Super High Roller

"Amazing. I'm really happy. Actually, this is the first year that I'm playing almost full-time, live poker. I would say completely full-time. For the past months, I've been grinding really hard. I had some fortune here in Taipei recently at the APT where I won two trophies. Recently, I got second place. I think the last three heads-ups in a row, I got second place. One was APT Manila, one was a big one recently at USOP, also in the high roller, I got second. That heads-up lasted only one hand. So I was really hungry to win the trophy because obviously the money is amazing.", commented Verbruggen following his win.

"I feel very grateful, but it's an extra nice feeling when you win. Because the feeling I have now is pure happiness. I always say, when you're a poker player and you're really competitive, second place, it doesn't matter how you lose. If it was unlucky, if you were lucky, winning feels great and becoming second is just a tap away from that great feeling. So I'm really happy."

Following a thirteen hour grind, the PS Super High Roller games has finally crowned its newest champion with Netherlands' Tom Verbruggen reigning in all the glory. Verbruggen held through a wild roller coaster ride from nearly a forty big blind lead over the field, to down to three big blinds at one point. For his impressive display, Verbruggen earned the lion's share of the NTD 3,712,800 (~USD 114,190) prize pool at NTD 1,120,000 (~USD 34,445), and a career first Players Series trophy to pair it with.

Verbruggen entered the final round with a commanding lead yet set off to a rocky start. The Dutch regular missed to find any good spots and shot down to the bottom of the ranks as the payouts carried more weight. Verbruggen finally found some momentum four-handed, having bagged three consecutive double ups, giving him enough ammo to play postflop. A crucial pot against David Erquiaga saw his top pair hold up for the win, shipping him 70% of the chips in play. A truly amazing comeback, Verbruggen went on to close the final victory over a quick heads up duel against the Filipino pro for the title.

PS Super High Roller

Date/s: December 15-16, 2024

Buy-in: NTD 50,000 (~USD 1,585)

Guarantee: NTD 3,000,000 (~USD 92,270)

Entries: 85

Prize pool: NTD 3,712,800 (~USD 114,190)

ITM: 13 places

Final Table Results

David Erquiaga moved all-in for his last 2,525,000 with J♣ 3♠ and was called by Tom Verbruggen with K♣ 8♦ for a race.

Board 4♥ 5♣ 6♣ Q♠ 6♠ ran dry for both, sealing the win for Verbruggen with his king high. Erquiaga settles for a runner up finish for his efforts.

A limp pot between David Erquiaga and Tom Verbruggen dealt flop 5♥ 7♦ 8♣ . Action was checked round to turn J♥ , where Verbruggen led 450,000. Erquiaga made the call and put in a raise to 3,200,000 after Verbruggen pulled another 1,000,000 on river 2♥ . Verbruggen paid the price with bottom pair T♥ 2♣ and shipped the win as Erquiaga tabled king high K♣ 9♥ .

A limp pot between Tom Verbruggen and David Erquiaga saw the latter check jam 5,875,000 in on flop 7♠ 6♥ 4♣ after Verbruggen bet 300,000. Verbruggen surrendered and moved onto the next deal.

David Erquiaga has raised all-in five times in a row, earning him a minor boost as Tom Verbruggen continues to choose his spot wisely.

Action is down to heads up play with Netherlands' Tom Verbruggen stacking a 3:1 advantage against Filipino pro David Erquiaga. A NTD 1,120,000 (~USD 34,445) top prize is on the line, with both runners ensured at least a NTD 700,000 (~USD 21,530) payday.

Chip Counts

Meng Ling Lin moved all-in for her last 575,000 on the button and was called by both opponents. Action on board J♠ J♣ 7♦ 2♣ 6♦ was checked all the way to the river, where David Erquiaga led for 250,000. Tom Verbruggen opted out, revealing Erquiaga's two pair K♦ 7♥ , good against Lin's Q♦ 9♦ .

Tom Verbruggen limped on the button and David Erquiaga checked his option, revealing flop J♦ 7♠ 2♣ . Erquiaga checked to Verbruggen, who bet 275,000. Erquiaga raised it up to 600,000 yet folded after Verbruggen shoved all-in.

Tom Verbruggen opened 550,000 on the button and went on to continue for 375,000 on flop A♦ 3♦ Q♣ . David Erquiaga on the big blind, check raised to 975,000, and led all-in on turn 3♣ . Verbruggen called him down for his entire 6,125,000 with top pair A♠ 5♦ and was up against Erquiaga's pair flush draw J♣ 6♣ . River K♥ bricked out for the Filipino, earning Verbruggen over 70% of the chips in play.

After getting two steals through, David Erquiaga limp jammed on the small blind against Tom Verbruggen's 750,000 raise, and convinced the latter once more to surrender.

Tom Verbruggen defended his big blind against Meng Ling Lin's button open, and went on to check raise 1,600,000 on flop J♠ 8♥ 2♠ vs Lin's 50,000 cbet. Lin surrendered, extending Verbruggen's lead once more.

A blind vs blind battle saw Tom Verbruggen open 750,000, called behind by Meng Ling Lin. On board J♠ 9♠ 7♥ K♦ , Verbruggen barreled - 500,000 and 1,200,000, with Lin calling down both streets. Verbruggen fired a final 2,825,000 on river 2♥ and finally convinced Lin to lay it down.

David Erquiaga raised all-in on the small blind, and saw Tom Verbruggen muster up the courage to call off for his 2,650,000 stack.

Board Q♦ 3♠ 4♠ T♦ 5♠ missed to connect with either player, leaving Verbruggen's king high good for the take down.

Tom Verbruggen pushed for his last 1,350,000 on the button and was put to the test by Meng Ling Lin on the small blind.

Lin dominated, was in luck to flop two pair on A♦ 9♦ K♥ , turning the tables in her favor. The runout Q♣ 3♣ however, put Verbruggen back in the lead, earning the Dutch the full double up.

David Erquiaga put out 5,000,000 on the button, and saw Tom Verbruggen on the small blind call off for his last 725,000.

Running behind, Verbrugged managed to catch up on board 4♠ 2♣ 2♠ J♣ 8♠ to survive through.

Hongyu Huang open shoved 2,000,000 utg and was called by Tom Verbruggen right on the big blind.

A crucial flip, Verbruggen's pocket pair held on board J♣ 9♥ 5♠ 2♥ up until the river landed a Q♥ to give Huang the advantage. Verbruggen survived the damage but is crippled down to six big blinds.

Tom Verbruggen raised all-in on the small blind and was put to the test after Hongyu Huang made the call behind.

Dominated, Verbruggen was saved from a potential loss as board A♦ 2♥ 2♣ 8♠ J♥ ran a split pot.

Tom Verbruggen opened 400,000 on the button yet gave it up after Meng Ling Lin on the big blind made it 1,000,000 to go.

Tom Verbruggen opened 240,000 on the button and was met with a three bet to 600,000 from Meng Ling Lin on the big blind. Verbruggen answered with an all-in for 1,800,000 more, enough to convince Lin to let it go.

A limp pot blind vs blind rolled a flop of 5♠ 4♠ 2♦ . Yue Hin Lam led 100,000, called behind by Tom Verbruggen. On turn 9♦ , Verbruggen gave it up after being faced with a heftier bet of 450,000.

Tom Verbruggen opened on the hijack, called by Meng Ling Lin along with the big blind. Verbruggen continued for 175,000 on flop T♦ 6♦ 2♠ , with only Lin paying to see turn J♠ . Both checked it through to river Q♥ , where Verbruggen led a final 1,200,000. Lin put in the call and won the pot with two pair Q♠ J♥ , crushing Verbruggen's 5♦ 5♥ entirely.

Meng Ling Lin opened utg but gave it up after Tom Verbruggen pulled a 650,000 three bet from the small blind.

Action folded to Hyunsick Jang on the small blind, who raised to 200,000. Yue Hin Lam right behind, bumped it up to 500,000 and earned the pot straight away.

The next deal saw Lam limp three bet 880,000 on the small blind against Tom Verbruggen's 350,000 raise, and ship the pot once more uncontested.

Tom Verbruggen defended his big blind vs Hyunsick Jang's button open, and went on to check raise 375,000 on flop J♠ T♠ 2♥ . Jang continued to turn 6♣ and fired a bet of 500,000, checked to him. Verbruggen took a minute before deciding to lay to it down.

Eddy Cheng opened to 160,000 utg, called behind by Tom Verbruggen along with the big blind. Cheng continued for 175,000 on flop K♥ J♦ 8♦ and saw only Verbruggen pay to see turn 7♥ . Cheng checked, which prompted Verbruggen to bet 480,000, yet fold after his opponent came back with an all-in.

The esteemed PS Super High Roller games is down to its final nine players out of its 85-entry field with Netherlands' Tom Verbruggen leading the charge. Verbruggen delivered two busts in the last hour - Hungte Lee as the money bubble and Wei Jen Wang in 10th place, to come out on top of the field with 5,470,000 (91 BB) in chips. Each runner is now guaranteed NTD 113,000 (~USD 3,475) in winnings and a chance to bank the NTD 1,120,000 (~USD 34,445) largest payout on the list.

Players are taking a short break with play set to resume at 9:40 p.m. local time. Livestream is expected to be up and running by 11:00 p.m.

PS Super High Roller

Date/s: December 15-16, 2024

Buy-in: NTD 50,000 (~USD 1,585)

Guarantee: NTD 3,000,000 (~USD 92,270)

Entries: 85

Prize pool: NTD 3,712,800 (~USD 114,190)

ITM: 13 places

Final Table Chip Counts

Remaining Payouts

Wei Jen Wang pushed all-in on the button for his last 335,000 and was called by Tom Verbruggen right on the big blind.

At risk, Wang was left drawing slim right on the flop K♥ 7♣ Q♠ , with no help arriving on both turn 9♥ and river J♥ for his elimination.

Wei Jen Wang shoved for 395,000 from the big blind and was called by hijack raiser Tom Verbruggen.

Running as the underdog, Wang luckily caught up on board A♥ A♠ 6♦ K♣ J♥ and was spared from elimination.

Action folded to Hungte Lee on the small blind, who shoved 245,000. Tom Verbruggen found the call, putting Lee at risk right on bubble time.

Dominated, Verbruggen spiked the river on board 6♣ 5♦ 4♣ 6♥ 8♦ , eliminating Lee one spot shy of the money.

Wu Chiayun completed on the big blind and went on to check raise 200,000 on flop J♦ T♣ 5♠ . Preflop raiser Tom Verbruggen continued to turn A♦ , and snap called Wu's shove for 275,000.

Wu Chiayun 5♥ 5♣

Tom Verbruggen T♦ T♥

A one outer, Wu headed for the rails shortly after river 8♦ sealed his fate.

Anthony Li opened to 100,000 on the hijack and was met with a 325,000 three bet from Tom Verbruggen. Li answered with an all-in for 910,000 total, earning him the pot unchallenged.

David Erquiaga defended his big blind against Tom Verbruggen's button open, and check called another 55,000 on flop K♠ J♥ 2♥ . Both checked turn 5♥ through to river 3♠ , where Verbruggen bet a final 85,000. Erquiaga paid the price and mucked as Verbruggen flipped over midpair J♣ T♥ .

Tom Verbruggen defended his big blind against Anthony Li's cutoff open, and went on to check raise 160,000 on flop 8♠ 4♦ Q♣ . Li continued and called another 125,000 on turn 5♦ . On river 6♣ however, Li decided to fold as Verbruggen demanded for the rest.

Hungte Lee opened 40,000 on the button but quickly gave it up following a 145,000 three bet from Tom Verbruggen on the small blind.

With 100,000 centered around board T♦ 8♦ A♥ J♣ , Masataka Setoguchi made a go for it for 28,000 on the big blind. Tom Verbruggen behind put in a raise to 75,000, and pulled a final 125,000 on river A♠ . Setoguchi called the initial street but gave it up after Verbruggen proceeded with aggression.