Mike Watson: PCA 2016 Main Event champion

The PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA) Main Event is firmly established as one of the coveted titles in poker. It doesn't come easily; it attracts one of the crucial toughest fields within the game.

This week on the Atlantis Resort in Paradise Island within the Bahamas, Mike Watson, a 31-year-old professional poker player from St John's in Newfoundland, Canada, outlasted 926 players within the 2016 field, that's greater than 99 percent of it.

But then Watson, known by the moniker "SirWatts", faced down Anthony Gregg, a person who's nicknamed "End Boss".

Gregg, 29, from Columbia, Maryland, earned the nickname from poker peers who decided he was the hardest player in any field. He was on the PCA final table for the third time. Nobody else have been there greater than once. It was therefore perfectly fitting that Watson would have to defeat Gregg in poker's version of the myths of yore: SirWatts versus the tip Boss for the primary major title of the year.

At around about 11.25pm within the Imperial Ballroom of this sprawling resort within the Caribbean, Watson struck the general blow. SirWatts left the tip Boss slain. It earned Watson $728,325, taking his lifetime live tournament earnings beyond $9 million. It also happened a decade after Steve Paul-Ambrose won here, the person Watson considers his mentor.

"To be exactly ten years after Steve Paul-Ambrose won is a large coincidence," Watson said. "THERE HAS BEEN a time when four of us, including Mike McDonald, used to play online poker in his basement."

He added: "EVEN SUPPOSING I've had success up to now it feels great to win. It has been some time I final tabled any big tournament with nearly 1,000 players... The PCA is a brilliant event, it's usually had a large field and it's definitely up there with some of the prestigious events."

Mike Watson slays the dragon, gets the girl

For Gregg, it was another near miss within the tournament he continues to dominate. He was runner up before--to Poorya Nazari in 2009--and was sixth in 2012. But don't weep for him. He won $612,175 for second today and is now beyond $10 million in his career.

"It's a little of a bummer to not win for sure," Gregg said. "But I DO KNOW I needed to needed to run really expert simply to get here. I DO NOT know [what makes him such a success on the PCA.] I BELIEVE it's only one of these things - maybe there is something within the water. But it's usually this type of great begin to the year, and that i think I bring a large number of great energy over here, and that truly motivates me to play my best."

The formidable Tony Gregg

After playing late last night, the tournament resumed at 1pm today with six players--pretty much they all superstars. Then after completing the photographic formalities, they settled on the table behind the next stacks:

Seat 1: Mike Watson (Canada) 6,585,000Seat 2: Vladimir Troyanovskiy (Russia) 5,025,000Seat 3: Randy Kritzer (USA) 2,565,000Seat 4: Tony Gregg (USA) 5,690,000Seat 5: Phillip McAllister (UK) 3,040,000Seat 6: Toby Lewis (UK) 4,665,000

Final table players (l-r): Tony Gregg, Phillip McAllister, Mike Watson, Toby Lewis, Randy Kritzer, Vladimir Troyanovskiy

Randy Kritzer was the one recreational player some of the established poker sharks, but he had made a great job of having throughout the heads of even one of the most top tournament pros this week. It was hardly surprising. Back in Greensboro, N.C., Krtizer is a neurosurgeon, a natural within the high-pressure environment of the operating theatre, with much more than millions of greenbacks at stake.

The vacationing doctor was an admitted amateur, more acquainted with kitchen table games with buddies--"That was sandlot baseball and this was like they threw me into the arena Series," Kritzer said. It didn't mean he wasn't bitterly disappointed when his latest thrill ride came to a halt in sixth. "I'm sorry it's over," he said. "I TRULY just need to play more."

A crestfallen Randy Kritzer

Kritzer was the primary man out today, getting the last of his chips in with top pair--he held Q♠T♣ on a flop of 9♥6♦Q♥--but lost when Phillip McAllister's 8♠7♥ improved to a flush way to the 4♥ turn and 8♥ river. Kritzer earned $153,920 for sixth, and did his best to console himself with the cash. "I'm so let down at this time but I'll recover from it in a bit of bit, it has been an excellent experince," he said.

Randy Kritzer heads home on the end of a spectacular run

Kritzer's departure left Vladimir Troyanovskiy because the only player over 40 remaining on the final table, however the poker world has long been aware that this Russian can match any of the young guns for endurance, tricks and talents. In the beginning of yesterday, Troyanovskiy was a number of the short stacks, but doubled up twice to stick alive.

It gave him enough to cruise to the overall six, or even to take over the chip lead at one point in yesterday's late stages. "I wasn't terrified of anyone on the final table," Troyanovskiy said, but one suspects others wouldn't say the similar about him.

Troyanovskiy is a veteran of umpteen Super High Roller finals, but said that he considered his first appearance at a chief Event final bettered that you simply". need more skill mainly Event," Troyanovskiy said. "It's six days of poker. Within the High Roller you wish to have less skill."

It was all of the more disappointing for the person from St Petersburg that he couldn't get much going at his first Main Event final. He lost an important pot to Mike Watson and dwindled to about 2 million, only about six big blinds, after which defended his big ignorant of Tony Gregg's raise with 7♥3♥.

The disappointment hits Vladimir Troyanovskiy

When he picked up a flush draw at the A♣4♥8♥ flop, it gave the look of a great time to risk everything. Gregg's A♠Q♣ faded all of Troyanovskiy's outs, and that sent the overall Russian to the money cage in fifth. He won $207,940 this time around, but still seeks a massive title. He said he'll go searching for it on the Aussie Millions later this month.

Next stop Australia for Troyanovskiy

Toby Lewis doesn't yet have the similar string of live results as Troyanovskiy, but he does have an EPT title. He picked up his trophy in Vilamoura in Season 10 and therefore came to the general seeking the second one of his career, a feat achieved only by another player.

Lewis had already had a superlative tournament this week. He was the chip leader on the end of the hole day and then, like Troyanovskiy, recovered from a brief stack yesterday to visit battle today well stacked. But there'll always be plenty of flips if you want to need winning to move the entire strategy to the highest spot in a tournament reminiscent of this, and Lewis came out at the wrong side of a huge one against Gregg.

Lewis's A♥K♦ couldn't out-race Gregg's 9♣9♦ when the latter was facing elimination. It left Lewis short and shoving from the small blind with K♠9♠. Watson was lurking within the big blind with A♣J♦ and picked him off.

The run-out was cruel. Lewis hit a king at the turn to provide him hope, but Watson paired his queen at the river. It meant Lewis was out in fourth for $267,340 and the hunt for the second one title continues.

A king at the river ends Lewis's run

"I'm absolutely pleased with the way in which things went," Lewis said. "I played my best and tried to do in addition to possible...[The final table] was very strong. There has been just one amateur on the table and he knew what was occurring and was tough as well."

Lewis offered his way to the supporters who had railed him throughout and promised them a slice of his winnings after they hit the bars and restaurants tonight. "I WILL go have a couple of drinks tonight now and luxuriate in the win," he said.

Chris Moorman et al at the Lewis rail

The absence of Lewis meant that McAllister was the lone representative of the uk within the final three. Although relatively new to the live arena, McAllister, who plays online as "Grindation" from his home in Mexico, became an instant superstar this week when he played the hand of the tournament on Day 4.

McAllister already had an enormous stack when he managed to runner-runner right into a royal flush at the television table, after which find his opponent, Fabian Chauriye, betting into him. "IT IS SO rare to even get it and get it in this type of deep run for a large pot, it was great," McAllister said.

McAllister enjoyed every minute of his progress during the tournament, most of which he viewed from behind a monstrous stack. Or even when his run led to third--earning him $356,020, that is the most important score of his career to date--he remained upbeat. "IT HAS BEEN a perfect day, I mean I got $350K," he said. "IT IS A little bittersweet as it would've been nice to take the trophy home but I'm still happy."

Phillip McAllister: Vanquished in third

He actually got a little bit unlucky to not get the risk to play heads up for the title. Sitting with a stack of comparable size to Gregg's three-handed, he was bullied out of a pot by Watson's five-bet jam and lost a 3rd of his stack. (Watson played it beautifully; he had only king-queen.)

But then, after following contemporary trends to limp from the small blind, McAllister was delighted to look Watson moving all in from the massive blind. McAllister was massive along with his J♥J♦ compared with Watson's 8♣7♣. If the flop was cruel--T♣5♣7♠--the turn was crueller. It came 3♣ and Watson's flush signalled the top for McAllister.

"The table so was tough," he said. "I've never done anything like this. I'm lost for words."

On balance: Brilliant again for McAllister

With that, there have been two. And for all of the sensational talent of the glorious four who had just left, few would argue that a match between Gregg and Watson represented two of the very fiercest competitors in world poker.

When they went heads up, Watson held a lead of 17.7 million to 9.875 million. But never has it been more clear that two players respect one another's game completely than after they asked to take a look at the numbers and agreed on an equity deal immediately. It meant that Watson banked $695,325 and Gregg $612,175, with $33,000 still to play for.

Discussions begin...

...and quickly conclude with a handshake

There was no argument and no attempts to squeeze out a couple of extra dollars. Only a handshake after which a heads-up battle to figure out who would hoist the trophy.

Both players had both the chips and the sport to make for an additional epic heads up battle within the Bahamas. After the titanic struggle between Dominik Panka and Mike McDonald two years ago, there has been every chance things could go on forever. But because it turned out, Watson's momentum never deserted him, even through a few hard-fought hours.

Heads up between Gregg and Watson

Eventually, Gregg committed all his chips on a flop of 2♥8♥6♥ holding A♠8♣, which was top pair. But Watson had a huge draw together with his 7♥4♠ and collected much more outs at the 7♠ turn. The 5♥ at the river filled both his straight and his flush--and, more significantly, the title.

Mike Watson: Champion

That completes the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure for one more year, wherein Bryn Kenney won the Super High Roller, Steve O'Dwyer added another massive title, Nick Maimone won the $25K and another 100-odd players posed with winner's trophies (certainly one of them with dolphins too).

The European Poker Tour now heads to Dublin. Watson, meanwhile, heads back to Camelot, the beast slain.

PokerStars Caribbean Adventure $5,300 Main EventEntries: 928Prize pool: $4,500,800Places paid: 135

1 - Mike Watson, Canada, $728,3252 - Tony Gregg, United States, $612,1753 - Phillip McAllister, United Kingdom, $356,0204 - Toby Lewis, United Kingdom, $267,3405 - Vladimir Troyanovskiy, Russia, $207,9406 - Randy Kritzer, United States, $153,920*reflects a heads-up deal

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Read More... [Source: PokerStarsBlog.com :: PokerStars Caribbean Adventure]