Due to COVID-19, PokerStars needed to name off its annual PokerStars Caribbean Journey (PCA) poker collection within the Bahamas after 2019. It’s now again in motion, and the primary occasion has discovered a winner in Michel Dattani from Portugal.
A banner welcomes poker gamers to the PokerStars Caribbean Journey within the Bahamas. The conclusion of the primary occasion led to Portuguese poker participant Michel Dattani strolling away with greater than $1.3 million. (Picture: Felicity Value)
The primary occasion is only one of many causes poker followers descended on the Baha Mar Resort & On line casino in Nassau. With a $10,300 buy-in, it wasn’t low cost, besides for individuals who gained seats by means of satellites and different contests. It attracted 889 entries.
Two beginning flights and 5 days of card-flinging led to the ultimate desk and the eventual winner. Dattani wasn’t the one Portuguese participant to make it that far, however was the one one who would stroll away with greater than $1.3 million.
Woman Luck is Fickle
Pedro Neves, a fellow Portuguese poker professional with a gradual monitor document of cashes over the previous couple of years, was within the lead when the final six gamers took their seats. Others, like Justin Bonomo. Steve O’Dwyer, and Juan Juanda tried to run deep, however noticed early exits.
Going into the final day of motion, all six opponents have been pretty even with their chip stacks. Dattani was on the backside, whereas Neves was on the prime. Within the center have been Artur Martirosian, Christoph Csik, and others hoping the playing cards would fall of their favor as nicely.
It didn’t occur, although, as Canada’s Jamil Wakil would hit the rail first with a $307,500 prize. Csik was subsequent, choosing up $399,800. Alexandre Raymond fell subsequent. He added $519,600 in his largest money so far.
That left Martirosian and the 2 Portuguese gamers. Taking part in for Russia, Martirosian was on a quest to be a European Poker Tour principal occasion and a PCA principal occasion winner. However he bumped into bother.
Within the small blind, he tried to seek out success with suited Q-9, however was bested by Dattani’s A-J after the board didn’t present any reduction. For his effort, Martirosian took residence $677,400.
It was now right down to Neves and Dattani, with the eventual winner out in entrance. They agreed to a deal that might give Dattani the lion’s share whereas the 2 performed for the scraps and bragging rights.
A-J appeared like a powerful hand for Neves, however it grew to become his final when it fell to Dattani’s suited A-5 that became a flush. Neves must accept $1.18 million as runner-up.
Greatest Win But
This was Dattani’s finest efficiency so far. He’s been on the worldwide poker scene since 2008 and has had success, together with a number of closing desk appearances. That is the primary $1M prize he’s taken residence. When he’s not enjoying reside tournaments, he’s a daily on-line grinder going by “FreelancerZZ.”
Dattani’s efficiency put him out entrance in CardPlayer‘s Participant of the Yr race with 2280 factors. That’s sufficient to place him in entrance of Justin Saliba by 245 factors. Saliba already has 4 final-table appearances this 12 months and may proceed to be a risk all season.
One other risk can be Paulina Loeliger, however for a unique purpose. The participant often known as “Poker Bunny” couldn’t pull a rabbit out of her hat to make a deep run within the PCA principal occasion, however was nonetheless as much as her outdated tips.
Loeliger has a historical past of flailing erratically when the playing cards don’t go her manner – suppose Phil Hellmuth, solely extra aggressive. Throughout the event, she solely made it to Day 3 earlier than failing with two pair towards a set, and her response was to attempt to scramble all of the playing cards and chips on the desk.
Poker Bunny enjoys being within the highlight, whatever the purpose. She admits that she likes to make use of her sexuality to succeed on the felt, though it fails far more typically than it really works.
Loeliger has gained $94,322 in reside tournaments over the previous 12 months, based on The Hendon Mob. Simply over a 3rd of that quantities to the entire value of the buy-ins. She’s additionally a daily on Hustler On line casino Reside. However based on information from the Monitoring Poker database, she has dropped $14K in 11 periods.
