Viktor Blom Wins PCA Super High Roller

Until a year ago, nobody officially knew that Viktor Blom was the man behind the legendary screen name of Isildur1. Until now, Blom’s successes had come almost exclusively in the online arena, with his only notable live cash coming in the 2010 World Series of Poker Europe. But now, Blom has a live tournament victory he can definitely hang his hat on.

Viktor Blom won the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure Super High Roller event Saturday, topping a field of 29 players who each put up $100,000 to win a prize of $1,254,000. Blom defeated Dan Shak in heads up play to take the early lead as the winningest player of 2012.

Out of the 29 players who entered, only five were guaranteed to cash. After Scott Seiver had the misfortune of bubbling in 6^th place, it was Daniel Negreanu who would be the first to fall in the money. Negreanu, who finished 2^nd in last year’s Super High Roller, took 5^th place this time around to earn a prize of just over $250,000.

Canadian pro Jonathan Duhamel started the new year on a positive note with his fourth place finish in the event. Duhamel, who was recently the victim of a home invasion and robbery, earned $313,600 for his efforts.

When Galen Hall was eliminated in 3^rd (taking home $470,400), that left Blom and Shak to battle for 2012’s first great prize of the year. Blom entered heads up play with about a 3-2 chip lead, making him the likely favorite to win the tournament.

Blom dominated the heads up session, eventually securing an overwhelming chip lead of more than 6-1. On the final hand, Shak shoved a gutshot straight and flush draw and got a call from Blom, who held top pair. The river blanked, knocking Shak out and giving Blom his first live tournament title. Shak took home $846,700 for second place.

Blom is best known for playing in the nosebleed cash games at major poker sites – first Full Tilt Poker, and now PokerStars. For well over a year, the identity of the mysterious “Isildur1” was unknown; however, rumors soon began to swirl that Blom was the man behind the highly volatile high stakes player, and his identity was officially revealed at least year’s PCA.