Spoiler: Eugene Katchalov wins the $100,000 Super High Roller. Let’s start at the beginning though, shall we?
Jason Mercier’s tournament uniform almost always includes something with the word “Miami” on the front of it. South Florida represent.
Hoyt Corkins’ tournament uniform? Sunglasses, a hat, a cigar, and earplugs.
2010 Main Event champion Jonathan Duhamel probably could have found the $100,000 buyin under his couch cushions
Dutchman Koen Berendsen only lasted a few minutes before running his pocket kings into pocket aces to fall as the first player eliminated
The beneficiary? Nick Schulman, who used Berendsen’s chips to run all the way to the final table
South America’s only entry to the Super High Roller was Caio Pimenta of Brazil
Vivek Rajkumar made it through Day 1 with a good stack
Andrew “LuckyChewy” Lichtenberger decided to play the Super High Roller just about 24 hours before it began. He booked a last-minute flight, and three days later, he ended up at the final table.
The always-animated Bryan Colin
The always-smiley Scott Seiver
If you were Masa Kagawa, you’d be smiling too
The massage therapists were kept awfully busy for the duration of the event
Hopefully he tipped her well; Daniel Negreanu was in “the zone” with the chip lead for a good chunk of the three-day event
Mike “Timex” McDonald came out of “retirement” to play the $100,000, then promptly flew north to return to school immediately after busting
Jason Mercier seeing stars
A few of the online heavyweights showed up to play including Dan “jungleman12″ Cates
Daniel Negreanu’s hat in front; a Swede shrouded in mystery in the back
It’s Viktor Blom — before he revealed himself to the world as the enigmatic “Isildur1″
One of the richest men in Hungary, Sandor Demjan picked his way through the field to reach the final table as well
Vivek Rajkumar moments before he was eliminated on Day 2
The seven-handed final table (clockwise from top left): Bryn Kenney, Daniel Negreanu, Humberto Brenes, Nick Schulman, Eugene Katchalov, Andrew Lichtenberger, Sandor Demjan
The Super High Roller trophy waiting for its new owner
Daniel Negreanu in game mode at the final table
Nick Schulman finished in 4th place for $400,000
Bryn Kenney finished in 3rd place for $643,000
Guess whose chips?
If you had Humberto Brenes, take your tickets to the window. Brenes finished in 5th place for $200,000.
Eugene Katchalov with Tournament Director Danny McDonagh presiding over the festivities
The battle was a captivating one as Negreanu and Katchalov traded blows for a couple hours
Daniel Negreanu moves in, one of several times during the heads-up duel with Katchalov
All eyes on the table
Daniel Negreanu in the tank on the final hand of the day
Negreanu spent more than five minutes considering before realizing it was an easy decision. “What am I doing? Of course I call,” he said.
Negreanu’s last stand
A pump of the fist as Negreanu sees the good news that his pocket fives are crushing Katchalov’s pocket fours
Negreanu plays it up for the cameras and the spectators as he sweats the final board of the day…
…Until a crushing four lands on the turn to put Negreanu one card from elimination
That’s the ballgame; Negreanu and Katchalov share a final handshake
The two finalists spent about ten minutes after the match discussing a few of the pivotal hands they’d just played
Katchalov has his moment with his new trophy
Ta-da! Eugene Katchalov celebrates his $1.5 million win