2016 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure

$5,300 Main Event
Day: 4
Event Info

2016 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
74
Prize
$728,325
Event Info
Buy-in
$5,300
Prize Pool
$4,500,800
Entries
928
Level Info
Level
35
Blinds
150,000 / 300,000
Ante
50,000

The Leonardo Pires Shows Continues Into Day 5 with 19 Remaining

Level 23 : 10,000/20,000, 3,000 ante
Leonardo Pires
Leonardo Pires

Day 4 of the 2016 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure $5,300 Main Event came to a close Tuesday night following the completion of another five levels of play.

Going back to Day 2 of the event, it's been the Leonardo Pires show. He finished atop the surviving 195 players at the end of action on Sunday, maintained that lead throughout Day 3 on Monday while the field worked its way into the money, and most recently finished with the largest stack after Day 4. Pires' style can best be described as unconventionally aggressive. He does a lot of interesting things when he's involved in a pot, but his play certainly doesn't lack excitement.

Pires bagged up 4.566 million at the end of Day 4 and finished with a healthy lead on top of the pack of the final 19.

Bunched in behind Pires were Randy Kritzer (2.385 million), Fabian Ortiz (2.309 million), Timothy Ulmer (2.2 million), Phillip McAllister (2.152 million), and David Eldridge (2.1 million).

When the day began, just 73 competitors remained from the starting field of 928. As the day wore on, the event lost Davidi Kitai (70th), Jeff Gross (68th), Shawn Buchanan (60th), Ramin Hajiyev (47th), Felipe Ramos (45th), Jonathan Jaffe (37th), Jason Koon (34th), John Racener (21st), and Jason Mercier (20th).

Mercier went out in the final level of Day 4. With the blinds at 10,000/20,000/3,000, Mercier moved all in from the button for about 345,000 after Ami Barer had opened to 45,000. Barer called with the {A-Clubs}{A-Spades}, and Mercier showed a crushed {10-Hearts}{10-Diamonds}. The board ran out {9-Spades}{6-Clubs}{2-Hearts}{A-Hearts}{3-Hearts}, and Mercier was gone with a $32,360 payday.

Barer went on to finish the day with 679,000 in chips.

Also remaining in the field going to Day 5 was Tony Gregg, a two-time final table player in this event. In 2009, Gregg placed second. In 2012, he took sixth. He bagged up 1.091 million after play on Tuesday, and we'll see if he can finally book the win in the event he seems to always perform well in.

Others who remained were Stephen Chidwick (1.428 million), Toby Lewis (1.396 million), Matt Waxman (1.228 million), Mike Watson (952,000), Vladimir Troyanovskiy (612,000), Fedor Holz (453,000), and Taylor Paur (400,000).

The final 19 players will return for Day 5 on Wednesday at 12 p.m. local time. The plan will be to make it down to the final table of six, but we'll see how that goes. As you've come to expect all tournament long, you can find continued coverage right here on PokerNews.com.

While you wait for Day 5 to begin, be sure to check out the following video where Sarah Herring calls the clock on three-time NFL Super Bowl champion Richard Seymour:

Tags: Ami BarerDavid EldridgeDavidi KitaiFabian OrtizFedor HolzFelipe RamosJason KoonJason MercierJeff GrossJohn RacenerJonathan JaffeLeonardo PiresMatt WaxmanMichael WatsonMike WatsonPhillip McAllisterRamin HajiyevRandy KritzerRichard SeymourShawn BuchananStephen ChidwickTaylor PaurTimothy UlmerToby LewisTon GreggVladimir Troyanovskiy

Jason Mercier Eliminated in 20th Place ($32,360)

Level 23 : 10,000/20,000, 3,000 ante
Jason Mercier
Jason Mercier

Jason Mercier shoved all in for about 345,000 from the button, and Ami Barer, who had opened in middle position to 45,000, snap-called.

Mercier: {10-Hearts}{10-Diamonds}
Barer: {a-Clubs}{a-Spades}

The PokerStars Team Pro was dead on the turn as the board ran out {2-Hearts}{6-Clubs}{9-Spades}{a-Hearts}{3-Hearts}.

"25K, here we go," Mercier said, indicating his plan to hop in the high roller. "Good luck."

Player Chips Progress
Ami Barer ca
Ami Barer
WSOP 1X Winner
1,150,000 410,000
Jason Mercier us
Jason Mercier
Busted

Tags: Ami BarerJason Mercier

Runner-Runner Royal

Level 22 : 8,000/16,000, 2,000 ante
Paul Tedeschi
Paul Tedeschi

A huge hand on the live stream saw an elimination and a sick showdown before the break.

Paul Tedeschi opened to 36,000 in middle position and got calls from Phillip McAllister (button) and Fabian Chauriye (big blind). Action checked to the button on the {q-Hearts}{8-Clubs}{4-Clubs}, where McAllister bet 48,000. Both of his opponents called, and it went check-check to begin fourth street after the {j-Hearts} hit. McAllister fired again for 136,000 and Chauriye called. Tedeschi shoved all in for 388,000 more, and both McAllister and Chauriye called. On the {a-Hearts} river, Chauriye came out firing into the dry side pot with 300,000. McAllister wasted little time before announcing all in. After a five-minute tank, Chauriye folded.

Tedeschi showed {q-}{q-} for top set on the flop, but McAllister's hand was far bigger. He had gone runner-runner for a royal flush with the {k-Hearts}{10-Hearts}, and Tedeschi headed for payouts.

Player Chips Progress
Phillip McAllister gb
Phillip McAllister
WSOP 1X Winner
2,700,000 884,000
Fabian Chauriye cl
Fabian Chauriye
851,000 -849,000
Paul Tedeschi fr
Paul Tedeschi
Busted

Tags: Fabian ChauriyePaul TedeschiPhillip McAllister

"Cant-Miss" PCA Treating Gregg Well Again

Level 22 : 8,000/16,000, 2,000 ante
Tony Gregg
Tony Gregg

Tony Gregg isn't known for consistently grinding all of the stops on the live circuit, but the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure certainly seems to suit him.

Back in 2009, he showed up at the PCA with one recorded live cash for $8,625 under his belt, though he was an experienced and respected online player under the moniker "wwwBTHEREcom." He promptly booked a second-place finish for $1.7 million, falling heads up to online qualifier Poorya Nazari, who won the largest first-place prize in PCA Main Event history at $3 million.

Three years later, Gregg found himself at the final table once again. This time, he finished sixth for $364,000 in a tournament eventually won by John Dibella.

Here in 2016, he's threatening a third final table appearance. With less than 40 players left on break after Level 21 (6,000/12,000/2,000), Gregg had amassed a stack of 805,000.

What makes him so consistently successful at PCA? He thinks some of his success here can be linked back to that first run in 2009.

"It's one of those things where PCA was my first big score, so I'm always going to have really positive vibes when I come down," he said, adding that it's an easy trek for him since he's from the East Coast. "It's so awesome to get out of the winter in the middle of January. So, I always just feel so good when I come down here. It's a can't-miss stop for me. "

If feeling good is the norm for Gregg at PCA, he might be described as downright stellar here in 2016. That's because a major lifestyle change stemming from a prop bet has him healthier than usual. Though he wouldn't reveal the exact amounts he stands to win or lose, Gregg said he booked a wager that he won't drink for the entire year, which he says is going "really well" so far.

Gregg recently moved tables and now finds himself seated with one of the chip leaders, Timothy Ulmer, on his left. That hasn't slowed him down so far, with Gregg taking a three-bet pot from Ulmer right before break, and Gregg said he likes his situation at this point in the tournament.

"I feel pretty good about my table," he said. "I've been here a little over a level now, and I'm just trying to let this happen and not really force anything crazy. I definitely think I can final table again."

Given his track record here, that's a tough thing to bet against.

Tags: Tony Gregg

McCormick Doubles With a Boat

Level 21 : 6,000/12,000, 2,000 ante
Martin McCormick
Martin McCormick

Martin McCormick, who became popular for his antics yesterday, is hanging around and doubled just before the break at the feature table.

He got all in with {q-}{6-} against {k-Hearts}{3-Hearts}. The board ran out {4-Spades}{6-Clubs}{5-Hearts}{6-Hearts} and was giving him a bit of concern as he had to avoid a two or a seven to stay in the tournament. His concern was gone once the river gave him a full house with the {q-Diamonds}.

After he won the hand, McCormick hugged Phillip McCallister who was sitting right next to him.

Player Chips Progress
Martin McCormick gb
Martin McCormick
244,000 -242,000

Tags: Martin McCormickPhillip McCallister

Lewis Doubles Through Tedeschi

Level 21 : 6,000/12,000, 2,000 ante
Toby Lewis
Toby Lewis

Toby Lewis just doubled up through Paul Tedeschi after the two players got all in preflop.

Tedeschi opened the action by raising to 26,000 from the button. Lewis was in the small blind and reraised to 75,000. Fedor Holz folded the big blind and it was Tedeschi's turn to act again.

He tanked for a few moments and then got all in with {a-Diamonds}{5-Hearts}. Lewis had {10-Clubs}{10-Diamonds} and doubled up when the board ran out {5-Spades}{k-Diamonds}{7-Diamonds}{2-Clubs}{6-Diamonds}.

Player Chips Progress
Toby Lewis gb
Toby Lewis
WSOP 1X Winner
EPT 1X Winner
710,000 335,000
Paul Tedeschi fr
Paul Tedeschi
370,000 -332,000

Tags: Paul TedeschiToby Lewis

Two Quick Doubles for Rocco, Isenthal on the Ropes

Level 19 : 4,000/8,000, 1,000 ante
Michael Rocco
Michael Rocco

Michael Rocco doubled up two times within the opening half hour of play on Day 4.
On the first hand, he was heads up with Fedor Holz on the river. The board read {q-Clubs}{9-Diamonds}{a-Diamonds}{8-Diamonds}{a-Spades} and Rocco went all in for his last 42,000.

Holz debated for a moment before calling with {a-Hearts}{10-Hearts} for trip aces. Rocco showed {q-Diamonds}{j-Diamonds} for a diamond flush and won the hand.

Shortly after that, Rocco shoved all in with pocket nines, {9-}{9-}, and Frank Isenthal called with {a-Clubs}{q-Spades}. The board ran out {6-Hearts}{7-Hearts}{2-Clubs}{j-Spades}{j-Clubs} and Rocco doubled up again. He is now sitting at over 400,000.

Player Chips Progress
Michael Rocco us
Michael Rocco
402,000 311,000
Fedor Holz de
Fedor Holz
350,000 -28,000
Frank Isenthal de
Frank Isenthal
51,000 -199,000

Tags: Michael RoccoFedor HolzFrank Isenthal

Mercier, Koon, Holz, and Gregg Among Those Returning for Day 4

Jason Mercier
Jason Mercier

Welcome back to Day 4 of the 2016 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure $5,300 Main Event. With 73 players remaining, the field is well into the money. Brazil's Leonardo Pires leads with 2.095 million, and he's got a nice lead over Phillip McAllister in second with 1.329 million.

Outside of those two competitors, the skillful and experienced group of Matt Waxman (949,000), Jason Mercier (704,000), Jason Koon (493,000), Fedor Holz (378,000), Shawn Buchanan (268,000), Stephen Chidwick (193,000), and Felipe Ramos (135,000) also remain.

Then you've got Argentina's Juan Pastor, and he's one to watch on Day 4. Last year, Pastor placed fifth in this event for $380,720. He'll come into today with 230,000 in chips, which is less than average, but he has experience going deep in this event on his side.

Similar to Pastor, Tony Gregg, who finished Day 3 on 590,000, has experience in this event, and he's definitely a player that knows how to crush the PCA Main Event. Gregg finished runner-up in 2009 for $1.7 million from a field of 1,347 players. In 2012, Gregg made his way back to the final table from a field of 1,072 players and took sixth for $364,000.

All of the remaining competitors have locked up a minimum of $10,840. After two more eliminations take place, they'll earn a pay jump to $12,880.

The cards will be in the air at 12 p.m. local time for Day 4, and the plan will be to play down to 16 players or as announced by the tournament staff at the beginning of the day.

Stay tuned to PokerNews.com for continued coverage.

Tags: Fedor HolzFelipe RamosJason KoonJason MercierJuan PastorLeonardo PiresMatt WaxmanPhillip McAllisterShawn BuchananStephen ChidwickTony Gregg