$100,000 Super High Roller Day 1 | 2016 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure

01-06-2016 22:31 UTC-4

Shakerchi Leads Surviving 32 Players; Petrangelo & Lehne Hot on His Heels

Chad Holloway

Level 8 : 2,500/5,000, 500 ante

Today, the 2016 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure officially kicked off with the $100,000 Super High Roller. The tournament attracted 43 of the world's best players, who accounted for six reentires, to the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island in the Bahamas. That number is sure to grow as late registration is open until the start of play on Day 2.

After eight one-hour levels of play, just 32 players survived the night with 2013 EPT London High Roller champ Talal Shakerchi and his stack of 805,000 leading the way. Others who bagged big stacks include Nick Petrangelo (800,000), Kathy Lehne (783,000), David Peters (772,000), and reigning World Series of Poker Main Event champ Joe McKeehen (732,000).

The day kicked off with an early elimination, that of Bill Perkins. The businessman would reenter, bust again, and then do it one more time before calling it a day. Perkins was active throughout, which included mixing it up with big stacks Shakerchi and Lehne. It happened in Level 6 (1,500/3,000/400) when Perkins opened for 8,500 under the gun and Shakerchi just called from the button. Lehne came along from the small blind, Peters did the same from the big, and four players took a flop of .

Lehne led out for 15,000, Peters folded, and Perkins raised to 40,000. Shakerchi just flatted, Lehne did the same, and the three players saw the appear on the turn. Lehne checked, Perkins bet 80,000, and both his opponents called to see the river, which they all checked. Lehne tabled the for a missed straight draw that turned into two pair, Perkins mucked, and then Shakerchi rolled over the for the win.

Perkins went on to bust the tournament for a third time – the result of a terrible river card – and stated he would fire a fourth and final bullet on Day 2.

While a handful of players fell, plenty more advanced to Day 2 including Ankush Mandavia (616,000), Mike "Timex" McDonald (456,000), Erik Seidel (360,000), defending champ Steve O'Dwyer (302,000), and Team PokerStars Pros Vanessa Selbst (531,000), Jason Mercier (299,000) and Daniel Negreanu (185,000).

Among those to fall on Day 1 and not return (though they still have the option to reenter) were Isaac Baron, JC Alvarado, Antonio Esfandiari, Thomas Muehloecker, Ole Schemion, and both Mustapha Kanit and Justin Bonomo, who were literally eliminated at the same time on the last hand of the night.

The $100,000 Super High Roller is part of the overall nine-day PCA 2016 festival, which will feature 104 events including the PCA 2016 Main Event on January 8; a $50k One-Day High Roller Single Reentry on January 9; and a three-day $25k High Roller on January 12. The PokerNews Live Reporting Team will be there to cover each of those events.

Day 2 of the $100,000 Super High Roller will kick off at Noon local time on Thursday. Who will add their name to the prestigious list of PCA $100K champs which includes Steve O'Dwyer (2015 - 66 entries - $1,872,580 top prize), Fabian Quoss (2014 - 46 entries - $1,629,940 top prize), Scott Seiver (2013 - 47 entries - $2,003,480 top prize), Viktor Blom (2012 - 30 entries - $1,254,400 top prize), and Eugene Katchalov (2011 - 38 entries - $1,500,000 top prize)?

Be sure to check back tomorrow as the quest continues. In the meantime, check out this video on things to do when it's rainy in the Bahamas:

Tags: Talal Shakerchi

01-06-2016 21:59 UTC-4

Reigning GPI Player of the Year Sent to the Rail

Chad Holloway

Level 8 : 2,500/5,000, 500 ante

Byron Kaverman, who talked to us earlier today about winning the GPI Player of the Year, was just eliminated at the hands of Team PokerStars Pro Daniel Negreanu.

It happened when Kaverman open-shipped the button for roughly 75,000 and Negreanu three-bet all in over the top from the small blind. Mike "Timex" McDonald folded from the big and it was off to the races.

Negreanu:
Kaverman:

Kaverman was looking to hold, but that proved easier said than done as the flop paired Negreanu. Neither the turn nor river helped Kaverman, and he made a late exit from the tournament.

Player	Chips	Progress
Daniel Negreanu	195,000 96,000	96,000

Byron Kaverman	Busted

Tags: Daniel Negreanu Byron Kaverman

01-06-2016 21:34 UTC-4

No Seven from Heaven for Holz

Chad Holloway

Level 8 : 2,500/5,000, 500 ante

Fedor Holz, who is just days removed from winning the Triton Super High Roller $200,000 Cali Cup for $3,463,000, was just eliminated at the hands of Team PokerStars Pro Jason Mercier.

It happened when Holz shoved all in for his last 63,000 from the cutoff and Mercier moved all in over the top from the button. The blinds both folded and Holz discovered the bad news.

Mercier:
Holz:

Holz was in big trouble, and the flop didn't provide him much help. The turn gave him a gutshot, but it proved a moot point when an blanked on the river.

Something tells us we'll see Holz back in action, if not yet today then tomorrow.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jason Mercier	285,000 28,500	28,500

Fedor Holz	Busted

Tags: Jason Mercier Fedor Holz

01-06-2016 20:52 UTC-4

Zinno Busts with Queens

Happy_Freaked

Level 7 : 2,000/4,000, 500 ante

We spoke to Anthony Zinno who recently busted, and he shared with us the details of his elimination hand.

It was Erik Seidel who raised from early position to 10,000 and Nick Petrangelo made the call from the small blind. Zinno three-bet from the big blind to 41,000 and Seidel came back over the top to 75,000. Petrangelo folded and Zinno moved all in for 160,000.

Seidel called, and the showdown went as following.

Seidel:
Zinno:

The board ran out and Zinno's tournament ended as Seidel hit a straight on the river.

Player	Chips	Progress
Anthony Zinno	Busted

Tags: Anthony Zinno Erik Seidel Nick Petrangelo

01-06-2016 20:48 UTC-4

"See You Guys Tomorrow"

Chad Holloway

Level 7 : 2,000/4,000, 500 ante

That's what Bill Perkins told the table after busting this tournament for the third time today.

Perkins was the first player eliminated, promptly rebought, and busted again. He hoped the third time would be the charm, but alas a nasty river card showed that today truly is not his day.

It happened when Steve O'Dwyer raised to 9,000 under the gun and Perkins, who was to his direct left, three-bet jammed for his last 24,500. Action folded back to O'Dwyer, who called.

O'Dwyer:
Perkins:

Perkins was a heavy favorite, and his kicker kept him out in front when the flop paired both players. The turn was of no consequence, but the river was. O'Dwyer spiked his card and Perkins was out.

"The power of Steve O'Dwyer," Perkins said with a smile before informing everyone that he would fire a fourth bullet tomorrow (remember, late registration is open until the start of play on Day 2).

Player	Chips	Progress
Steve O'Dwyer	375,000 25,000	25,000

Bill Perkins	Busted

Tags: Bill Perkins Steve O'Dwyer

01-06-2016 20:23 UTC-4

Visualization, Skill to Give Alvarado Edge Versus Busquet

mnuwwarah

Level 7 : 2,000/4,000, 500 ante

When the Ultimate Fighting Championship, the most well-known mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion in the world, kicked off way back in 1993, it essentially served as a marketing tool for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu when Royce Gracie ran roughshod over a series of larger, stronger competitors using his family's now-famous art.

Twenty-three years later, JC Alvarado hopes the result will be much the same when he fights the much larger Olivier Busquet in a six-figure match slated for some time around late April.

The two agreed to meet in combat after Busquet put out a call on Twitter looking for an opponent. Alvarado answered the call, and details were worked out. The fight is scheduled for four five-minute rounds under standard MMA rules, with a fifth round possible if both combatants are tied in the eyes of the judges. Busquet must weigh in at 187.5 pounds, while Alvarado must make 165.

On the surface, one might expect Busquet to be the favorite due to a clear size advantage, but it's Alvarado putting up $150,000 against Busquet's $120,000. That's because of a perceived skill gap between the two that tilts strongly in Alvarado's favor, as he has trained in the past, while Busquet is a relative neophyte.

"I've been going to the MMA gym since 2011," Alvarado said of his experience. "I was never consistent enough to get really good at it. I competed once in a jiu-jitsu tournament. That's my only competition, so I'm still fairly beginner level."

Alvarado took time out of training to head to the Bahamas for PokerStars Carribbean Adventure. His first foray onto the felt at PCA was short-lived, as he busted out of the $100,000 Super High Roller when he shoved a short stack over some action in front of him with jacks and ran into the kings of Cary Katz.

Is the time away from the MMA gym going to hinder Alvarado? Perhaps not, if the MMA enthusiast is to be believed. He can actually tap into one his biggest edges, he believes, without even setting foot on a mat.

"I think my edge is in the fact that I understand the game a lot better than he does, so I know how to train," Alvarado said. "Something that happens when you don't know the game is you can't visualize situations that can occur during the fight and visualize your way out of those situations. I'm thinking about it all the time."

Many athletes in the past have gone on the record about how visualization helps them succeed, so Alvarado would be no different in that respect. When it comes to the nitty gritty of actually getting into the cage and matching his skills against Busquet's, though, he likes his chances in the technical aspects of the sport as well.

In particular, as Gracie demonstrated all those years ago, having a sizable edge in the grappling department can be an obstacle that's nearly impossible to overcome since most fights wind up on the ground.

"Most likely, I'll be able to get him down, and then it'll be strength against technique," Alvarado said. "There's just no way he'll learn proper technique in six months, it's really impossible. He'll have to power through my ground game."

While Alvarado does feel he has an edge despite what he termed a fair line at the time the match was set, a Busquet victory can in no way be ruled out. Busquet is a noted athlete who excelled in track and basketball growing up, and good athletes can grasp MMA quickly and make big skill leaps, a fact Alvarado acknowledged.

"After six months, who knows, some people can get really good," he said. "But I know I'm training well. If I started off with an advantage in skill, six months later I'll still have an advantage in skill."

Tags: Cary Katz JC Alvarado Olivier Busquet

01-06-2016 19:05 UTC-4

Vogelsang Takes His Time to Best Stern

Happy_Freaked

Level 5 : 1,200/2,400, 300 ante

Anton Astapau raised to 4,800 and Christoph Vogelsang called, opening up the possibility of a rematch between the two, but both blinds, Team PokerStars Pro Daniel Negreanu and Dani Stern, made the call.

The flop brought out and all four players checked after which the turn brought the .

Negreanu bet 12,500 from the small blind and Stern, from his direct left, raised it up to 36,000. Astapau folded and Vogelsang tanked for quite some time before making the call, and Negreanu sighed as he folded right away.

The river brought the and Stern checked to Vogelsang who bet 66,000 after quite a bit of tanking.

Stern eventually folded, and Vogelsang took down this hefty pot.

"Do you know how long you thought before betting?" Negreanu asked Vogelsang.

After a pause, Vogelsang said, "Three minutes and 25 seconds?"

Negreanu laughed and said it was two minutes and 10 seconds, and he added that he couldn't think of a single hand he would have to tank this long with.

Player	Chips	Progress
Christoph Vogelsang	545,000 105,000	105,000
Dani Stern	244,000
Daniel Negreanu	192,000 97,000	97,000

Tags: Anton Astapau Christoph Vogelsang Dani Stern

01-06-2016 17:40 UTC-4

Aces Versus Kings in the Never Ending Hand

Chad Holloway

Level 4 : 1,000/2,000, 300 ante

As Level 4 wound down, a big hand took place between online star Christoph "Tight-Man1" Vogelsang and GPI Player of the Year Byron Kaverman, one that lasted an awful long time.

It began when Vogelsang raised to 5,200 from the hijack and Kaverman took his time before three-betting to 13,500 from the cutoff. The button and both blinds all folded, Vogelsang thought for nearly two minutes before four-betting to 38,500, and Kaverman thought for an equal amount of time before making the call.

The flop saw Vogelsang think for awhile before betting 28,000, and Kaverman tank-called. The time taken for each decision would continue to increase on subsequent streets. For instance, both players checked the turn, but not before taking 90 seconds to do so.

When the completed the board on the river, Vogelsang waited nearly two minutes before checking, and Kaverman waited the same before betting 107,000. Vogelsang then paused for a minute or two before stacking all but one of his chips — a single T100 chip capping his cards — and slid them in for an all-in check-raise to 130,400.

The dealer then instructed him to put in the remaining 100, which brought the total up to 130,500. Kaverman thought for a minute before making the call, and Vogelsang tabled the . Kaverman shook his head and showed the before watching the pot pushed to his opponent.

Player	Chips	Progress
Christoph Vogelsang	425,000 210,000	210,000
Byron Kaverman	100,000 -220,000	-220,000

Tags: Byron Kaverman Christoph Vogelsang

01-06-2016 17:12 UTC-4

Kaverman Not Looking to Repeat as GPI King

mnuwwarah

Level 4 : 1,000/2,000, 300 ante

Career years are, by definition, outliers, usually born of a convergence of good fortune and peaking abilities.

If 2015 was Byron Kaverman's career year, it was an impressive one indeed, as he put up $3.4 million in cashes, more than double his previous best year, 2014. Furthermore, Kaverman accumulated enough results to top the Global Poker Index rankings and take home GPI Player of the Year. He edged out fellow Americans Anthony Zinno, Steve O'Dwyer, and Nick Petrangelo for the honors.

"It was a pretty rewarding feeling," Kaverman said. "It was fun competing with guys like Anthony and Steve. We all wanted to win, and they had tremendous years as well. They probably did better than I did, money-wise. We were all friendly about it, and it made for a cool competition."

Though being at the summit of the profession is on the mind of any top tournament player, Kaverman said one tour stop in particular changed the course of his year and really set him on a mission. At European Poker Tour Barcelona in late August, Kaverman put together a string of cashes with ninth in the €50,000 Super High Roller for €123,600, seventh in a €5,200 Hyper Turbo side event for €23,680, and 38th in the €10,300 High Roller for €24,600.

Those cashes pushed Kaverman to third in the GPI rankings after a summer that saw him claim his first World Series of Poker gold bracelet and more than $650,000 in prize money for winning the prestigious $10,000 Six-Max Championship. At that point, he decided to go for it.

"I only planned on playing Barcelona and Vegas stuff this fall," he said. "I made [GPI Player of the Year] a goal after Barcelona to really go for it. I put a lot of time and effort into traveling and playing a lot of tournaments that would qualify. To be fortunate enough to get there was a good feeling."

Still, the grind took a bit of a toll on Kaverman, as it involved constant travel as he pushed himself to accumulate as many points as possible. He was rewarded when he shipped the €10,300 High Roller at EPT Malta for $430,800, and he hung on to the top spot despite O'Dwyer taking down the €50,000 High Roller at EPT Prague.

"I went from Vegas to Prague to Florida and back to Vegas," Kaverman said of his journeys. "I wouldn't say burned out, but I was definitely pretty tired when it came to mid-December. It's definitely not something I'm going to be going for this year."

Kaverman is nonetheless off to a good start in 2016 as he has increased his starting stack of 250,000 to about 320,000 at first break of the $100,000 Super High Roller at PokerStars Caribbean Adventure. He has done so despite grinding at a six-handed table against the likes of Jason Koon, Christoph Vogelsang, Stephen Chidwick, Dani Stern, and Anton Astapau.

"I got here a little late, but I'm excited for this one," Kaverman said of his first big tournament of 2016. "Everyone [at my table] is very good, but we're having a good time chatting it up."

Tags: Byron Kaverman

01-06-2016 16:14 UTC-4

PCA Retrospective: From Bubble To Champion, Redemption for Seiver in 2013

donpeters

Level 3 : 800/1,600, 200 ante

Scott Seiver's $100,000 entry in 2012 didn't work despite the player putting in three days of work. After earning the unwanted title of "bubble boy," Seiver was back in the action the following year and looking to reach the money. After Day 1, he trailed only Philipp Gruissem on the leaderboard, and the final number of entries came in at 59.

With a prize pool over $5.724 million, the top eight spots were planned to pay out. First place was over $2 million, and Seiver found his way at the final table once again with the sixth-best stack. Antonio Esfandiari was eliminated as the "bubble boy" to end Day 2, meaning Seiver, and the others, had locked up at least $228,960 in prize money.

The action at the final table came fast and furious. On just the third hand of the day, the prior year's runner-up, Dan Shak, busted in eighth place. He was quickly followed out the door by Vladimir Troyanovskiy in seventh place and Greg Jensen in sixth place during the same level. Gruissem then busted in fifth place for $400,700 a little over an hour later and four players remained. Seiver had busted both Shak and Gruissem.

David "Doc" Sands maintained his chip lead for quite some time before Seiver finally edged him out with four players left. Then, Sands busted Cary Katz in fourth, and it was a neck-and-neck between Seiver and Sands while Nick Schulman, who finished fourth in 2011, brought up the rear. Eventually, Sands took out Schulman and entered heads-up play with the lead.

Sands quickly extended his lead in the match, but Seiver fought back until a big clash in Level 24 with the blinds at 100,000/200,000/30,000 saw Seiver get lucky and double. It was his pocket nines that were all in preflop against the pocket tens of Sands, but Seiver spiked a nine on the flop to take nearly a 6-1 chip lead. Shortly thereafter, Sands was eliminated in second place and earned over $1.25 million.

The $100,000 Super High Roller in running for the sixth time at PCA. If you enjoyed this look back in time at a prior year of the event, click here to read about the other years from our PCA retrospective series.

Tags: Antonio Esfandiari Cary Katz Dan Shak David Sands Greg Jensen Nick Schulman Philipp Gruissem Scott Seiver