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That’s it for the 2018 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure $50,000 High Roller. Click here to read our recap of the event and if you want to read all the final table action, scroll through today’s coverage below.

9:05pm: Steve O’Dwyer wins the $50K High Roller! Kaverman runner-up
Level 19 – Blinds 30,000/60,000 (ante 10,000)

And here’s the short, rapid tale of the tournament’s conclusion — the last three hands of the event.

Byron Kaverman open-pushed with Q♥ J♣ and got a fold from Steve O’Dwyer holding 9â™  6♥ .

Then O’Dwyer was dealt A♣ 6♣ on the button and open-shoved all in, putting Byron Kaverman to the test for his last 650,000 with Q♣ 5♥ , but Kaverman let it go.

Finally it was Kaverman pushing all in again from the button for his last 580,000 with Q♣ 9♣ , and after thinking it through O’Dwyer shook his head and said “yeah,” calling with J♥ 10â™  .

The 2♦ Jâ™  4♥ flop immediately hit O’Dwyer’s hand, and after the 5♥ turn Kaverman was in need of a “queen and queen only” (as they say) to survive. The river was the K♦ , and that was that — O’Dwyer had won the $769,500 first prize, with Kaverman taking $531,860 for coming one spot shy of the win. –MH

Champion Steve O’Dwyer

9pm: O’Dwyer catches Kaverman out
Level 19 – Blinds 30,000/60,000 (ante 10,000)

Byron Kaverman has dropped down to 10 big blinds after Steve O’Dwyer caught him bluffing on the first hand back.

The latter called with A♥ 2♦ and Kaverman checked his option with 10♥ 7â™  . Both players checked the 5♦ 9♦ Q♦ flop before Kaverman led for 125,000 and 140,000 on the 8♣ 4♦ turn and river. O’Dwyer called with his baby flush and moved up to almost 4 million. –MC

8:35pm: Kaverman below a million as level ends
Level 18 – Blinds 25,000/50,000 (ante 5,000)

Byron Kaverman completed from the button and Steve O’Dwyer checked his option. Both players checked the J♦ 8♥ A♣ flop before Kaverman bet 150,000 on the 7♦ turn. O’Dwyer check-called and the 7â™  river was checked through.

O’Dwyer’s K♥ 8â™  was good enough to beat out Kaverman’s Kâ™  10♥ . The players are taking a 20-minute break.

Chips:

O’Dwyer – 3,620,000
Kaverman – 985,000
–MC

8:25pm: Big bluff works for O’Dwyer when Kaverman can’t call
Level 18 – Blinds 25,000/50,000 (ante 10,000)

Steve O’Dwyer raised to 125,000 with 6♥ 5♥ , Byron Kaverman calling with Q♦ J♣ , and the flop came 4♦ 8♣ 2â™  , giving O’Dwyer a double-gutter. Kaverman check-called O’Dwyer’s c-bet of 125,000.

The turn then brought the Jâ™  to pair Kaverman’s hand. He checked again, and O’Dwyer bet 320,000. Kaverman called, bringing the pot up to 1.15 million.

The 8â™  river completed the board, and Kaverman checked. O’Dwyer could only win with a bluff, and bluff he did — moving all in!

Kaverman had but 1.07 million left, and would have to risk it all in order to call. He took 30 full seconds, but without anymore time bank cards couldn’t take any longer to make his decision.

Kaverman folded.

“I mean… it’s going to be shown,” said O’Dwyer, as he revealed to Kaverman his hand, and the latter could only grin and shake his head.

O’Dwyer is up to 3.54 million now, Kaverman down to 1.065 million. –MH

Kaverman and O’Dwyer continue battle

8:20pm: Kaverman battling back
Level 18 – Blinds 25,000/50,000 (ante 5,000)

Byron Kaverman has moved back up to 1.47 million after getting a couple of streets of value with a small flopped pair.

No raises were made before a 3♦ 10♣ 4♣ flop appeared. Kaverman held 9♣ 3♣ and bet 50,000 there and 235,000 on the 2â™  turn. O’Dwyer check-called both bets with Aâ™  2♥ before the K♦ river was checked through. O’Dyer dropped to a still big 3.14 million. –MC

8:07pm: O’Dwyer takes the lead
Level 18 – Blinds 25,000/50,000 (ante 5,000)

Byron Kaverman raised to 125,000 with K♦ 10â™  and called after Steve O’Dwyer three-bet to 260,000 with A♦ J♦ . Both players checked the 4â™  3♦ Aâ™  flop before O’Dwyer led for 260,000 and 600,000 on the 9♦ 3♣ turn and river. Kaverman called the first bet and time-bank called on the river to drop to 1.08 million. O’Dwyer’s stack swelled to a tournament high 3.525 million. –MC

8pm: Three hands for O’Dwyer, and they are all even
Level 18 – Blinds 25,000/50,000 (ante 5,000)

Steve O’Dwyer raised to 125,000 with A♥ Q♦ , Byron Kaverman called with Kâ™  8♥ , and the flop hit both players by coming 8♣ Q♣ 4♦ . Kaverman checked, O’Dwyer bet 150,000, and Kaverman called.

The turn was the 9♣ , putting a third club on the board. Kaverman checked, O’Dwyer bet 300,000, and after checking his hand once more Kaverman winced while letting his hand go.

O’Dwyer took the next hand preflop, raising with pocket nines after Kaverman tried to limp with jack-deuce. Then O’Dwyer picked up A♥ J♦ and raised to 125,000 and Kaverman called with Q♥ 10♣ .

Another action flop followed, coming 7♥ Qâ™  A♣ to (again) give both a pair and O’Dwyer the better one. Kaverman check-called a bet of 90,000 from O’Dwyer, then the 9♦ fell on the turn. Kaverman checked again, and when O’Dwyer bet 250,000 Kaverman was able to find a fold.

The pair are almost even now — 2.325 million for Kaverman and 2.28 million for O’Dwyer. –MH

Heads-up continues

7:55pm: Kaverman picks off O’Dwyer bluff
Level 18 – Blinds 25,000/50,000 (ante 5,000)

After a short break, the heads-up match got underway and Byron Kaverman immediately increased his lead after he picked of a Steve O’Dwyer bluff.

The former raised to 125,000 off the button and O’Dwyer defended. The board ran out Aâ™  10â™  10♦ 8♣ 6â™  with no chips going in until the river where O’Dwyer led out for 175,000 with his Q♣ 4â™  . Kaverman looked confused, took 25 seconds and then called with K♥ 4♥ .

His correct call saw his 2.88 million stack take a big lead versus O’Dwyer’s 1.725 million. –MC

7:40pm: Thorel’s run ends in third
Level 18 – Blinds 25,000/50,000 (ante 5,000)

Steve O’Dwyer raised to 125,000 with A♦ 5â™  and Jean-Noel Thorel didn’t hesitate before putting his last 180,000 in the middle from the small blind with A♥ 7♦ . Byron Kaverman folded, O’Dwyer called, and the cards were turned over.

The flop fell 2â™  6â™  Kâ™  , giving O’Dwyer flush outs, but the 4♥ turn and 6♥ river kept Thorel in the game with 425,000.

Thorel folded his button on the next hand, content to watch his opponents battle over a small pot, and let go of the next one to an O’Dwyer small blind raise as well.

But then Thorel got J♣ 7♠ in the small blind and shoved for 360,000, and Kaverman called him from the big blind with K♠ 10♣ .

Thorel needed help, and the J♠ Q♥ 8♦ in fact improved him to the best hand. The 9♣ fell on the turn, though, making an unbeatable straight and the 7♣ river inconsequential.

Thorel takes third for $339,480, while Kaverman carries the chip lead into heads-up play with 2.575 million (51 big blinds) to O’Dwyer’s 2.03 million (40 big blinds). The pair will be taking a short break before commencing their heads-up duel. –MH

Third-place for Thorel

7:35pm: Thorel gets tripped up twice to go short
Level 18 – Blinds 25,000/50,000 (ante 5,000)

Jean-Noel Thorel had dropped down to 240,00 after his top pair got out drawn by both players over two hands.

He completed from the small blind with K♠ 4♣ and Byron Kaverman checked his option with 9♥ 7♠ . Both players hit pairs on a K♥ 5♥ 9♦ flop and Thorel led for 75,000. Call. The turn and river came 9♣ 8♠ and Thorel check-called bets of 150,000 and 275,000 before mucking on showdown.

On the very next hand Thorel raised his button with A♦ 4â™  and O’Dwyer defended with 10♣ 7â™  . The flop fell 6♥ 8â™  10♦ and both players checked. The turn was the A♣ and O’Dwyer check-called 100,000 to see the 10â™  river make him trips. O’Dwyer bombed for 795,000 and Thorel called seeing the bad news. O’Dwyer jumped up to 2.13 million. –MC

7:20pm: Thorel makes straight, wins one from Kaverman
Level 18 – Blinds 25,000/50,000 (ante 5,000)

Byron Kaverman opened for 115,000 from the button with 4♥ 4♣ and Jean-Noel Thorel defended his big blind with a call holding K♦ 9♦ .

The flop came J♥ Qâ™  3♦ . Thorel checked, Kaverman bet 100,000, and Thorel called. The turn was the 7♥ , meaning Kaverman’s fours were still best. Thorel checked, and this time Kaverman checked behind.

The river then brought the 10â™  , filling Thorel’s gutshot draw to a straight, and he fired 175,000. Kaverman looked like he wanted to call but ultimately folded, and Thorel took the pot.

“You will see,” grinned Thorel, referring to the hand Kaverman didn’t pay to be revealed. Thorel has 1.82 million now, Kaverman 1.71 million. –MH

7:10pm: Chips at the start of Level 18
Level 18 – Blinds 25,000/50,000 (ante 5,000)

Name Country Chips BBs
Byron Kaverman USA 1,980,000 40
Steve O’Dwyer Ireland 1,575,000 32
Jean-Noel Thorel France 1,050,000 21

7pm: O’Dwyer climbs back
Level 17 – Blinds 20,000/40,000 (ante 5,000)

Steve O’Dwyer open-raised all in a couple of times from the button, getting no calls in either instance.

Then came a hand in which Jean-Noel Thorel raised to 100,000 from the button with king-seven, and after O’Dwyer shoved from the big blind with king-nine Thorel folded.

An orbit later Thorel raised to 100,000 from the button again with K♣ Q♣ , O’Dwyer called with 8♥ 6♣ from the blind. The flop came 5♥ 5â™  6â™  , O’Dwyer shoved for 535,000, and Thorel called in a flash.

The turn was the 9â™  and the river the 6♦ , and after all of that O’Dwyer is back up to 1.31 million while Thorel slips to just a little bit more with 1.32 million. Meanwhile Kaverman has right at 2 million. –MH

6:50pm: Sevens unlucky for O’Dwyer as he doubles Thorel
Level 17 – Blinds 20,000/40,000 (ante 5,000)

Jean-Noel Thorel has taken over the chip lead after doubling through Steve O’Dwyer.

The latter opened to 120,000 and then four-bet jammed over a 340,000 three-bet from Thorel. The Frenchman called all-in for 1.140 million.

O’Dwyer: 7♦ 7♣
Thorel: A♣ 10♣

The board ran 5♣ 3♥ Qâ™  A♥ 9â™  to pair Thorel’s ace on the turn and he moved up to 2.3 million. O’Dwyer dropped to 395,000. –MC

6:37pm: Kaverman re-takes the lead
Level 17 – Blinds 20,000/40,000 (ante 5,000)

Byron Kaverman has moved back into the lead after making a flush versus Steve O’Dwyer.

The latter raised his button holding A♦ 8♥ and Kaverman defended his big blind with 9♣ 8♣ . The board ran out 6♣ Jâ™  2♣ A♣ 2â™  with Kaverman checking to face bets of 75,000, 150,000 and 330,000 on each street. He called all the way and moved up to 2.02 million after he showed O’Dwyer the bad news on showdown. O’Dwyer dropped back to 1.57 million. –MC

6:30pm: J-N-T… I’m dynamite! J-N-T… and I’ll win the fight!
Level 17 – Blinds 20,000/40,000 (ante 5,000)

Steve O’Dwyer shoved from the button with 7♥ 6♥ and Jean-Noel Thorel didn’t hesitate at all before calling for his last 445,000 with Q♦ 10♣ .

The flop went boom!, coming J♦ 9♠ K♥ to give Thorel a straight, and after the 4♦ on the turn the river was no matter.

Thorel open-shoved on the next hand from the button with 4♥ 4♦ and won the blinds and antes, and he’s back to just over 1 million. O’Dwyer has 2.3 million. –MH

Jean-Noel Thorel continues to battle

6:25pm: More for O’Dwyer
Level 17 – Blinds 20,000/40,000 (ante 5,000)

Jean-Noel Thorel has dropped to 525,000 after he lost a battle of the blind versus Steve O’Dwyer who rose to 2.59 million.

O’Dwyer raised to 120,000 with K♥ 6♥ and Thorel peeled with 10♣ 7♥ . The flop fell K♦ 2♥ 3♥ and O’Dwyer checked and then called a 100,000 bet. O’Dwyer improved to a flush on the Q♥ turn and both players checked to the 7â™  river. O’Dwyer led for 200,000 and Thorel made a quick call but mucked upon seeing his opponent’s holding. –MC

6:20pm: Kaverman shoves, Thorel releases
Level 17 – Blinds 20,000/40,000 (ante 5,000)

On the second hand after the break, Byron Kaverman was dealt A♣ K♥ in the small blind and jammed all in, and Jean-Noel Thorel had a decision to make with 3♦ 3♣ .

Finally he folded, saying he had a “good pair,” then laughingly adding that it was actually “not very good.”

Put Kaverman on 1.5 million, and Thorel at 950,000. –MH


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5:55pm: Break time

There was one more hand in the level, one that saw Byron Kaverman open with ace-seven and O’Dwyer pick up pocket sevens (again!). O’Dwyer shoved all in and Kaverman folded, and with that the last three players are off on a 20-minute break.

Below find the updated counts reflecting the bigger blinds to come when they return. –MH

Name Country Chips BBs
Steve O’Dwyer Ireland 2,202,000 55
Byron Kaverman USA 1,320,000 33
Jean-Noel Thorel France 1,080,000 27

5:50pm: Set of sevens help O’Dwyer seize lead from Kaverman
Level 16 – Blinds 15,000/30,000 (ante 5,000)

After a few small pots to start three-handed play, Byron Kaverman limped from the small blind with Aâ™  4â™  , then Steve O’Dwyer raised to 105,000 from the big blind with 7♥ 7♦ . Kaverman called, and the pair saw the flop come 9♦ 7â™  Qâ™  — a flush draw for Kaverman and a set for O’Dwyer.

Kaverman checked and O’Dwyer bet 120,000. Kaverman called, then checked again after the 5♣ turn. O’Dwyer bet 300,000 — about two-thirds of the pot — and Kaverman studied the situation for about 20 seconds before calling again. Pot 1.065 million.

The river brought the 4♥ , meaning Kaverman missed his flush (though did make a pair of fours), and he checked. O’Dwyer had just about the size of the pot left in his stack, and after pausing a good while he pushed all in.

Kaverman didn’t fold right away, though eventually did push away his hand.

There’s a new chip leader! O’Dwyer moves into first with just under 2.09 million with that hand, while Kaverman slips to 1.4 million. Meanwhile Jean-Noel Thorel has 1.1 million. –MH

Steve O’Dwyer, back in a familiar position (first)

5:45pm: Seidel goes in fourth
Level 16 – Blinds 15,000/30,000 (ante 5,000)

Just three players remain after Erik Seidel was sent packing in fourth place.

He got it all-in against Steve O’Dyer again but this time, he found himself dominated. His move came from the small blind and O’Dwyer called the 445,000 from the big blind.

Seidel: K♣ 4♥
O’Dwyer: K♦ 5♣

The board ran 5♦ 10♦ Q♥ Jâ™  Q♦ to make O’Dwyer two pair. He moved up to 1.47 million, overtaking Jean-Noel Thorel (960,000) to settle in second behind Byron Kaverman (2 million). –MC

Erik Seidel – 4th place

5:40pm: Two pair nets chips for O’Dwyer
Level 16 – Blinds 15,000/30,000 (ante 5,000)

Steve O’Dwyer opened for 75,000 from the button with Qâ™  9♣ and it folded to Byron Kaverman in the big blind with K♣ 6♥ who called.

The flop came intriguingly — 9♦ Q♥ Kâ™  — giving Kaverman top pair and O’Dwyer two pair. Kaverman checked, and O’Dwyer continued for 105,000. Kaverman called, and the turn brought the 7â™  .

Kaverman checked again, and this time O’Dwyer paused a couple of beats before shoving all in — a 552,000 bet into a pot of 395,000.

Kaverman riffled and thought, then finally pushed his cards away.

Kaverman keeps a leading stack of 2.07 million after that impressive fold, while O’Dwyer has chipped up to 947,000. –MH

5:35pm: Seidel and O’Dwyer chop
Level 16 – Blinds 15,000/30,000 (ante 5,000)

Erik Seidel got his chips in dominating Steve O’Dwyer but couldn’t double as the board ran out for a chop. Seidel ripped all-in for 465,000 on the button and found a customer in O’Dwyer.

O’Dwyer: A♥ 8♣
Seidel: A♦ 9♠

The board ran Q♦ 2♣ 3♥ 2♦ K♥ and it was as you were gents. –MC

5:30pm: 2018’s first Platinum Pass winners

As you know, this time next year, we’ll be covering the first $25,000 PokerStars No-Limit Hold’em Players Championship. PokerStars is giving away 300 packages to that tournament, and the first of 2018’s Platinum Passes have found their owners. Read about it here.

5:25pm: Nasty river sends Pollak home in fifth
Level 16 – Blinds 15,000/30,000 (ante 5,000)

Benjamin Pollak will have to be happy with $203,680 after Byron Kaverman rivered him in a preflop all-in encounter. Kaverman shoved form the small blind and Pollak called all-in for 490,000 from the big blind.

Kaverman: A♣ 6♦
Pollak: A♥ Q♠

The board ran J♥ 8♦ 2â™  Kâ™  6â™  to see Kaverman spike a three-outer on the river. He extended lead rising to 2.52 million. –MC

Benjamin Pollak – 5th place

5:10pm: Kaverman collects from O’Dwyer, moves to 2M
Level 16 – Blinds 15,000/30,000 (ante 5,000)

It folded to Steve O’Dwyer on the button who had been dealt 3♥ 3♦ , and he thought a short while before raising to 75,000.

The action moved over to Byron Kaverman in the big blind who had picked up K♣ Q♣ and he chose just to call.

The flop fell 7♣ 2♦ Qâ™  giving Kaverman top pair, and he checked. O’Dwyer continued for 60,000, and Kaverman called. The turn was the K♦ , making two pair for Kaverman, and he checked again. O’Dwyer checked back this time.

The river was the 2â™  . This time Kaverman led for 135,000. O’Dwyer took his time, finally deciding upon a call, and Kaverman collected a nice pot.

Kaverman jumps to about 2 million with that pot, and O’Dwyer falls to 642,000. –MH

So far today, it has been the Byron Kaverman show

5pm: Don’t mess with Thorel
Level 15 – Blinds 12,000/24,000 (ante 4,000)

Jean-Noel Thorel will enter Level 16 with 36 big blinds after he took on and beat Byron Kaverman in a three-bet pot.

He opened to 60,000 off the button with 5♦ 5♣ and called after Kaverman three-bet to 200,000 with Aâ™  9♥ from the next seat. The flop fanned K♣ Jâ™  7♣ and Thorel bet 300,000 when Kaverman checked to him. The latter had no choice but to fold and dropped to 1.46 million. –MC

4:50pm: Seidel scores double through O’Dwyer
Level 15 – Blinds 12,000/24,000 (ante 4,000)

On the next hand after Benjamin Pollak’s double-up, it folded around to Erik Seidel in the small blind who jammed for his last 270,000 with 8♣ 7â™  . Steve O’Dwyer had K♣ 10♦ in the big blind and he made the call.

The Q♥ 8â™  8♦ flop hit Seidel’s hand in a big way, and the 7♦ turn improved him even further from trips to a full house. O’Dwyer joked that the river didn’t need to be dealt, but the 8♥ on fifth street added a last chapter to the story by making Seidel quads.

Seidel survives with about 555,000 while O’Dwyer still has about 1.05 million. –MH

Seidel back in the game

4:45pm: Pollak survives sweaty board to double up
Level 15 – Blinds 12,000/24,000 (ante 4,000)

Byron Kaverman has been doing his chip leader duties by pressuring the short stacks but it just cost him as Benjamin Pollak found a hand he could go with.

Kaverman raised to 300,000 from the button and Pollak called all-in for 218,000 from the small blind.

Pollak: A♠ A♥
Kaverman: 10♦ 6♦

The board ran 9♣ K♦ 7♥ 10â™  A♣ . Kaverman dropped to 1.53 million. –MC

4:40pm: Seidel the teacher & Konnikova the student both still seeking trophies
Level 15 – Blinds 12,000/24,000 (ante 4,000)

While Erik Seidel is among the final five here, bestselling author Maria Konnikova is also among the last five players in the $1,650 National Championship at the moment.

We note that fact because Konnikova has been at work on a new book about poker, decision-making, and how we humans deal with the effects of chance on our lives, and Seidel has served as a guide for her during what has become a quite successful poker apprenticeship.

Read more about the pair here on the PokerStars Blog in “Konnikova and Seidel aim for master/pupil double.” –MH

4:30pm: Updated counts, five remain
Level 15 – Blinds 12,000/24,000 (ante 4,000)

Kaverman has kept the lead throughout so far, while Steve O’Dwyer has chipped up and Jean-Noel Thorel has dropped back a bit. Meanwhile Erik Seidel and Benjamin Pollak are hovering right at the edge of the danger zone. –MH

Name Country Chips BBs
Byron Kaverman USA 1,770,000 74
Steve O’Dwyer Ireland 1,380,000 58
Jean-Noel Thorel France 836,000 35
Erik Seidel USA 328,000 14
Benjamin Pollak France 262,000 11

4:20pm: Kisacikoglu can’t turn it around and busts sixth
Level 15 – Blinds 12,000/24,000 (ante 4,000)

It was always going to be a tall order for Orpen Kisacikoglu to get back in this tournament today.

He was down to 82,000 when he moved all-in from under the gun. Chip leader Byron Kaverman made the automatic call from the big blind.

Kaverman: J♦ 2♥
Kisacikoglu: 6♥ 3♥

The board ran a blank Kâ™  K♥ 4â™  8♣ Q♦ and Kisacikoglu took the long walk off the stage. Kaverman moved up to 1.7 million –MC

Orpen Kisacikoglu – 6th place

4:15pm: O’Dwyer chips up versus leaders
Level 15 – Blinds 12,000/24,000 (ante 4,000)

While Orpen Kisacikoglu looked on with just three big blinds, the table’s three big stacks just tangled in a three-way pot.

Dealt Qâ™  10♥ under the gun, Byron Kaverman opened for 55,000 from under the gun, and it folded to Steve O’Dwyer in the small blind who called with J♥ J♦ . Jean-Noel Thorel then called as well from the big blind with A♥ 5â™  .

The flop came 10â™  7♥ 5♣ , and all three checked. The turn was the 2♣ . O’Dwyer checked, and Thorel fired a bet of 100,000. Kaverman called, and O’Dwyer called as well.

The river 8♥ saw O’Dwyer check and Thorel bet again, this time 150,000. Kaverman let his hand go this time, but O’Dwyer called and won the pot.

Kaverman has just under 1.6 million, O’Dwyer is up to 1.31 million, and Thorel dips to 970,000. –MH

4:10pm: O’Dwyer enters the mix
Level 15 – Blinds 12,000/24,000 (ante 4,000)

Steve O’Dwyer raised to 55,000 from under the gun holding 9â™  9♦ and was called by Jean-Noel Thorel in the next seat. He held Aâ™  8♦ and bet 55,000 on a 2♥ J♥ K♥ flop when O’Dwyer checked to him. The latter called and both players went on to check the K♦ 3♥ turn and river.

“Nines,” said O’Dwyer and opened his hand. Thorel mucked to drop to 1.19 million. O’Dwyer rose to 615,000. –MC

O’Dwyer tries to push stack higher

4pm: Kaverman pushes Pollak off pocket pair
Level 14 – Blinds 10,000/20,000 (ante 3,000)

In the last hand of the level, chip leader Byron Kaverman opened for 40,000 from under the gun with A♣ Q♦ and it folded to Benjamin Pollak in the cutoff who reraised to 135,000 with 8♥ 8♦ .

Kaverman thought a couple of beats before four-betting to 495,000 meaning Pollak would have to call with just about everything he had left to stay in the hand.

That action put a look of consternation on Pollak’s face, and he thought long enough to spend multiple time bank cards before finally letting his hand go.

That leaves Pollak with just 361,000 — 15 big blinds — while Kaverman bumps up further to 1.68 million. –MH

3:55pm: Thorel gets his chips back off Seidel
Level 14 – Blinds 10,000/20,000 (ante 3,000)

Jean-Noel Thorel called with A♥ 6♦ from under the gun and picked up Erik Seidel and Steve O’Dwyer in the blinds.

He continued for 50,000 on a 8♣ Aâ™  3♣ flop and was only check-called by Seidel who held K♣ 8♦ . Thorel’s had got better and better as the board ran out 6â™  A♣ and he bet 75,000 and 100,000 when Seidel checked to him on both streets. The American called both bets and was shown the bad news by Thorel. –MC

3:50pm: One for Thorel, one for Seidel
Level 14 – Blinds 10,000/20,000 (ante 3,000)

Jean-Noel Thorel picked up 2â™  2♦ on the day’s first hand and raised ot 50,000 from the hijack seat, and that was good enough to win the blinds and antes.

Hand No. 2 saw Thorel open-raising again, this time for 40,000 with A♠ 4♠ , and this time was called by Erik Seidel in the big blind with A♦ 7♣ .

The flop came 7♥ 6♥ J♠ and both checked, then after the 5♦ turn card fell Seidel led for 60,000. Thorel thought a moment, then called with his up-and-down straight draw.

The river was the 5♥ . Seidel checked this time, and Thorel waited a while before betting 75,000. Seidel called right away to collect the pot. –MH

3:45pm: Day 2 begins
Level 14 – Blinds 10,000/20,000 (ante 3,000)

The first hand of the final day of the $50K High Roller is being dealt. There are about 10 minutes left in Level 14. Let’s play some cards! –MH

Day 2 begins

3:30pm: Getting close!

The PokerStars.tv live stream is now streaming, and that means we’re just moments away from the start of today’s final day of the $50K High Roller. Big hands, bustouts, double-ups, photos, and more coming soon! –MH


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2:30pm: Six players, one trophy; $50K High Roller finale awaits

Just six players remain from a 46-entry field in the $50,000 High Roller Single Re-Entry — the only six who have earned the right to a piece of the massive $2,263,200 prize pool after Nick Petrangelo bubbled to end play last night.

How big of a piece will each get? That’s why we’re here.

Byron Kaverman will have the most chips when play begins today, though will have to withstand the efforts of five tough opponents to grab the title.

Byron Kaverman leads the final six

Here’s how the counts stack up to start today:

Name Country Chips BBs
Byron Kaverman USA 1,509,000 75
Jean-Noel Thorel France 1,120,000 56
Steve O’Dwyer Ireland 783,000 39
Benjamin Pollak France 538,000 27
Erik Seidel USA 494,000 25
Orpen Kisacikoglu Turkey 183,000 9

And here’s a reminder of how that prize pool is scheduled to be divided among the final six:

Place Prize
1 $769,500
2 $531,860
3 $339,480
4 $260,260
5 $203,680
6 $158,420

Play is set to begin around 3pm, but our plan will be to report all the action in tandem with the PokerStars.tv cards-up live stream which will run on a 30-minute delay. One note to add — they’ll switch from half-hour levels to 60-minute levels today, which will give the short stacks just a bit more breathing room to start.

Come back here around 3:30pm ET, then, and we’ll find out together who among these final six will be the next high roller champion at the PCA. –MH

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PokerStars Blog reporting team on the $50,000 High Roller Single Re-Entry: Martin Harris and Marc Convey. Photography by Tomas Stacha.

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