Main Event: Mike Watson winner
The Main Event at this year’s PCA saw a decreased buy in compared to previous years, brought down to USD$5,300 to help it match up with other EPT Main Event buy ins. The field grew to 928 players in the end, with a whole host of pros and amateurs taking to the felt.
The final table was certainly exciting, as it featured Tony Gregg, making an astonishing third appearance at the PCA Main Event final table. Other notables were also present, in the form of Vladimir Troyanovsky, Phillip McAllister, Mike Watson, and Toby Lewis. The standard of play was outstanding from the final five, but eventually, Troyanovsky fell in 5th, followed by Lewis, and then McAllister in 3rd. The heads up battle lasted for some time, but eventually, Mike Watson emerged with the title and $695,325. They had struck a deal for the money during heads up play, meaning that Gregg took home $612,175.
Mike Watson – Photo Neil Stoddart courtesy of PokerStars
Antonio Esfandiari urinates into a bottle
By far the most curious sight on display during this Main Event, was the figure of Antonio Esfandiari doing enormous lunging strides wherever he went. Further investigation revealed that a prop bet was afoot, with Bill Perkins having bet Esfandiari that he couldn’t lunge everywhere for 48 hours. From this prop bet, sprang controversy during it’s second day, when Esfandiari was in desperate need of a rest room break, but couldn’t bear to be carried there by his burning thigh muscles. So, he urinated into a bottle, beneath the table, and promptly got disqualified for improper conduct at the table. He did however win the bet, and donated USD$50,000 to charity.
Antonio Esfandiari – Photo Carlos Monti courtesy of PokerStars
O’Dwyer wins the $50,000 Single Day High Roller, Brian Kenny the Super High Roller, Nick Maimone the $25,000 event
There were three events which fell into the High Roller category, with a $100,000 Super High Roller arriving first, and setting the stage for Bryn Kenney to shine. He outlasted 57 other players, and defeated WSOP Main Event champion Joe McKeehan heads up, to claim the $1,687,800 1st prize.
The $50,000 Single Day High Roller followed, and saw Steve O’Dwyer continue his good run of form, as he took 1st place, for $945,495 in a field with 58 unique entries. This follows his 4th place at the recent Triton Super High Roller in Manila, which netted him USD$953,700. Well known as a regular on the Asian tour, O’Dwyer now climbs to the very top of the global GPI standings – An accomplishment which any pro would be proud of.
Steve O’Dwyer – Mike Watson – Photo Thomas Stacha courtesy of PokerStars
The $25,000 High Roller event featured 173 unique entries, and it was Nick Maimone who emerged triumphant in that one, banking $996,480 in the process.
The EPT will arrive in Dublin on February 9th for the next stage.
Louis Hartwell
Graduated in Media Communication at the University of Lausanne, Louis Hartman is a co-founder of somuchpoker.com. He began his career in Cambodia as freelance journalist. In same time he was making his living by playing poker every night at that time. Intense learner, he read dozens of poker strategy books to improve his skills during many years. With a strong interest about poker "behind the scene" in Asia and his communication skills, Louis launched Somuchpoker in 2014.
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