The PokerStars Players No Limit Hold’em Championship (PSPC) is into the money, and, by the end of today’s session, we’ll have our final table.
However, before someone wins $4 million, we need to whittle down the final 52. Leading the way at the start of Day 4 is Petar Kalev. He returns to the table with 3.3 million chips, which is over three times the current average.
Also still in the mix are Chris Moorman, PokerStars ambassador Sam Grafton, and 2019 PSPC finalist, Talal Shakerchi. The plethora of talent on display is hardly surprising given that almost every world-class tournament player is in the Bahamas right now. However, what’s perhaps even less surprising is that 15 Platinum Pass winners are still in the mix.
Platinum Pass winners still have golden opportunity
PokerStars put a total of 418 Platinum Pass winners into the $25,000 tournament. 53 made it into one of the 175 payout spots, the most notable of which was Greg Craigen.
The construction worker freerolled his way into the PokerStars Players No Limit Hold’em Championship, so he literally had nothing to lose. He did, however, have everything to gain by making it into the money. Well, as if fairy tales really do come true, Craigen cashed.
He was spotted dancing on the tournament floor when the bubble burst. Surviving for almost three days earned Craigen $35,100, but he wasn’t done there. He eventually found himself on the feature table where his journey ended.
Greg Craigen finished in 111th place. That finish netted him $46,500 and the respect of everyone at Baha Mar. The win means Craigen isn’t going back to the construction site this summer. Instead, he’s going to use the money to grind cash games at his local casino.
Contrasting fortunes at PokerStars Players No Limit Hold’em Championship
From one of the most heart-warming stories of the PSPC to the most heartbreaking. Mauricio Ferreira Pais had the dubious honor of becoming this year’s bubble boy.
The German pro moved all-in with J♥ 5♥ and found a caller in Omar Del Pino with Q♦ 6♥. A queen on the flop virtually ended the hand before a second on the turn put it beyond any doubt.
With that, 175 players were into the money. Someone else who, unfortunately, didn’t make the money was CardsChat member Chris Robinson. He started Day 3 with a short stack but he didn’t let that stop him.
Well…I'm sad to say the dream died. I found AQdd and shoved 12BB. The Big blind (table chip leader) called off w/ K3ss and the board ran out Qs5d5hJsAs to river the nut flush.
Overall, I'm so humbled to have gotten to play and so thankful to @PokerStars for the chance #PSPC— Chris Robinson (@ChrisRobinson81) February 1, 2023
He was all-in multiple times as I watched from the rail. Eventually, he found a caller. The good news is that Robinson was ahead with A♦ Q♦. The bad news is that his opponent had K♠ 3♠.
A queen on the flop was a good start for our man, but runner-runner spades wasn’t. An unlikely flush sent Robinson to the rail with a heavy heart but a sense of accomplishment that he’d hung with the best in the world. He did everything right but, on this occasion, it wasn’t to be.
Where Robinson fell, others remain standing and they’ll return for the penultimate day of the PokerStars Players No Limit Hold’em Championship on Thursday.
