2019 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure

$25,000 PokerStars NL Hold'em Players Championship
Day: 2
Event Info

2019 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
a5
Prize
$5,100,000
Event Info
Buy-in
$25,000
Prize Pool
$26,455,500
Entries
1,039
Level Info
Level
36
Blinds
300,000 / 600,000
Ante
600,000

Jacobson Doubles Through Soyza

Level 9 : 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

Michael Soyza and Martin Jacobson were heads-up in a pot with the board reading {k-Clubs}{8-Clubs}{4-Hearts}{9-Diamonds}. Soyza checked from under the gun and Jacobson fired out a large bet of 20,000 into a pot of around 15,000. Soyza called and the {j-Hearts} completed the board.

Soyza checked again and Jacobson shipped all in for 30,600. Soyza snapped him off but Jacobson turned over {4-Spades}{4-Clubs} for a set of fours. Soyza flashed {k-Diamonds}{j-Clubs} for two pair before his cards hit the muck and his chips were sent across the table.

Player Chips Progress
Martin Jacobson se
Martin Jacobson
WSOP Main Event Champion
WSOP 1X Winner
115,000 63,700
Michael Soyza my
Michael Soyza
32,500 -54,400

Tags: Michael SoyzaMartin Jacobson

Hinkle Takes Big Pot Over Cai

Level 9 : 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

Blair Hinkle had 8,500 in front of him in the big blind and was facing another raise from Shuize Cai in the small to 18,000. Hinkle peeled and the flop came {j-Hearts}{10-Spades}{q-Hearts}. Cai bet 22,000 and Hinkle called. Both checked the {2-Clubs}, bringing a {j-Clubs}. Cai checked and Hinkle bet 37,000. Cai thought a bit and folded.

Player Chips Progress
Blair Hinkle us
Blair Hinkle
WSOP 1X Winner
221,900 44,300
Shuize Cai cn
Shuize Cai
135,000 -53,000

Tags: Blair HinkleShuize Cai

Mercier Takes From Hissou

Level 9 : 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

Natasha Mercier raised to 2,500 in middle position and picked up one caller in Sirzat Hissou in the big blind. Hissou checked the {Q-Spades}{10-Clubs}{3-Diamonds} flop and called a continuation bet worth 2,500 before doing so again for 5,100 on the {J-Clubs} turn. After the {6-Clubs} river, Hissou checked once more and Barbour made it 15,100 to go.

Hissou gave it some thought and sent his cards into the muck to drop back to starting stack, while Mercier is slowly but surely closing the gap.

Player Chips Progress
Sirzat Hissou de
Sirzat Hissou
60,000 -12,400
Natasha Mercier lb
Natasha Mercier
55,000 16,600

Tags: Natasha MercierSirzat Hissou

K-Mart Cooler

Level 9 : 600/1,200, 1,200 ante
Kevin Martin
Kevin Martin

Nils Pudel opened to 2,500 in the cutoff and was called by Kevin Martin on the button along with the big blind. The flop came {q-Clubs}{10-Spades}{5-Spades} and the big blind checked to Pudel who continued for 5,200. Martin raised to 17,200 which forced out the big blind and Pudel tanked a bit before announcing all in for 60,900. Martin responded with a snap call and the cards were on their backs.

Nils Pudel: {5-Hearts}{5-Clubs}
Kevin Martin: {q-Diamonds}{10-Diamonds}

While Martin was confident with his top two pair, Pudel flopped bottom set to hold the lead. The {6-Spades} on the turn and the {9-Clubs} on the river did not improve Martin as Pudel scored a full double up.

Martin was left with around 17,000 and would go on to be eliminated just a couple of hands later.

Player Chips Progress
Nils Pudel de
Nils Pudel
130,000 66,500
Kevin Martin ca
Kevin Martin
Busted

Tags: Kevin MartinNils Pudel

Salsberg Doubles Through Baldwin

Level 9 : 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

Matt Salsberg just doubled up from the big blind through Eric Baldwin who was sitting in the mid-position.

Matt Salsberg: {j-Clubs}{9-Clubs}
Eric Baldwin: {a-Spades}{k-Hearts}

The board was {2-Clubs}{j-Spades}{a-Clubs}{k-Clubs}{8-Diamonds} for them both to hit a pair but Baldwin holding the higher pair. Salsberg picked up the flush draw and hit it on the turn but it also gave Baldwin two pair. No ace or king on the river ensured that Salsberg doubled up.

Player Chips Progress
Eric Baldwin us
Eric Baldwin
WSOP 2X Winner
161,000 -20,300
Matt Salsberg ca
Matt Salsberg
42,000 21,400

Tags: Eric BaldwinMatt Salsberg

Shakerchi Off to a Hot Start

Level 9 : 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

In the very first hand of the day, Dominik Nitsche pushed all in for 6,500 in early position and Nicholas Palma quickly moved in over the top for 15,100 on his left. Talal Shakerchi came into the day as the chip leader and made the call from the small blind to put both players at risk.

Talal Shakerchi: {a-Clubs}{j-Diamonds}
Nicholas Palma: {7-Hearts}{7-Clubs}
Dominik Nitsche: {a-Hearts}{10-Clubs}

The flop came {9-Spades}{6-Spades}{5-Hearts} to leave Palma in the lead with the only pair thus far. The {9-Hearts} on the turn changed nothing but Shakerchi managed to spike the {j-Spades} on the river to score the double knockout.

Player Chips Progress
Talal Shakerchi gb
Talal Shakerchi
Day 1 Chip Leader
448,000 22,700
Dominik Nitsche de
Dominik Nitsche
WSOP 4X Winner
WPT 1X Winner
Busted
Nicholas Palma us
Nicholas Palma
Busted

Tags: Dominik NitscheNicholas PalmaTalal Shakerchi

26 Buzzer Beaters

Level 9 : 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

The tournament director just gave the call to shuffle and deal, and it appears the event has closed registration with 1,040 entries, 26 of those having shown up new for Day 2.

Level: 9

Blinds: 600/1,200

Ante: 1,200

Welcome Back to Day 2 of the PSPC

PCA Trophy
PCA Trophy

It was a record-breaking opening day for the $25,000 PokerStars Players Championship that saw the field eclipse the 1,000 entry mark, making it the largest $25,000 buy-in event in the history of poker. While many players may have had different aspirations on Day 1 of this exclusive event, the goal will likely be the same when Day 2 gets underway...make it to Day 3.

With around 750 players bagging chips and late registration remaining open until the start of play today, the money bubble still seems to be far off in the distance. The tournament staff will come up with the official prizepool and payouts shortly after the action gets underway, but there will likely be upwards of $25 million up for grabs, a life-changing number for most players.

The most successful player through the first eight levels of play was Talal Shakerchi, who bagged up a whopping 425,300 chips. Shakerchi is widely regarded as a hedge fund manager but definitely won't shy away from battling with the big guys at the poker felt. He has partaken in many high-roller events in the past and his record shows that he is not to be taken lightly.

Some other notables to keep an eye out with healthy stacks heading into the second day of action include Dan O'Brien (301,200) Scott Margereson (221,600), Steven van Zadelhoff (210,000), and Kristen Bicknell (207,900).

There are still plenty of PokerStars Team Pros in the field looking to claim victory in one of their own tournaments. Jason Somerville and Lex Veldhuis have taken time away from the live game for quite some time but couldn't pass up the opportunity to play in this event. Leo Fernandez, Chris Moneymaker, Kevin Martin, and Jen Shahade will also return for Day 2.

The action is slated to get underway at 12 noon again with another eight levels on tap for today. There will be a 20-minute break after every two levels, with the final break of the day being 30 minutes. The blinds will begin at 600/1,200 and a 1,200 big blind ante, allowing any of those players still waiting to register to begin with 50 big blinds.

There will also be a livestream available on Twitch which can be accessed through the 'Livestream' tab. The hole cards will be on display with a 30-minute delay. And, of course, you can keep up to date with all of the action right here as the PokerNews live reporting team will be on site throughout the entire festival.

Tags: Chris MoneymakerDan O'BrienJason SomervilleKevin MartinKristen BicknellLeo FernandezLex VeldhuisPokerStarsPokerStars Players ChampionshipScott MargeresonSteven van ZadelhoffTalal Shakerchi