Back in February, PokerStars hosted a special 12th Anniversary PokerStars Sunday Million tournament but failed to meet their advertised $10 million guarantee. This past Sunday, they gave it another go with the PokerStars Sunday Million Anniversary Tournament Take 2, and this time it was a success.
Rebuy for the Win
February’s Anniversary Tournament topped out at 43,975 entries, which resulted in a more than $1.2 million overlay. Brazil’s “Hulk9950” emerged victorious in that event for $960K.
The “Take 2” $215 buy-in PokerStars Sunday Million Anniversary Tournament attracted 56,310 entrants, which this time surpassed the $10 million guarantee by creating a $11,262,000 prize pool. One player competing was the Netherlands’ “Daenarys T,” who also gave it a go back in February.
In the second iteration, “Daenarys T” had to rebuy, which proved to be a wise and profitable decision.
The tournament came down to Rick “ThEcLaiMEer” Trigg and “Daenarys T” with the former holding a 2/1 chip lead. “Daenarys T” managed to hit a little heater to take the lead, and soon things came to a head.
In the final hand of the tournament, “Daenarys T” raised holding the A♥6♥ and Trigg defended with the J♣10♥. The A♠10♦8♣ flop saw Trigg check-call a bet of 14,875,000 and the 3♥ landed on the turn. Trigg checked again and then called a bet of 54,187,000 from “Daenarys T.”
When the 2♠ completed the board on the river, Trigg checked for a third time and then called off with second pair. The top pair of “Daenarys T” was good and Trigg was awarded $715,335.28 for finishing in second place.
Upon winning the $1 million first-place prize, the 24-year-old “Daenarys T,” who has been playing on PokerStars since 2013, informed his girlfriend of the win and then took his dog for a walk to let things sink in.
“I play tournaments off and on. I moved to Amsterdam four months ago,” he told PokerStars a couple days after the win. “I’ve been lazy, playing a lot of live cash instead of grinding tournaments online, which is pretty tough. I chose the easy way and played cash in casinos.”
He continued: “Final few tables I was 100 per cent sure I was best player in the field. There was only ThEcLaiMEer. All the others were recreational players. Two regs and 25 Rec players.”
Everyone was scared money. I was ALSO scared money! But I knew I had to go crazy because everyone was scared.”
“Daenarys T” also revealed that he purchased a Rolex, plans to take his girlfriend to Ibiza, and looks forward to telling his parents of his big win later this week.
Winner-Take-All Platinum Pass
The tournament saw 9,295 players cash, and now they all have the opportunity to win a Platinum Pass worth $30,000 to the PokerStars Players No Limit Hold’em Championship (PSPC) in the Sunday Cashers All-in Shootout Giveaway, on May 5 at 15:00 ET.
The giveaway tournament is held the first Sunday of every month and open to all those who cash in either the Sunday Warm-Up, Sunday Storm, Sunday Million or Mini Sunday Million.
Speaking of Platinum Passes, one was given away during the PokerStars Sunday Million Anniversary Tournament. A random table was selected and those nine players were entered into an instant winner-take-all tournament. PokerStars Ambassadors Ben “Spraggy” Spragg and Fintan Hand streamed the action as Norway’s “hackrmaenz” played his way to a $30K prize.
The Norwegian secured the victory when he got it in holding the A♥2♦ against the K♥9♣ of “cheeeese401.” The board ran out 3♠5♥10♥4♠A♣ and “hackrmaenz” turned a wheel to lock up the win.
Final Table Results
1 “Daenarys T” (Netherlands) $1,000,043
2 Rick “ThEcLaiMEer” Trigg (UK) $715,335
3 “Noobanx” (Mongolia) $505,818
4 “peter788502” (Bulgaria) $357,667
5 “Hidey7” (UK) $252,910
6 “Mike180373” (Russia) $178,834
7 “Sholkey989” (Mongolia) $126,456
8 “kaizerdrea” (Norway) $89,418
9 “Rippedut” (Canada) $63,229
