2015 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure

Main Event
Day: 1a
Event Info

2015 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
k3
Prize
$1,491,580
Event Info
Buy-in
$10,000
Entries
816
Level Info
Level
32
Blinds
80,000 / 160,000
Ante
20,000

Nosebleed Cash Player Millar Bags Day 1a Lead

Level 8 : 300/600, 75 ante
Alex "Kanu7" Millar has early lead at PCA.
Alex "Kanu7" Millar has early lead at PCA.

Alex Millar raced out ahead of the field early on during Day 1a of the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure $10,300 Main Event and nobody was able to catch him after the eight levels of play wrapped up for the night. The British heads-up cash-game specialist known as "Kanu7" online finished with 169,100, good for a solid lead over the second-place stack of 145,200, held by another well-known online cash player, Dani "Ansky" Stern.

Millar and Stern led 139 survivors out of 220 registered players. Andrew Whitaker (108,700), Naoya Kihara (108,100), Jason Helder (99,500), Scott Seiver (86,500), Tony Gregg (84,800), Ankush Mandavia (80,000), Ole Schemion (74,300), Chris Moneymaker (65,000), Marco Johnson (54,000), Shannon Shorr (49,100), defending champ Dominik Panka (42,200), Daniel Colman (40,500), Vanessa Selbst (39,300), George Danzer (37,500), and Isaac Haxton (26,500) were also among those advancing to Saturday's Day 2.

Millar had the chip lead as early as Level 4 (100/200/25) when he was noted with about 65,000. He ran it up in part by torturing Sergey Pronin, first allowing Pronin to bet all three streets on a {q-Clubs}{q-Spades}{8-Hearts}{7-Spades}{k-Clubs} board with the {k-Spades}{8-Spades} only for Millar to show the {a-Clubs}{a-Diamonds}. Then, during Level 7 (250/500/50), Millar fired 9,000 into a pot of about 11,000 on the end when Pronin checked to him on the {a-Diamonds}{4-Clubs}{9-Spades}{10-Clubs}{5-Spades} board. Pronin called but couldn't beat his opponent's {a-Clubs}{q-Clubs}.

Stern grabbed an early double against Antonio Buonanno when Buonanno bet 2,500 from the small blind and saw Stern shove all in for 10,300 on the button. The board read {2-Clubs}{6-Spades}{10-Spades}{5-Clubs}{7-Spades}, and Buonanno thought for a couple of minutes, counting out his stack. He appeared to have about 31,000 behind the bet, and he softly announced a call.

Stern tabled the {9-Spades}{2-Spades} for a flush on the river, and Buonanno let out a frustrated sigh before counting out the requisite chips to pay Stern, who kept climbing from there and was the only one who really threatened to take over the chip lead from Millar.

Some players who failed to bag stacks included Jeff Madsen, Jean-Robert Bellande, Hans Winzeler, Brian Yoon, Michael Mizrachi, Fabian Ortiz, Emil Patel, Cliff Josephy, and Keven Stammen.

The PCA Main Event will resume at noon local time on Friday, when cards will fly for Day 1b. PokerNews will once again be providing live coverage, so be sure to return to follow all the live action straight from the tournament floor.

While you wait, check out this fun-filled video with Remko Rinkema trying out some local Bahamian rum at the John Watling's distillery:

Tags: Alex MillarDani Stern

Colman Doubles Through Nanos

Level 8 : 300/600, 75 ante
Daniel Colman
Daniel Colman

After a middle-position open to 1,200, Konstantinos Nanos made it 3,200 in the hijack and was called by cutoff Ankush Mandavia. Daniel Colman cold four-bet all in from the small blind for 17,375, and the opener got out of the way. Nanos shoved as well for 25,000, causing Mandavia to grin at the action and count out his stack. He looked to have in the neighborhood of 80,000, but he decided to let his hand go after a minute or so.

Colman: {a-Spades}{q-Hearts}
Nanos: {9-Spades}{9-Hearts}

The two were racing, and it was Colman coming out ahead as he paired his ace on the {3-Hearts}{j-Spades}{a-Diamonds}{j-Clubs}{4-Clubs} board.

Player Chips Progress
Ankush Mandavia us
Ankush Mandavia
WSOP 1X Winner
80,000 17,200
Daniel Colman us
Daniel Colman
WSOP 1X Winner
40,000 5,600
Konstantinos Nanos gr
Konstantinos Nanos
WPT 1X Winner
7,400

Tags: Ankush MandaviaDaniel ColmanKonstantinos Nanos

Gettin' Money

Level 6 : 200/400, 50 ante
Chris Moneymaker induced the bluff.
Chris Moneymaker induced the bluff.

Chris Moneymaker check-raised to 7,500 from middle position after the player to his left bet an unknown amount on a {3-Spades}{6-Diamonds}{q-Clubs}{a-Spades} board. Moneymaker's opponent called, bringing a {7-Diamonds} river. Moneymaker checked and quickly called 9,000 from his foe, and the player turned over {6-Spades}{4-Spades} for a pair of sixes and a missed flush draw. The former Main Event champ tabled {9-Spades}{9-Hearts} and took the pot.

Player Chips Progress
Chris Moneymaker us
Chris Moneymaker
65,000 20,300

Tags: Chris Moneymaker

Kruk Bluffs it Off to Selbst

Level 4 : 100/200, 25 ante
Vanessa Selbst let her opponent blast off his stack.
Vanessa Selbst let her opponent blast off his stack.

In a hand that stretched into the break, Vanessa Selbst had made it 1,500 to go preflop from middle position, and she saw Christopher Kruk reraise to 3,800 in the blinds. Selbst made the call, and she called Kruk's continuation-bet of 2,600 on the {q-Hearts}{4-Clubs}{q-Spades} flop. Kruk fired again on the {3-Spades} turn for 4,100 and was again called. He wasted no time shoving his last 7,550 in on the {2-Clubs} river, and Selbst immediately called.

Kruk showed down {a-Spades}{10-Spades} for ace-high, no good against the {k-Spades}{q-Diamonds} of the American star.

Player Chips Progress
Vanessa Selbst us
Vanessa Selbst
56,900 22,900
Christopher Kruk ca
Christopher Kruk
Busted

Tags: Vanessa SelbstChristopher Kruk

I'll Never Tell

Level 3 : 100/200, 0 ante
Lee Markholt at the 2014 WSOP
Lee Markholt at the 2014 WSOP

We got to the table on the turn with the board showing {7-Hearts}{5-Diamonds}{4-Diamonds}{A-Hearts} and Lee Markholt checking from middle position with approximately 2,500 already in the pot. Jeff Madsen made a bet of 1,325 and Markholt check-raised to 4,200. Madsen wasted little time in making the call.

The river was the {4-Clubs} and Markholt shuffled four green T25 chips quietly in his hand as he contemplated his next action. He grabbed three of those chips along with a few others and put out a bet of 10,175. Madsen looked at Markholt, puzzled, as he shuffled chips in his right hand rapidly. Madsen continued to stare at the board as Markholt sat calmly, his head resting on his right fist. Markholt leaned back, took a sip of his water, and then looked back down at the table.

Madsen shifted uncomfortably in his seat, looking as if he was in pain. He tilted his head, pulled out his earbud, and muttered under his breath something unintelligible to the rest of the table. He continued to look at the board and stopped shuffling his chips momentarily. He took the stack of chips and slapped them against the table and then looks back at his cards twice.

Madsen looked as if he was going to fold but then leaned in and stared at his opponent, hoping perhaps to get some kind of clue that would help him make a decision. Markholt decided enough time had passed and asked for a clock. The dealer yelled for the floor but before they could come over Madsen pushed his cards into the middle.

Madsen said something to Markholt who replied "I won't tell."

"Don't want to embarrass me," asked the frustrated Madsen as he let out a sigh.

"Never tell? One day?" Madsen added.

"Maybe one day," said Markholt, a sly grin coming over his face.

Player Chips Progress
Lee Markholt us
Lee Markholt
WPT 1X Winner
40,800 6,400
Jeff Madsen us
Jeff Madsen
WSOP 4X Winner
16,250 -5,650

Tags: Jeff MadsenLee Markholt

Welcome to the 2015 PCA Main Event!

Welcome to PokerNews live coverage of the 2015 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure Main Event!

We're here at the beautiful Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island in the Bahamas where all eyes in the poker world are on the premiere tournament that kicks off the poker year.

The PCA always brings in the big names for the Main Event and this year should be no different. Last year, Dominik Panka defeated Mike "Timex" McDonald heads up to win the first-place prize of $1,423,096. He bested a field of 1,031 entrants that included some of the biggest names in poker.

Among those likely to make an appearance in the Main Event this year are Team PokerStars Pros Daniel Negreanu, Jason Mercier, and Fatima Moreira De Melo. Those three will be joined by the likes of Panka, McDonald, Aaron Massey, Ole Schemion, Stephen Chidwick, Maria Ho, Joe Cada, and many others looking to put their name in the PCA history book.

Perhaps some of the celebrities here will take part in the Main Event. Among those in attendance are MMA fighter Tito Ortiz and PGA golfer Sergio Garcia. If either of those or any other notable name takes a seat you can be assured you'll be the first to know about it.

Players will start with 30,000 chips and play eight one-hour levels today. Cards will be in the air shortly. Stay tuned throughout the day for exciting coverage of the 2015 PCA Main Event!

Tags: Aaron MasseyDaniel NegreanuDominik PankaFatima Moreira De MeloJason MercierJason SomervilleMike McDonaldOle SchemionStephen Chidwick