$1,650 National Championship
Day 3 Completed
2018 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure
$1,650 National Championship
Day: 3
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
2018 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure
Buy-in
$1,650
Entries
290
Level
27
Blinds
30,000 / 60,000
Ante
10,000
Level 27
: 30,000/60,000, 10,000 ante
One of the premier events at the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure 2018 has drawn to a close and it was Maria Konnikova capturing the title in the $1,650 PCA National. Konnikova battled her way through three long and grueling days to take home her first ever title and $84,600.
Konnikova entered heads-up play against Alexander Ziskin with a three-to-one chip lead and it didn't take long for her to finish things off. After a few quick hands of Konnikova raising and taking down the blinds, she got her opponent all in on the turn and drawing to just nine outs. Ziskin was unable to connect with the river and Konnikova raised her arms in victory.
An interesting story follows the Russian-American female that has captured the hearts of the poker community. Konnikova moved to the United States from Russia and earned degrees from Havard and Columbia, including a Ph.D. in psychology. She became a writer for publications like the New York Times, The Atlantic, Scientific American, and the list goes on. About a year ago at the PokerStars festival in Monte Carlo, Konnikova decided to learn the game of poker and asked the infamous, Erik Seidel to help mentor/coach her. Her goal in all of this was to play poker for a year, to learn the game, and then write a book about it.
Since the poker career began, Konnikova has gathered a few second place finishes, amassing to around $30,000 in tournament earnings. She never expected to come this far in this short period of time. Winning a prestige event at the PCA? "It feels amazing. I started poker from scratch a year ago. I have the best coach in the world, Erik Seidel, so I've been very lucky. I've been working really hard and it's so validating to achieve this."
Final Table Results
| Position | Player | Country | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maria Konnikova | United States | $84,600 |
| 2 | Alexander Ziskin | United States | $56,250 |
| 3 | Kevin MacDonald | Canada | $41,140 |
| 4 | Loek van Wely | Nedtherlands | $33,210 |
| 5 | Harrison Gimbel | United States | $26,040 |
| 6 | Ryan Smith | Canada | $19,710 |
| 7 | Marcos Carneiro Antunes | Brazil | $14,480 |
| 8 | Chris Moorman | United Kingdom | $10,640 |
This three-day tournament began with a total of 290 entries and was dwindled down to just 62 players after 14 hours of play on Day 1. Many notables took to the felt including PokerStars Team Pros Barry Greenstein and Jake Cody, Mike Leah, Kevin MacPhee, and Joseph Cheong who all packed their bags early. When Day 2 arrived, the money bubble approached quickly with 39 places getting paid. Some notables to reach the money included Sylvain Loosli (38th Place - $2,900), Katie Lindsay (32nd Place - $2,900), Simon Deadman (23rd Place - $4,140), Dylan Wilkerson (20th Place - $4,560), and Rex Clinkscales (13th Place - $6,460).
The unofficial final table was reached late on Day 2 when Thomas Taylor was eliminated in 10th place for $7,380. The final nine players gathered at one table and would play down to the final eight. It was Sharman Olshan, who showed great poise throughout the tournament, that busted in 9th place when she was unable to win a flip against Ryan Smith. With that, the players bagged and tagged and headed off to get some much-needed rest.
Final Table Summary
When the final table assembled on Day 3, there were still a few familiar faces remaining. Chris Moorman, a WSOP bracelet holder and online crusher from the UK, was the first to fall. Not long after, Brazilian, Marcos Carneiro Antunes hit the rail and they were down to six players. Nearly two hours later without an elimination, short-stacked Ryan Smith ran into a red-hot Konnikova with each of them flopping a set, Konnikova's being the larger one.
With five players left, chips were passed around the table with each player taking their share of the chip lead. Harrison Gimbel was the most recognized player left in the field, but unfortunately, the blinds caught up with him and he hit the rail in fifth place. Four-handed play lasted another two hours, before a couple quick eliminations of Loek van Wely and Kevin MacDonald resulted in heads-up play.
That wraps up our coverage for the 2018 PCA National, but stay locked in as the PokerNews live reporting team will bring you up-to-date action throughout the remaining events here in the Bahamas.
Level 27
: 30,000/60,000, 10,000 ante
Maria Konnikova entered heads-up play with a healthy chip lead and she never slowed down. Konnikova raised to 125,000 on the button and Alexander Ziskin called. The flop came 
and Ziskin checked to Konnikova who bet 125,000. Ziskin check-raised to 300,000 and Konnikova called.
The turn brought the 
and Ziskin pushed all in for 550,000. Konnikova asked for a count and then made the call. Ziskin turned over 
for a straight and flush draw and Konnikova tabled 
for ace-high and a bigger flush draw. Konnikova would need to fade nine outs to take the title and she waited patiently as the cameras gathered with one card to come.
The dealer burned and turned the 
on the river and Konnikova made two pair, kings and tens, to eliminate Ziskin and become the PCA National champion.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
5,800,000
1,330,000
|
1,330,000 |
|
||
|
Busted | |
Level: 27
Blinds: 30,000/60,000
Ante: 10,000
Level 26
: 25,000/50,000, 5,000 ante
Kevin MacDonald raised to 150,000 from the small blind and Maria Konnikova pushed forward a three-bet to 600,000 out of the big blind. MacDonald announced all in for 1,600,000 and Konnikova snapped him off.
Maria Konnikova: 
Kevin MacDonald: 
MacDonald was in danger of being eliminated and the when the board ran out 
, Konnikova made a straight to make this a heads-up duel.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
4,470,000
2,440,000
|
2,440,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
1,400,000 | |
|
Busted | |
Level 26
: 25,000/50,000, 5,000 ante
Kevin MacDonald raised to 150,000 from the button, Maria Konnikova three-bet to 600,000 from the big blind, MacDonald four-bet jammed, and Konnikova called to put herself at risk.
MacDonald: 
Konnikova: 
Konnikova had the preflop advantage and extended her lead on the 
flop, but it wasn't over as MacDonald picked up a flush draw. The 
on the turn gave MacDonald a few more outs, and although the 
river gave MacDonald a straight, it also gave Konnikova the a full house, so she took the pot to double up.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
2,030,000
840,000
|
840,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
1,725,000
-100,000
|
-100,000 |
Level 26
: 25,000/50,000, 5,000 ante
Kevin MacDonald raised to 125,000 in the small blind and Loek van Wely shoved all in for 760,000 in the big blind. MacDonald quickly called and the cards were on their backs.
Kevin MacDonald: 
Loek van Wely:
The board ran out 
and MacDonald's ace-high was good enough to eliminate van Wely in fourth place.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
2,770,000
945,000
|
945,000 |
|
Busted |
Level 26
: 25,000/50,000, 5,000 ante
Kevin MacDonald raised to 125,000 from the button and Maria Konnikova called from the big blind.
The flop came 
and Konnikova checked. MacDonald bet 100,000 and Konnikova called.
The turn brought the 
and both players checked.
The fell on the river and Konnikova checked. MacDonald bet 240,000, Konnikova called, and MacDonald showed for a rivered wheel. Konnikova tossed her cards into the muck and MacDonald took the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
1,825,000
-215,000
|
-215,000 |
|
|
1,190,000
-140,000
|
-140,000 |
|
|
||
Level 26
: 25,000/50,000, 5,000 ante
Action folded around to the blinds and Loek van Wely raised to 125,000 from the small. Maria Konnikova three-bet shoved from the big for 680,000 and van Wely called to put her at risk.
Van Wely:
Konnikova: 
Van Wely had a commanding lead with his aces and Konnikova needed a lot of help from the deck to preserve her tournament life. She picked up some additional outs in the form of an open-ended straight draw when the flop came 
. The on the turn made Konnikova's straight and left van Wely in need of a spade on the river. The 
changed nothing and Konnikova took the pot to double up.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
1,330,000
395,000
|
395,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
860,000
-750,000
|
-750,000 |
Level 26
: 25,000/50,000, 5,000 ante
Loek van Wely attempted to raise on the button but only stuck in 60,000, which was ruled as a call. Alexander Ziskin was able to check his option from the big blind and the flop came 
.
Ziskin check-called a bet of 50,000 from van Wely and the rolled off on the turn. Ziskin led out for 100,000 and van Wely quickly called. The completed the board and Ziskin placed a bet of 275,000. After counting out his chips, van Wely made the call, only to see Ziskin table 
for two pair and scooped the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
1,610,000
-280,000
|
-280,000 |
|
|
1,400,000
370,000
|
370,000 |