2017 PokerStars Championship Bahamas

$25,750 High Roller
Day: 1
Event Info

2017 PokerStars Championship Bahamas

Final Results
Winner
Luc Greenwood
Winning Hand
kq
Prize
$779,268
Event Info
Buy-in
$25,750
Prize Pool
$3,895,500
Entries
159
Level Info
Level
27
Blinds
40,000 / 80,000
Ante
10,000

Nick Petrangelo Bags Big; Day 1 of 2017 PokerStars Championship Bahamas $25,750 High Roller Draws 151 Entries

Level 10 : 800/1,600, 200 ante
Nick Petrangelo
Nick Petrangelo

The 2017 PokerStars Championship Bahamas $25,750 High Roller started off slow with just two tables, but with a single re-entry options and late registration open all day, that number swelled. After 10 one-hour levels of play, the field had grown to 115 unique entrants who accounted for 36 re-entries to bring the total field up to 151 entries. It could go up even more as registration will remain open up until the start of Day 2.

At the end of the night, Nick Petrangelo bagged the biggest stack among the approximately 75 survivors with 290,600, though several other players were hot on his heels including Sam Greenwood (276,800), Byron Kaverman (272,000), Oleksii Khoroshenin (264,000), and Sergio Aido (250,700).

Petrangelo is a regular on the high roller circuit and has total live earnings of nearly $6 million. That includes $1,015,335 for finishing second in the 2015 WPT Alpha8 Bellagio High Roller, taking third in the EPT12 Barcelona €10,000 High Roller for $669,12, and winning the EPT13 Barcelona €10,000 High Roller for $464,154. Petrangelo also finished sixth in this very event two years ago, good for $301,500.

Others who advanced are former NFL player Richard Seymour (165,000), Daniel Colman (100,400), Bryn Kenney (66,8000), Phil “The Unabomber” Laak (54,900), and Bernard Lee (27,200). They will be joined by Team PokerStars Pros Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier (140,300), Daniel Negreanu (104,600), Liv Boeree (43,000), Andre Akkari (40,600), and Jake Cody (32,800).

On the flip side, not everyone was as fortunate. Among those to fall twice on Day 1, meaning they don’t have a re-entry option to use tomorrow, were 2015 World Series of Poker Main Event champ Joe McKeehen, the UK wunderkind Charlie Carrel, 2016 Aussie Millions champ Chance Kornuth, and last year’s runner-up Sean Winter.

Shortly after re-entering the tournament, Winter found himself on the bad end of a cooler. He had flopped trip queens with a king kicker, but Khoroshenin had flopped threes full of queens. The chips went in, and Winter failed to get there. As for Carrel, he busted after getting his short stack in with ace-four and falling to the pocket eights of Greenwood.

Day 2 will kick off at Noon local time on Friday. Once again PokerNews will bring you updates straight from the tournament floor, so be sure to check back then. While you wait, check out this video of Seymour talking about joining Twitter, making a bet with Negreanu, and more.

Tags: Nick Petrangelo

Kurganov and Kanit - The Best of Frenemies

Level 10 : 800/1,600, 200 ante
Mustapha Kanit and Igor Kurganov pictured earlier on this trip to the PokerStars Championship Bahamas. Both of the High Rollers made Day 2 of the $25,000 buy-in event.
Mustapha Kanit and Igor Kurganov pictured earlier on this trip to the PokerStars Championship Bahamas. Both of the High Rollers made Day 2 of the $25,000 buy-in event.

Igor Kurganov had been eliminated, that was the headline. All-in with {A-Spades}{Q-Clubs} against Tim Adams' {K-Spades}{K-Diamonds} and no luck on the board. Goodnight, Igor. Except for Kurganov, whose girlfriend Liv Boeree claimed "hasn't stopped talking for six days!", a few more words were called for. Words such as 'Where can I buy back in?'.

Kurganov's second entry came with the clock paused just seconds later, and six more hands announced. On the fourth of those hands, poker pandemonium broke out.

Kurganov was sat to the direct right of good friend Mustapha Kanit, who had plenty of chips, around 70,000 and easily enough to bust his pal. When Kurganov moved all-in with {7-Diamonds}{7-Hearts} and Kanit called with {A-Clubs}{K-Clubs}, the pair of them were up and down like a pair of puppets. They were racing not just for a 97,000 pot, but bragging rights too.

The flop of {10-Clubs}{7-Spades}{J-Clubs} saw Kurganov on his feet, with an 'Eh!' to his friend Kanit. However, the {9-Clubs} on the turn sent Kanit into raptures.

"Eh!" he cried jubilantly. Kurganov covered his friends eyes from the river card.....of the {10-Diamonds}!

"Ehhhh!" yelled Kurganov, as his hand improved to a full house. He flipped Kanit's cap from his friends head and wore it triumphantly like a crown.

"I deserve to wear this now. You are a loser. Mathematically, you've only had one buy-in yes? - OK - Mathematically, you should shove any two next hand."

As it happened, Kanit did so, piling his remaining 17,500 into the middle and being snap-called by Anthony Zinno. Zinno had {J-Clubs}{J-Spades}, but Kanit was racing again, holding the almost-identical-to-his-last-hand {A-Diamonds}{K-Clubs}.

The flop of {10-Diamonds}{2-Hearts}{4-Spades} offered little hope. The turn of {5-Spades} didn't improve the actual odds dramatically. But the {3-Spades} on the river gave Kanit a runner-runner straight and he jumped back up, took back his hat and cried 'Who's the boss? Who's the boss?!"

To be fair to Kurganov and Kanit, and with deference to the everlasting good humour of Zinno, all of it happened with riotous sense of good humour and the trio were all happy to progress to the next day. Kurganov, Kanit, Zinno and of course Boeree and other friends by now on the rail who were watching the drama unfold all burst into peals of laughter at the conclusion the two hilarious hands of poker.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Igor Kurganov ru
Igor Kurganov
97,000
47,000
47,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Profile photo of Mustapha Kanit it
Mustapha Kanit
40,000
-40,000
-40,000
Winamax
Profile photo of Anthony Zinno us
Anthony Zinno
33,800
-26,200
-26,200
WSOP 4X Winner
WPT 3X Winner

Tags: Igor KurganovMustapha Kanit

Bernard Lee Tries to Drown Mike Watson on the River

Level 10 : 800/1,600, 200 ante
Mike Watson
Mike Watson

With a board reading {4-Spades}{10-Spades}{6-Hearts}{k-Hearts}, 2016 PCA champ Mike Watson got his last 14,800 all in and was at risk against Bernard Lee.

Watson: {k-Clubs}{q-Spades}
Lee: {a-Hearts}{5-Hearts}

Watson was ahead with a pair of kings, but Lee was drawing to both an ace and hearts. The dealer burned one last time and put out the {2-Spades}. Lee missed and Watson doubled through.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Mike Watson ca
Mike Watson
44,000
23,000
23,000
WSOP 1X Winner
WPT 1X Winner
EPT 2X Winner
Profile photo of Bernard Lee us
Bernard Lee
40,000
-35,300
-35,300

Tags: Mike WatsonBernard Lee

The Brits Are On a Comeback?

Level 9 : 600/1,200, 200 ante
Liv Boeree
Liv Boeree

Both PokerStars Team Pros Jake Cody and Liv Boeree have struggled at points during this $25,000 High Roller, with the run of the cards more than anything. But there's building momentum behind each British superstar and with one level to go anything could happen.

Jake Cody doubled up when he had pocket queens in the blinds and doubled up, holding against {K-}{9-} to bounce from ten big blinds to just over 20 big blinds.

Liv Boeree wasn't all-in, but won an interesting hand against Justin Bonomo. Boeree raised under the gun pre-flop to 2,600 and only Bonomo called from the big blind. The flop of {A-Hearts}{4-Clubs}{8-Diamonds} saw Boeree continue for 2,200, but she was raised to 7,000 by Bonomo. Boeree called, and both players checked the {J-Hearts} turn. The river of {K-Hearts} saw Bonomo check to Boeree who made it 8,000 and Bonomo folded, meaning Boeree won without a showdown - valuable currency in mystery to add to the chips at this stage of the night.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Liv Boeree gb
Liv Boeree
69,000
19,000
19,000
Profile photo of Jake Cody gb
Jake Cody
25,000
6,300
6,300

Tags: Jake CodyJustin BonomoLiv Boeree

Last Year's Runner-Up Eliminated... Again

Level 8 : 500/1,000, 100 ante
Sean Winter
Sean Winter

Sean Winter, who finished runner-up to Nick Maimone in this event at last year's PCA, has been eliminated from the tournament for a second and final time.

It happened when there was around 15,000 in the pot and a flop of {3-Clubs}{q-Diamonds}{q-Clubs}. Oleksii Khoroshenin checked under the gun and Winter bet 4,600 from the hijack. Khoroshenin then woke up with a check-raise to 16,100, Winter called, and the {8-Clubs} appeared on the turn.

Khoroshenin took a long time before moving all in, and Winter hit the tank to debate what to do with his last 34,500.

Eventually he called off with the {q-Spades}{k-Hearts} and discovered the bad news, that Khoroshenin held the {3-Diamonds}{3-Spades} for a full house. The {2-Diamonds} river failed to pair the board for Winter, and he was eliminated from the tournament for a second time.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Oleksii Khoroshenin ua
Oleksii Khoroshenin
170,000
42,000
42,000
EPT 1X Winner
Profile photo of Sean Winter us
Sean Winter
Busted

Tags: Sean WinterOleksii Khoroshenin

Charlie Carrel Done and Dusted

Level 8 : 500/1,000, 100 ante
Charlie Carrel (right)
Charlie Carrel (right)

A short-stacked Charlie Carrel moved all in for 12,000 from the cutoff and action folded to Sam Greenwood, who called from the big blind.

Carrel: {a-Spades}{4-Hearts}
Greenwood: {8-Diamonds}{8-Spades}

Carrel needed some help, and he got a little when the {5-Hearts}{5-Spades}{2-Clubs} flop gave him a gutshot wheel draw. The {J-Hearts} turn was no help to the young Brit, and neither was the {9-Spades} river.

Carrel has already exercised his single re-entry option, which means he's officially been eliminated from the 2017 PokerStars Championship Bahamas $25,000 High Roller.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Sam Greenwood ca
Sam Greenwood
60,000
45,625
45,625
WSOP 1X Winner
Run It Once
Profile photo of Charlie Carrel gb
Charlie Carrel
Busted

Tags: Sam GreenwoodCharlie Carrel

"Get This Guy Out of Here"

Level 7 : 400/800, 100 ante
Sean Winter
Sean Winter

Sean Winter, who finished runner-up in this event one year ago for $914,580, was just eliminated at the hands of Igor Kurganov.

We missed the action unfold, but we learned the two each put in 23,000 preflop, which left Winter with just 200 back. Of course those ended up in on the {k-Hearts}{6-Diamonds}{8-Diamonds} flop.

Kurganov: {j-Diamonds}{10-Diamonds}
Winter: {6-Hearts}{6-Clubs}

Winter was ahead with a set, but Kurganov had a flush draw. The {9-Diamonds} turn gave him the flush, and the {Q-Diamonds} river actually improved him to a straight flush.

"Get this guy out of here," Kurganov jokingly shouted, much to the amusement of the table.

"You're a gambler, Igor," Winter said before adding that he was going to finish his meal and fire a second bullet.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Igor Kurganov ru
Igor Kurganov
75,000
12,500
12,500
WSOP 1X Winner
Profile photo of Sean Winter us
Sean Winter
Busted

Tags: Sean WinterIgor Kurganov

Jonathan Jaffe Gets Lucky to Crack Isaac Haxton's Pocket Kings

Level 6 : 300/600, 100 ante
Jonathan Jaffe
Jonathan Jaffe

Just before the break, Jonathan Jaffe raised to 1,500 under the gun and Kevin Eyster called from the hijack. Connor Drinan then three-bet to 5,600 from the cutoff, and right behind him Isaac Haxton four-bet to 13,600 from the button.

Both blinds folded, and Jaffe thought for a bit before announcing himself all in for 40,000 even. Both Eyster and Drinan folded, and Haxton snap-called.

Haxton: {k-Clubs}{k-Hearts}
Jaffe: {a-Clubs}{10-Diamonds}

Jaffe was in trouble, though he did manage to pick up a gutshot on the {j-Clubs}{6-Diamonds}{q-Spades} flop. The {8-Hearts} turn meant a nine would also win it for him, but it was the {A-Hearts} on the river that would save him. Haxton was left with less than 5,000 after the hand.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Jonathan Jaffe us
Jonathan Jaffe
85,000
44,000
44,000
WPT 1X Winner
Profile photo of Isaac Haxton us
Isaac Haxton
5,000
-45,000
-45,000
WSOP 1X Winner

Tags: Isaac HaxtonJonathan Jaffe

Top Ten Chipcounts

Level 6 : 300/600, 100 ante
Timothy Adams
Timothy Adams

Here are the top ten chipcounts at the break, with Bryn Kenney going for a third High Roller title here at the PokerStars Championship Bahamas. He's well placed in the top ten, but it is Timothy Adams (pictured) who leads the field going into the third break.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Timothy Adams ca
Timothy Adams
175,000
175,000
175,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Profile photo of Mark Radoja ca
Mark Radoja
163,000
115,000
115,000
WSOP 2X Winner
Profile photo of Rocco Palumbo it
Rocco Palumbo
143,000
23,000
23,000
WSOP 1X Winner
WPT 1X Winner
Profile photo of Stephen Chidwick gb
Stephen Chidwick
137,000
41,000
41,000
WSOP 2X Winner
Profile photo of Oleksii Khoroshenin ua
Oleksii Khoroshenin
128,000
-17,000
-17,000
EPT 1X Winner
Profile photo of Bryn Kenney us
Bryn Kenney
120,000
70,000
70,000
WSOP 2X Winner
Profile photo of Murad Akhundov az
Murad Akhundov
117,000
117,000
117,000
Profile photo of Bertrand Grospellier fr
Bertrand Grospellier
112,000
-3,000
-3,000
Profile photo of Daniel Colman us
Daniel Colman
110,000
8,975
8,975
WSOP 1X Winner
Profile photo of Davidi Kitai be
Davidi Kitai
110,000
60,000
60,000
EPT Main Event Champion
WSOP 3X Winner
WPT 1X Winner
EPT 1X Winner
Winamax

Tags: Timothy AdamsBryn Kenney

Heath and Negreanu Go to War

Level 6 : 300/600, 100 ante
Ben Heath got the better of Daniel Negreanu early on, but the PokerStars Team Pro won the latest battle between the pair.
Ben Heath got the better of Daniel Negreanu early on, but the PokerStars Team Pro won the latest battle between the pair.

What had been a small ball pot suddenly began snowballing at the table where Ben Heath and Daniel Negreanu sit next to each other, and it was between the popular pair that the action took place.

We joined the action with just 1,900 in the pot and a flop of {8-Spades}{8-Diamonds}{3-Hearts} on display. Heath bet 750, and was raised to 1,500 by the PokerStars Team Pro. Heath re-raised to 4,400, and Negreanu called.

The turn card was the {Q-Hearts}, which both men checked, but on the river of {6-Hearts}, Heath fired out a bet of 3,800. Negreanu called it, and Heath showed {A-Spades}{3-Hearts}. That bottom pair wasn't good enough, however, as Negreanu had flopped trips with {8-Hearts}{7-Spades}. They swap positions in the chip counts.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Daniel Negreanu ca
Daniel Negreanu
58,500
10,700
10,700
Profile photo of Ben Heath gb
Ben Heath
53,500
10,000
10,000
WSOP 1X Winner

Tags: Daniel NegreanuBen Heath