The 2009 Poker Stars Caribbean Adventure saw 1,347 players fighting to take home the grand prize of $3 million. In the end it would be an online qualifier, Canadian Poorya Nazari, walking away with the victory.
Kevin Saul would be the first player to head for the exits when he moved all-in with [Ks][Js] and could not overcome the pocket queens of Poorya Nazari. Saul paired his jack on the flop, but that would be all the help he’d receive. Kevin Saul collected $234,000 for his eighth place finish.
Daniel Heimiller found himself exiting in a hand that saw Heimiller moving all-in with pocket fives, Poorya Nazari moving all-in with pocket eights, and Anthony Gregg moving all-in with pocket nines. Poorya Nazari held the most chips and so was the only one of the three not at risk of elimination. The board rolled out K-J-J-6-7 to give the victory to the player with the largest pocket pair, Anthony Gregg. Heimiller had the fewest chips and so headed for the exits, earning $300,000 for his seventh place finish.
Benny Spindler would take out the first of three players to fall at his hands when back and forth preflop raises saw Dustin Dirksen moving all-in. Spindler called to set up the coin flip, Spindler’s pocket tens against Dirksen’s [Ad][Kd]. No help came for Dirksen on the board of [Qh][Jh][Js][6d][3h], and Dirksen was gone in sixth place, having earned $400,000.
Benny Spindler’s next victim would be Peter Tielen, who would also fall in a coin flip situation. Tielen shoved all-in after Spindler raised Spindler made the call. Tielen held [Ac][Qh] and needed help against Spindler’s pocket eights. He would not get the ace or queen he needed as the board delivered [10h][7c][6d][5s][Kd] to the felt. Peter Tielen exited in fifth place, richer by $550,000.
Alex Gomes would be the last of Spindler’s three victims in a hand where the flop fell [Jd][Jh][Js]. Gomes bet out on the flop, and Spindler threw out a raise, which Gomes promptly called. On the [5s] turn Gomes checked to Spindler, who threw out a bet, and Gomes responded by moving all-in. Spindler quickly called and revealed [Kc][Jc] for the quad jacks, and Gomes showed his own pocket aces. Alex Gomes finished in fourth place for a payday of $750,000.
Benny Spindler’s tournament would come to an end after a long three-way battle. Spindler made his move with [Qd][Jh] and found himself dominated by Poorya Nazari’s [As][Jd]. The board of [Ks][4s][3s][10d][Kd] was utterly unhelpful for the beleaguered Spindler, who exited in third place, having earned $1,100,000.
The heads-up duel between Poorya Nazari and Anthony Gregg lasted a mere four hands. Gregg shoved all-in preflop over the top of a Poorya Nazari raise while holding [Qd][7s]. Nazari called with [Ac][10d] and further secured his advantage with a ten on the flop of [10s][6c][5c]. Needing a queen, Gregg watched as the turn fell [3s] and the river fell [9d].
Anthony Gregg collected $1,700,000 for finishing in second place and Poorya Nazari took home the victor’s prize of $3,000,000.
If you are interested in winning your way into a major live tournaments around the world and win a huge prize as Poorya Nazari was able to, just visit the Poker Stars website or read our online poker room reviews to learn more about playing in online poker tournaments that can send you to events like the Poker Stars Caribbean Adventure.