2009 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure Comes to an End; Pooray Nazari Wins

The field of over 1,300 players was whittled down to eight as final table play began at the 2009 European Poker Tour PokerStars Caribbean Adventure this past weekend. The large playing field had created a prize pool of $3 million that the final eight would play hard for.

The final table began early in the afternoon with eight players. Alexandre Gomes was in the chip lead with just over 8 million and close behind him in second was Poorya Nazari with almost 7 million. Further down the line in third was Benny Spindler with just over 3.3 million, Pieter Tielen with just over 2.3 million and Anthony Gregg with just over 2.2 million chips.

The other three players, Kevin Saul, Dan Heimiller and Dustin Dirksen were further down in the chip counts when play began. Saul and Heimiller both had a little over 1 million and Dirksen had only 765,000 chips.

Even though Dirksen had the least amount of chips he would not be the first to go. Saul and Nazari would go all in early with Saul holding K-J and Nazari with pocket Queens. The board showed a Jack but Saul’s pair was not enough to beat Nazari and Saul was out in eighth.

Heimiller would go out next when he went all in and was called by Nazari and Gregg. Heimiller held pocket fives, Nazari had pocket eights and Gregg held pocket nines. The board fell K-J-J-6-7 and Heimiller was out in seventh while Gregg pretty much tripled his chips.

The next few to be eliminated would be Pieter Tielen, Alexandre Gomes and Benny Spindler, in that order. By the time heads up play began Nazari was up 17,685,000 to Greggs 9,210,000 in chips. In the final hand Gregg went all in with Q-7 and Nazari called with A-10. The board came 10-6-5-3-9 and Nazari was the winner.

Final results:

1.Poorya Nazari -- $3,000,000
2.Anthony Gregg -- $1,700,000
3.Benny Spindler -- $1,100,000
4.Alexandre Gomes -- $750,000
5.Pieter Tielen -- $550,000
6.Dustin Dirksen -- $400,000
7.Daniel Heimiller -- $300,000
8.Kevin Saul -- $214,000