2011 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure

$25,000 High Roller
Day: 3
Event Info

2011 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
a5
Prize
$1,072,850
Event Info
Buy-in
$25,000
Entries
151
Level Info
Level
29
Blinds
60,000 / 120,000
Ante
10,000

$25,000 High Roller

Day 3 Completed

Congratulations to Will Molson, 2011 PCA $25,000 High Roller Champion! ($1,072,850)

Level 29 : 60,000/120,000, 10,000 ante
Will Molson - 2011 PCA $25,000 High Roller Champion
Will Molson - 2011 PCA $25,000 High Roller Champion

Will Molson, you can now take the monkey off of your back.

"No more second place," Molson exclaimed after winning. "Finally."

After finishing runner-up in the PCA $25,000 High Roller event two years in a row, Molson is now a champion after a little under eleven hours play here on Day 3.

The day started with 12 players and Jason Mercier was the chip leader with just over a million, but the chip lead changed hands numerous times before we reached a final table. Matt Affleck entered the day as the short stack and was the first to go when he jammed with {a-Hearts}{q-Spades}. Mercier called with {9-Clubs}{8-Hearts} and hit an eight on the flop to send Affleck packing.

Tom Marchese was next to go after he open-shoved less than 15 big blinds with {k-Clubs}{9-Diamonds}. Shander de Vries called with {5-Hearts}{5-Diamonds} and the nickels held on a jack-high board. Brandon Steven burst the final table bubble by busting in 10th place. Steven got his chips in drawing dead with {a-Hearts}{8-Diamonds} on an {a-Spades}{7-Hearts}{4-Hearts}{k-Diamonds} board. His opponent, Fernandez, held {a-Clubs}{k-Clubs}.

The average stack entering the final table was less than 30 big blinds, and within an hour we said goodbye to de Vries, Mercier, Matt Marafioti and David "Bakes" Baker in that order. Mercier couldn't get anything going and trended down the entire day until eventually he was short-stacked. He was under 10 big blinds when he shoved {q-Clubs}{6-Spades} from the small blind and Govert Metaal woke up with {7-Hearts}{7-Diamonds} and held.

Metaal could not parlay the knockout into further success however, and he was the next to go when he jammed with {a-Hearts}{3-Diamonds} from the hijack seat. Molson re-shoved with black jacks on the button and flopped quads for kicks and giggles.

Erik Seidel played well the entire day and was flipping for a huge stack during Level 25. Seidel's {a-Hearts}{q-Diamonds} was up against Molson's {5-Clubs}{5-Diamonds}, but the flop was jack-high and Seidel was eliminated.

Three handed play between Molson, Max Lykov and Molson was very slow, and the three chose to take a 60-minute dinner break at the end of Level 26. When they returned Molson started to get very aggressive and took the chip lead. He knockout out Lykov when the two got it all in preflop and Lykov's {6-Hearts}{6-Clubs} was dominated by Molson's {10-Diamonds}{10-Clubs}. Lykov flopped an open-ended straight draw but could not get there on the turn or river.

Molson entered heads-up leading Fernandez by a count of 5.8 million chips to 1.7 million, but Fernandez doubled early. He shoved with {2-Clubs}{2-Hearts} and Molson called with {k-Hearts}{q-Diamonds}. Molson took a commanding lead when the flop fell {9-Hearts}{q-Clubs}{a-Clubs}, but the {2-Diamonds} on the turn stole the pot away and kept Fernandez alive. Molson didn't quit though, and doubled with {k-Hearts}{j-Hearts} against Fernandez's {5-Spades}{5-Clubs}. A few hands later Fernandez four-bet shoved with {a-Spades}{3-Diamonds} and Molson snapped it off with {a-Hearts}{a-Diamonds}. He held and took back the chip lead.

Fernandez doubled one more time, but Molson finished the deed with {a-Diamonds}{5-Spades} against Fernandez's {j-Diamonds}{2-Hearts} and won the tournament.

No one would ever complain about two second place finishes for $550,000, but surely Molson was sick of coming in second place. Finally, on his third try, Molson shipped the PCA $25,000 High Roller and is surely off to celebrate now.

Congratulations Mr. Molson, the next drink's on you.

Tags: Will Molson

Leo Fernandez Eliminated in 2nd Place ($544,925)

Level 29 : 60,000/120,000, 10,000 ante
Leo Fernandez - 2nd Place
Leo Fernandez - 2nd Place

Leo Fernandez moved all in on the button for about 2,250,000 and after a deep sigh, Will Molson called.

Molson: {A-Diamonds}{5-Spades}
Fernandez: {J-Diamonds}{2-Hearts}

The flop came down {7-Clubs}{5-Hearts}{3-Diamonds}, improving Molson's hand to a pair of fives and moving him that much closer to the elusive win. The turn brought the {K-Hearts} and Molson quietly said to himself, "Please no jack."

The river? {Q-Hearts}! Paint, but safe for Molson.

Leo Fernandez earned $544,925 for his impressive runner-up finish.

Tags: Leo FernandezWill Molson

Fernandez Doubles, Still Short

Level 29 : 60,000/120,000, 10,000 ante

Leo Fernandez opened to 250,000 with the button and Will Molson moved all in from the big blind. Fernandez called.

Fernandez: {q-Clubs}{7-Spades}
Molson: {a-Spades}{5-Clubs}

The {7-Hearts}{6-Clubs}{k-Clubs} flop pushed Fernandez into the lead, but the {5-Hearts} on the turn gave Molson extra outs to catch up. The {4-Diamonds} on the river was a brick though, and Fernandez doubled to 1.98 million chips.

Tags: Leo FernandezWill Molson

Molson Rockets Into the Lead

Level 29 : 60,000/120,000, 10,000 ante

Leo Fernandez opened to 275,000 on the button and Will Molson three-bet to 620,000 from the big blind. Fernandez moved all in and Molson immediately blurted, "I call!"

Molson turned over {a-Hearts}{a-Diamonds} and had Fernandez's {a-Spades}{3-Diamonds} crushed.

The dealer flopped {8-Spades}{6-Diamonds}{j-Hearts}, which was a complete air-ball for Fernandez, and the {a-Clubs} on the turn ended the hand. The {8-Clubs} on the river gave Molson a full house just for fun, and he doubled to 6.9 million chips.

Tags: Leo FernandezWill Molson

Level: 29

Blinds: 60,000/120,000

Ante: 10,000

Fernandez Takes One

Level 28 : 50,000/100,000, 10,000 ante

Leo Fernandez raised to 250,000 on the button and Will Molson called out of the big blind.

The flop came down {A-Diamonds}{9-Hearts}{5-Spades} and Molson checked. Fernandez fired 250,000 and Molson called after a few moments, leading to the {2-Hearts} turn card. Both players checked and the {5-Diamonds} hit the river. Molson checked, but saw Fernandez bet 500,000.

Molson was certainly surprised. "I really don't think that five helped you. Why wouldn't you bet that ace on the turn?"

In the end, Molson opted to give it up.

Tags: Will MolsonLeo Fernandez

Fernandez Wins One

Level 28 : 50,000/100,000, 10,000 ante

Leo Fernandez raised to 250,000 on the button and Will Molson three-bet to 475,000. Fernandez called.

Both players checked the {7-Hearts}{4-Spades}{j-Hearts} flop and after the {5-Spades} turned Molson checked again. Fernandez moved all in and Molson folded.

Fernandez chipped up to 3.9 million while Molson dropped top 3.65 million.

Tags: Leo FernandezWill Molson

Molson Strikes Back

Level 27 : 40,000/80,000, 10,000 ante

Leo Fernandez moved all in with the button.

"I guess I'll call," Will Molson uttered.

It was race time.

Fernandez: {5-Spades}{5-Clubs}
Molson: {k-Hearts}{j-Hearts}

The {10-Hearts}{2-Spades}{6-Hearts} flop was good for Molson, it gave him a flush draw to go with his two overs. The {8-Hearts} on the turn gave Molson a winning flush, making the {3-Spades} on the river irrelevant.

Molson now has 3.56 million chips and is biting right at Fernandez's heels.

Tags: Leo FernandezWill Molson