with 1.023 million. He is followed closely by David "Bakes" Baker who has 853,000 and fellow Team Pros Max Lykov (Russia) with 835,000 and Leo Fernandez (Argentina) with 704,000. A couple other names who'll be returning are Erik Seidel (632,000) and Tom Marchese (728,000).

Along the way, a laundry list of poker pros hit the rail. Some Team PokerStars Pros who failed to survive the day were Alex Kravchenko (Russia), Joe Cada (USA), Sandra Naujoks (Germany), Alex Gomes (Brazil), Andre Akkari (Brazil), Humberto Brenes (Costa Rica), Joe Hachem (Australia), Juan Marceiras (Spain), Johnny Lodden (Norway) and Vanessa Rousso (USA).

Team PokerStars Pros weren't the only names returning for Day 2. Chino Rheem, David Benyamine, David "Doc" Sands, Bryn Kenney, Faraz Jaka, John Racener, Daniel Cates, Daniel Alaei, and Freddy Deeb were just a few of the players who fell short of the money. In addition, the chip leader at the start of the day with 217,000, Ryan "toetagU" Fair, was unable to make it to the money, falling just shy in 20th place.

While these players ultimately came up short, others navigated their way to the money. They included: last year's PCA Main Event runner up, Ty Reiman (16th-$55,490); Brett Richey (15th-$55,490); Ravi Raghavan (14th-$73,990); and Rob Akery (13th-$73,990).

Here is how things will look when action resumes:

Table 1
Seat 1: Max Lykov (835,000)
Seat 2: Jason Mercier (1,023,000)
Seat 3: Matt Affleck (95,000)
Seat 4: Empty
Seat 5: Will Molson (526,000)
Seat 6: Govert Metaal (792,000)
Seat 7: Empty
Seat 8: Matt Marafioti (385,000)

Table 2
Seat 1: Shander de Vries (325,000)
Seat 2: David "Bakes" Baker (853,000)
Seat 3: Brandon Steven (571,000)
Seat 4: Leo Fernandez (704,000)
Seat 5: Erik Seidel (632,000)
Seat 6: Tom Marchese (728,000)
Seat 7: Empty
Seat 8: Empty

The $25,000 High Roller finale is set to resume at 12 P.M. EST Sunday. The PokerNews Live Reporting Team will be there to capture all the action and eliminations, so sure to follow along and see who will win the $1,072,850 first-place prize.

Rob Akery Eliminated in 13th Place ($73,990)

Level 20 : 8,000/16,000, 2,000 ante

Rob Akery, who was crippled just a moment ago, moved all in under the gun for his last 47,000 and was called by Will Molson in the small blind.

Akery: {A-Diamonds}{7-Diamonds}
Molson: {K-Hearts}{10-Clubs}

The board ran out {K-Diamonds}{7-Clubs}{8-Spades}{10-Diamonds}{Q-Clubs} and Molson eliminated Akery as the night came to an end. Akery finished in 13th place and will take home $73,990 for his efforts.

Tags: Rob AkeryWill Molson

Lady Luck Favors Baker on the River

Level 20 : 8,000/16,000, 2,000 ante

David "Bakes" Baker raised to 35,000 under the gun only to be reraised to 88,000 by Rob Akery in the small blind. Baker proceeded to move all in for 476,000 and Akery called.

Baker: {A-Diamonds}{Q-Spades}
Akery: {A-Hearts}{K-Spades}

Baker's tournament life was at stake and he was in bad shape. The {A-Clubs}{10-Hearts}{6-Hearts} flop left him in want of a queen, which was not delivered on the {9-Spades} turn. It was down to the river for Baker. In a long night that has been filled with ups and downs, it was no surprise to see the {Q-Hearts} hit the river! Baker hit his card to double to 977,000 while Akery was left with just 15,000.

Tags: David BakerRob Akery

Six More Hands

Level 20 : 8,000/16,000, 2,000 ante

Tournament officials just announced that the remaining players will play six more hands and then stop for the night. They will then return at Noon to play down to a winner.

"Do I Want to be a Hero?"

Level 20 : 8,000/16,000, 2,000 ante

Max Lykov raised under the gun to 33,000 preflop and was called by Matt Affleck in the big blind. The flop came down {J-Spades}{5-Spades}{9-Clubs} and Affleck check-called a bet of 36,000 from Lykov. When the dealer burned and turned the {4-Spades}, Affleck check-called another bet, this time 87,000.

The {8-Diamonds} peeled off on the river and again Affleck checked. Lykov took the opportunity to move all in for 286,000 and Affleck hit the tank.

After a good amount of time, Affleck stated, "This could be the biggest call I've made in my life." Affleck tanked some more, asking aloud, "Do I want to be a hero?"

Eventually the clock was called and the floor counted down. With just seven seconds left, Affleck announced a call and was dejected when Lykov turned over {Q-Spades}{8-Spades} for a flush. Affleck dropped to 110,000 after the hand while Lykov doubled to 890,000.

Tags: Matt AffleckMax Lykov

Seidel Goes to Value Town

Level 20 : 8,000/16,000, 2,000 ante

Action folded to Rob Akery in the small blind and he limped to Erik Seidel in the big. Seidel opted to exercise his option with a raise to 51,000, which Akery called.

Akery check-called a bet of 40,000 on the {K-Diamonds}{A-Clubs}{Q-Spades} flop and then both players proceeded to check the {A-Spades} turn. When the {2-Hearts} peeled off on the river, Akery again checked, Seidel bet 115,000, and Akery called. Seidel tabled {A-Hearts}{2-Spades} for a full house and Akery mucked.

Seidel is up to 610,000 while Akery dropped to 670,000.

Tags: Rob AkeryErik Seidel

Fernandez's Queens Get the Job Done

Level 20 : 8,000/16,000, 2,000 ante

Action folded to Leo Fernandez on the button and he raised to 41,000. Matt Affleck was next to act in the small blind and reraised to 101,000. The big blind folded and Fernandez moved all in for 328,000. Affleck called and the cards were flipped up:

Affleck: {A-Hearts}{10-Spades}
Fernandez: {Q-Diamonds}{Q-Clubs}

The board ran out {J-Hearts}{3-Hearts}{K-Clubs}{J-Spades}{8-Hearts} and Fernandez doubled to 678,000 while Affleck dropped to 555,000.

Tags: Leo FernandezMatt Affleck

Ravi Raghavan Eliminated in 14th Place ($73,990)

Level 20 : 8,000/16,000, 2,000 ante

Action folded to Ravi Raghavan in the small blind and he shoved all in for 234,000. Matt Affleck was in the big blind and made the call.

Raghavan: {A-Clubs}{Q-Clubs}
Affleck: {8-Diamonds}{8-Spades}

We've seen a lot of pocket eights as of late, which turned out to be good in this particular hand considering the flop fell {10-Clubs}{8-Clubs}{3-Diamonds}; however, Raghavan did pick up a flush draw. The {4-Spades} was no help to Raghavan and he needed a non-three or four club on the river. It was not meant to be though as the {10-Hearts} gave Affleck a boat and the pot, bringing him up to 925,000.

Raghavan was eliminated from the PokerStar Caribbean Adventure in 14th place and earned $73,990 for his efforts.

Tags: Matt AffleckRavi Raghavan

Level: 20

Blinds: 8,000/16,000

Ante: 2,000