2016 Super High Roller Bowl

$300,000 Super High Roller Bowl
Day: 4
Event Info

2016 Super High Roller Bowl

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
88
Prize
$5,000,000
Event Info
Buy-in
$300,000
Prize Pool
$15,000,000
Entries
49
Level Info
Level
27
Blinds
80,000 / 160,000
Ante
20,000

$300,000 Super High Roller Bowl

Day 4 Completed

Rainer Kempe Wins the 2016 Super High Roller Bowl for $5,000,000!

Level 27 : 80,000/160,000, 20,000 ante
Champion Rainer Kempe
Champion Rainer Kempe

Rainer Kempe's 2015 was a breakout year for the German upstart, but still not many knew his name. Now, thanks to a massive $5 million win in the 2016 Super High Roller Bowl, Kempe has claimed an unforgettable place in poker's history books.

The final day of play began with seven players remaining from a 49-player field. Everyone left was guaranteed an in-the-money finish worth at least $600,000 after Dan Smith bubbled on Tuesday night with an eighth-place result.

First to go was Dan Shak in seventh place, falling to Fedor Holz when his {K-Diamonds}{J-Spades} failed to come from behind against Holz's {A-Spades}{9-Diamonds}.

Next up was Bryn Kenney's elimination, also falling at the hands of Holz who held the {J-Diamonds}{J-Clubs} versus the {7-Hearts}{7-Diamonds}. Thanks to a run out of {A-Clubs}{9-Diamonds}{8-Clubs}{5-Diamonds}{8-Diamonds}, Kenney was relieved from the field in sixth place for $800,000.

Matt Berkey then hit the rail in fifth, becoming the first player to bust since the payouts reached seven figures. Berkey was one of the under-the-radar players on this event's roster sheet, but his performance and final-table run should make him much more of a notable name going forward. He busted to Kempe when his {A-Spades}{9-Spades} failed to win a flip against Kempe's {7-Diamonds}{7-Clubs}. Berkey scored $1.1 million.

At the point, Kempe had only increased upon the powerful lead he had when he entered the final table, moving over 8.3 million from busting Berkey and then flirting with 10 million. He did take a slight dip back during four-handed play, but thanks to busting Phil Hellmuth, Kempe moved back to 9.3 million.

For Hellmuth, he can only be proud of his fourth-place result. It's no secret that Hellmuth has a knack for holding onto a short stack, but having entered the final day at the bottom of the pack, his expectations were low. He was able to turn his run into a fourth-place finish worth $1.6 million, though, bowing out to Kempe when his {Q-Diamonds}{J-Spades} couldn't win against the {K-Diamonds}{J-Hearts}.

The second shortest stack to enter the final table was Erik Seidel, and, like Hellmuth, he held on for dear life as the others fell by the wayside. After he doubled through Holz to get back over 1 million, Seidel jammed in for 1.2 million from the small blind during the 50,000/100,000/10,000 level. He had the {A-Clubs}{7-Diamonds}, but was dominated by the {A-Hearts}{10-Diamonds}. The flop, turn, and river ran out {9-Hearts}{9-Spades}{3-Clubs}{A-Diamonds}{6-Diamonds}, and Seidel finished with a payday of $2.4 million.

For both Seidel and Hellmuth, their scores now stand as the second largest of their long and illustrious careers. Seidel also jumped from third to second on poker's all-time money list for live tournament earnings thanks to his finish. Hellmuth also moved up one spot, jumping from eighth to seventh on the same list.

Heads-up play was an all-German affair, with Kempe starting with 9.23 million to Holz's 5.47 million.

Kempe began by extending his lead, but then Holz doubled up before he worked his way into the lead. It was then turn for Kempe to double back in front before a couple more lead changes occurred.

Kempe was eventually able to grind Holz down and finish the deal when his pocket eights held against the pocket twos of Holz just before 1 a.m. local time in Las Vegas. And while Holz fell short of another huge victory, the $3.5 million he earned for second place will help keep a smile on his face.

PlacePlayerCountryPrize
1Rainer KempeGermany$5,000,000
2Fedor HolzGermany$3,500,000
3Erik SeidelUSA$2,400,000
4Phil HellmuthUSA$1,600,000
5Matt BerkeyUSA$1,100,000
6Bryn KenneyUSA$800,000
7Dan ShakUSA$600,000

With that, PokerNews' coverage of the 2016 Super High Roller Bowl has come to an end. Next up is the World Series of Poker just down the road, and we'll see if Kempe can add a gold bracelet to go along with his new gold ring.

*Photo courtesy of Joe Giron/PokerPhotoArchive.com.

Tags: Bryn KenneyDan ShakDan SmithErik SeidelFedor HolzMatt BerkeyPhil HellmuthRainer Kempe

Fedor Holz Eliminated in 2nd Place ($3,500,000)

Level 27 : 80,000/160,000, 20,000 ante
Fedor Holz - 2nd Place
Fedor Holz - 2nd Place

Fedor Holz raised to 400,000 on the button, and Rainer Kempe reraised to 1.2 million. Holz shoved all in for 4.38 million, and Kempe called immediately.

Kempe: {8-Diamonds}{8-Spades}
Holz: {2-Hearts}{2-Diamonds}

Holz needed a deuce, but none arrived on the {5-Hearts}{10-Hearts}{9-Spades} flop. The turn brought the {4-Clubs}, no help to Holz. The river was the {3-Diamonds}, and the two Germans shook hands as an explosion showered the stage with confetti.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Rainer Kempe de
Rainer Kempe
14,700,000
5,800,000
5,800,000
Profile photo of Fedor Holz de
Fedor Holz
Busted

Tags: Fedor HolzRainer Kempe

Holz Finds Three-Bet Success

Level 27 : 80,000/160,000, 20,000 ante

Two out of the past three hands have played the exact same way.

Rainer Kempe made it 400,000, then folded when Fedor Holz three-bet the big blind, making it 1.15 million.

As a result, Holz is, at the very least, staying in the match.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Rainer Kempe de
Rainer Kempe
8,900,000
-2,105,000
-2,105,000
Profile photo of Fedor Holz de
Fedor Holz
5,800,000
2,105,000
2,105,000

Tags: Fedor HolzRainer Kempe

Kempe Extends With Aces

Level 27 : 80,000/160,000, 20,000 ante

Rainer Kempe made it 400,000 to go and Fedor Holz made the call. Holz checked the {7-Diamonds}{10-Diamonds}{j-Clubs} flop and Kempe continued for 460,000.

Holz called and they both checked the {8-Clubs} turn. Holz also checked the {8-Spades} river, calling when Kempe bet 310,000. Kempe showed the {a-Spades}{a-Diamonds} and dragged the pot after Holz mucked.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Rainer Kempe de
Rainer Kempe
10,375,000
2,635,000
2,635,000
Profile photo of Fedor Holz de
Fedor Holz
4,325,000
-2,635,000
-2,635,000

Tags: Fedor HolzRainer Kempe

Level: 27

Blinds: 80,000/160,000

Ante: 20,000

Level: 26

Blinds: 60,000/120,000

Ante: 20,000