Online Poker Weekend: 'Fred_Brink' Takes Stars Sunday Million (and a Half)

Mickey Doft Live Reporter

Aug 04, 2008 10 min read

Online Poker Weekend: 'Fred_Brink' Takes Stars Sunday Million (and a Half) 0001

The first edition ever for the increased-guarantee version of the Stars Sunday Million, now with a guaranteed pool of $1.5 million, saw 'Fred_Brink' post a come-from-behind victory for a win worth over $200,000. The increased Sunday Warmup event at Stars produced a six-figure, chop-free champion as well, while another solid turnout at the Full Tilt $750,000 Guarantee put the cap on a big weekend of online play.

PokerStars Sunday Million

The PokerStars Sunday Million, with its brand new $1.5 million guarantee, had 8,431 entrants, eclipsing its number from last week. The prize pool was a total of $1,686,200.00, with 1st place a whopping $204,198.82. Several online all-stars had impressive showings. Sorel "zangbezan24" Mizzi was among them, finishing in 56th place.

With such a massive field, the final table did not fail to impress. Online poker phenoms held the top two chip counts going into the final table. "Andy McLEOD" was second in chips, hoping to add to a resume that includes over $1,000,000 in online tournament winnings, a claim also able to be made by chip leader Zach "nofingclue11" Clark. The chip counts at the beginning of the final table were:

Zach "nofingclue11" Clark – 21,358,491

Andy McLEOD – 16,860,000

Fred_Brink – 11,521,764

RProps – 10,504,341

Godfatti – 7,972,659

HappyOldMonk – 5,398,075

betofetus – 4,950,163

tpooch – 3,716,775

djmib2 – 2,027,732

After suffering several early hits, Andy McLEOD dropped to the cellar before climbing back up and landing the first knockout. Short stack tpooch pushed all in from middle position for 1.15 million. Andy McLEOD called from the big blind and showed J♠6♥, trailing the A♦10♥ of tpooch. The flop came out 8♥5♥2♥, helping tpooch. The turn was the Q♦ and tpooch needed to avoid a non-heart jack or a six, but the J♣ fell on the river, eliminating tpooch in ninth place.

The eighth-place finisher was djmib2, who for the third time at the final table was all in against Andy McLEOD. Djmib2 moved all in for just over 1.4 million. Betofetus called from middle position, but Andy McLEOD made it 5.4 million from the cutoff getting betofetus to fold. Djmib2 had A♦5♣ but Andy McLEOD showed 5♥5♦. The board brought no ace and djmib2 was out, earning $19,391.30. Just three hands later, HappyOldMonk went all in for 2.6 million. RProps called from the button. HappyOldMonk showed A♦8♠, slightly trailing the 7♣7♠ of RProps. The flop came out Q♣A♥7♦, pairing HappyOldMonk's ace but bringing a set of sevens for RProps. The turn came the 5♣, sealing the deal. The river was a meaningless Q♥ and HappyOldMonk was out in seventh, earning $29,508.50.

While betofetus surged to the lead with repeated double-throughs, Godfatti exited in sixth. Under the gun, Godfatti moved all in for just under 1.75 million. Next to act was Zach "nofingclue11" Clark made it 7.2 million, and when the others folded it was a race: Godfatti held A♦9♥ while Clark was slightly ahead with 5♣5♠. The board came 4♣K♥J♣8♠J♦, and the pocket fives held up for Clark. Godfatti earned $42,155.00.

Zach "nofingclue11" Clark would exit next, in a hand where he raised under the gun to 1,999,999 and from the big blind, betofetus made it eight million. Clark then pushed over the top for an extra 5.5 million and betofetus called. It was A♥K♦ for Clark and Q♥Q♠ for betofetus, and the board came out J♣3♦J♠5♥Q♣, and betofetus increased his stack to over 38 million. Clark was eliminated in fifth place, earning $59,017.00.

Four-handed play saw Andy McLEOD as the short stack, where he would double up one before departing. In his last hand, RProps made it 2.1 million to play from the cutoff and Andy McLEOD moved all in for 12.5 million from the small blind. RProps snap-called, showing A♠A♣, having Andy McLEOD's A♦Q♣ crushed. There was slight hope for Andy when the flop came 6♥Q♦2♥, but neither the turn nor river brought another queen, and Andy McLEOD's run earned him $75,879.00.

With three left, a deal was discussed but not agreed upon. The chip counts at this point were:

RProps – 43,391,921

betofetus – 27,284,169

Fred_Brink – 13,553,910

Fred_Brink soon doubled through via Rprops to create a virtual three-way tie. Rprops' descent continued. Down finally to 13.7 million, RProps moved all in from the button and betofetus raised to isolate the action. Fred_Brink folded, and it was K♣9♥ for RProps and 10♠10♦ for betofetus. The board came 9♠5♣Q♠3♣A♣ and RProps was out in third place, earning $93,584.10.

Heads-up play began with betofetus having 47,846,680 in chips to Fred_Brinks' 36,463,320. 51 hands later, the chip counts were barely different; betofetus held over 49 million and Fred_Brink held just over 35 million. The 52nd hand brought the biggest pot of the tournament, and would soon help produce a winner. With the blinds at 700,000/1,400,000 and an ante of 140,000, Fred_Brink raised to 3,555,555 from the button and betofetus called from the big blind. The 6♦8♠7♣ flop brought a bet of 4.2 million from betofetus and Fred_Brink called. The turn was the K♣ and this time betofetus bet 9.8 million. Fred_Brink then raised all in for 27.1 million and betofetus called. Fred_Brink revealed the 6♣6♠ for bottom set and betofetus showed 9♥7♥ for third pair and an open-ended straight draw. The river was the Q♥, giving Fred_Brink the 70-million chip pot.

The tournament ended four hands later when betofetus moved all in over the top of Fred_Brink's 3,999,999 raise for 15.6 million total. Fred_Brink called and showed Q♥J♥, having betofetus' J♠9♠ in bad shape. The flop came Q♦6♥8♦, giving Fred_Brink a pair of queens. Betofetus would need a ten for a straight or running nines to keep the tournament going, but the turn brought the J♣ the river the 7♠, and the tournament was over. Betofetus finished as the runner-up, earning $137,425.30, while Fred_Brink had capped his come-from-behind win.

The final results:

1. Fred_Brink - $204,198.82

2. betofetus - $137,425.30

3. RProps - $93,584.10

4. Andy McLEOD - $75,879.00

5. Zach "nofingclue11" Clark - $59,017.00

6. Godfatti - $42,155.00

7. HappyOldMonk - $29,508.50

8. djmib2 - $19,391.30

9. tpooch - $11,803.40

Full Tilt $750,000 Guarantee

The Full Tilt $750,000 Guarantee had 3,843 entrants for a prize pool of $768,600, down slightly from last week's $811,400. After finishing ninth last week, Erica Schoenberg fell just short of the money, but fellow Full Tilt pros Diego Cordovez, Kristy Gazes, Nick Schulman and Maciek "Mike" Gracz did cash. Jordan Morgan had the best showing of the group, finishing in 55th place.

The chip counts at the start of the final table were:

Reletrom – 2,075,292

lemac90 – 1,817,765

theoneone – 1,457,142

HosniMubarak – 1,442,452

LWALKER – 1,390,448

Theman2892 – 1,053,826

CountTilt – 979,113

MajorPayne11 – 911,389

potbuilder1881 – 401,573

A huge hand occurred very early at the final table. With the blinds 30,000/60,000 and an ante of 7500, Major Payne11 raised to 180,000 and was smooth-called by CountTilt on the button. The flop came 3c 9h Ks, and was checked by both players. The turn brought the Qc and MajorPayne11 led out for 180,000. CountTilt raised to 460,000 and MajorPayne11 went all in, having CountTilt covered, and CountTilt called. MajorPayne11's set with 9♣9♦ was dead to one out against the K♥K♦, and top set, of CountTilt. The river was the A♣, leaving MajorPayne11 short-stacked. MajorPayne11 departed soon after, being all in with K♠Q♥ against the 10♠10♦ of LWALKER. The board brought no kings or queens and MajorPayne11 was eliminated in ninth place. Unfortunately for LWALKER, he would exit next. With the blinds at 50,000/100,000 with an ante of 10,000, he moved all in with A♠8♥ for 534,000 and was called by HosniMubarak with 9♦8♦. The flop brought the 9♠, and no ace followed. LWALKER finished in eighth place, earning $13,834.80

Several hands later, HosniMubarak opened to 219,000 and a short-stacked lemac1980 moved all-in 642,350. Reletrom then reraised to over 1 million, and HosniMubarak folded. Reletrom tabled K♦K♠, ahead of the Q♦Q♣ of lemac1980. The board ran out 9♠6♦5♥3♣5♣, and lemac1980 was the seventh-place finisher.

Potbuilder1881 was eliminated in sixth place on a tough river card. After raising to 410,000 from the button, potbuilber1881 was faced with a difficult decision when HosniMubarak moved all in from the small blind, having potbuilder1881 out-chipped. Potbuilder1881 called and was in a standard coin flip with A♣10♣ against HosniMubarak's 8♥8♦. The flop was A♥4♥3♣ putting potbuilder1881 in the lead, and the 7♣ on the turn left only one card that potbuilder1881 needed to dodge in order to double up. Unfortunately, that unlikely 8♠ fell on the river, and potbuilder1881 departed.

With the blinds at 60,000/120,000 and an ante of 15,000, theoneone was the next to fall. Theoneone moved all in from the cutoff for 757,000 and was in trouble when from the button, Reletrom reraised to 1.4 million to isolate the action. The blinds folded and the hands were revealed. Theoneone had A♦8♣ but trailed Reletrom's 10♥10♠. The board came out 10♣7♠3♠J♣4♠, and theoneone was out in fifth place, earning $31,820.04.

Reletrom would be the next to be eliminated. Chip leader HosniMubarak moved all in from the button and Reletrom called all in from the big blind with A♦Q♠. It looked good for Reletrom as HosniMubarak showed A♠7♠, but the flop contained the 7♥, and no queen would follow. Reletrom earned $42,426.72 for the fourth-place finish.

Heads-up play was at hand after theman2892 was eliminated by CountTilt. From the button, HosniMubarak opened the action to 435,000. Theman2892 moved all in from the small blind for 1.4 million and CountTilt smoothcalled from the big blind. HosniMubarak folded and theman2892 showed A♥7♦, but trailed the 7♣7♥ of CountTilt. The board came Q♠J♠8♣10♠8♥, and theman2892 was out in third place, earning $53,802.00

Heads-up play began almost tied in chips. CountTilt was slightly ahead, having 5,975,269 to HosniMubarak's 5,553,731. However, it was HosniMubarak who had the edge playing heads up, and it ultimately led to the victory. CountTilt finished in second place, earning $82,240.20, while HosniMubarak closed out the win.

The final results:

1. HosniMubarak - $136,080.63

2. CountTilt - $82,240.20

3. theman2892 - $53,802.00

4. Reletrom - $42,426.72

5. theonene - $31,820.04

6. potbuilder1881 - $23,596.02

7. lemac1980 - $17,677.80

8. LWALKER - $13,834.80

9. MajorPayne11 - $10,299.24

PokerStars Sunday Warm-Up

PokerStars' Sunday Warm-Up, with its brand new $750,000 guarantee, drew 3,849 players to create a prize pool totaling $769,800. Several big online names made it close to the final table, including NemoStars22 (19th place), GigaJr (15th), and Brian "SNo0oWMAN" Hawkins (11th).

Just less than eight hours after play began, only nine players remained. The leader board was as follows:

FFranz89 - 10,513,887

H.O.V.E 585 - 5,425,573

tomgus456 - 4,605,680

stormi22 - 3,944,368

Gullars85 - 3,512,590

MYTHOLOGIC - 3,300,267

mullett - 2,928,401

Kameleont - 2,349,297

cheddarmon - 1,909,947

The ninth-place finisher was determined on the 13th hand of the final table. With the blinds 65,000/130,000 and a 13,000 ante, chip leader FFranz89 made it 325,000 to play. Next to act was cheddarmon, who responded by going all in for 1.36 million, but he was quickly called by the of FFranz89, who showed K♥K♠. Cheddarmon's Q♣J♣ found no help and cheddarmon was the first to go. On the next hand, Gullars85 opened to 333,333 and Kameleont pushed all in for 1.56 million, only to see Gullars85 call and reveal A♥K♦, which dominated Kameleont's A♦6♦. Big Slick held up and Kameleont was eliminated in eighth.

The next level, with the blinds at 80,000/160,000 and an ante of 16,000, saw MYTHOLOGIC exit next. From the cutoff, tomgus456 raised it to 372,500 with K♣K♠, and welcomed any action. From the big blind, MYTHOLOGIC moved all in from the big blind with Jc9d, but failed to get lucky, and was out in seventh place. Mullett departed next after a stretch of six-handed play, moving all in under the gun with K♠Q♣, but in bad shape when FFranz89 isolated with the reraise and showed A♦Q♠. The board ran out Q♦7♥5♦3♠5♠ and that was it for mullett, who took sixth for a $23,094.00 payday.

FFranz89 added to his lead shortly after the next break by eliminating stormi22. Stormi22 moved all in from the small blind for just under five million and FFranz89 called. Stormi22's A♣8♦ led FFranz89's K♣Q♠ to start. The flop came out 8♥6♠2♠ and stormi22 was still ahead, but the Q♣ turn put FFranz89 in the lead. The 2♥ river couldn't save stormi22 from a fifth-place finish worth $30,792.00.

However, FFranz89's newfound chips would soon be lost. Gullars85 made it 555,000 to go from the small blind, but was put to a decision when FFranz89 raised all in from the big blind, having Gullars85 covered. Gullars85 finally called all in with A♦8♣, and found himself ahead of FFranz89's A♠7♣. The board ran out K♥8♠6♦2♦A♣ and Gullars85 doubled up, beginning the start of an impressive run.

Gullars85 soon eliminated tomgus456. Gullars85 opened from under the gun to 666,666, leading to tomgus456 moving all in from the small blind for 3.8 million total. Gullars85 called and they were off to the races. Gullars85 held the A♣10♠ while tomgus456 showed 2♣2♥. The flop came K♠8♦8♣ keeping tomgus456 in the lead, but the turn was the 10♦, leaving tomgus456 only two outs. The river was the 6♠ and tomgus456 was out in fourth place taking home $38,490.00.

After the lead moved from Ffranz89 to H.O.V.E. to Gullars in successive double-throughs, Ffranz89 departed in third. Gullars85 and FFranz89 saw a flop of 10♦4♦7♥, and FFranz89 moved all in for 2.8 million. Gullars85 quickly called, tabling A♦10♥, miles ahead of the A♣5♣ of FFranz89. The turn was the A♥ and FFranz89 was drawing dead, taking home $46,188.00 for the third-place finish.

Heads-up play began with Gullars85 holding almost a 2:1 chip lead, with 25.5 million in chips to the almost 13 million for H.O.V.E. 585. Gullars85 slowly whittled H.O.V.E. 585 down to under nine million before sealing the win. With the blinds at 200,000/400,000 and a 40,000 ante, H.O.V.E. 585 made it 1.2 million from the small blind, but Gullars85 raised enough to put H.O.V.E 585 all in. The call was made and it was another coin flip with Gullars85 3♠3♣ against H.O.V.E. 585's K♣J♥. The board came out Q♦4♦4♥9♦5♥ and it was over.