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The partypoker MILLIONS North America $5,300 Main Event saw a huge turnout of 1,954 runners coming up shy of the 2,000 entry mark needed to hit the C$10,000,000 guarantee. The event paid out the top 251 places with the top three finishers walking away with at least a million-dollars.
The event had five starting day 1’s and the registrations remained open until the two Day 2’s ended.
The final day of the event came to an end with Taylor Black (cover image) from Santa Cruz, California lifting his first MILLIONS trophy and he even got his hands on the C$1,400,000 top prize – his biggest career cash. Black defeated well-known poker pro Darryll Fish after two hours of intense heads-up battle.
“It feels great, it’s hard to describe. You play a million tournaments and to actually win one is really awesome.” An elated Black stated in the post event interview. “I don’t really have plans for (the money) yet. I’m not sure, I’m kind of shell-shocked”, he added.
Final Table Recap
The first to hit the rail on the eight handed official final table was Canada’s Tommy Nguyen who opened from early position holding and Black 3-bet from the hijack with . Nguyen called to see the flop . Both players checked the turn and Nguyen bet. Black called with three-of-a-kind and on the river , Black shoved and Nguyen instantly check-called to see the bad news.
Next up, George Lagos hit the rail in seventh place. Black opened, Anthony Ruberto called with and action folded to Lagos who jammed with . Black mucked and Ruberto snap-called. The board ran and Ruberto rivered a higher flush to eliminate Lagos.
Demosthenes Kiriopoulos was the next one out after he jammed with and Black called with . The board blanked out and Kiriopoulos was sent to the payout desk.
Shortly thereafter, Charles La Boissonniere was busted by Ruberto. The hand in question saw Markus Prinz limp in and Boissonniere moved all-in with . Anthony Ruberto re-shoved with and sent Boissonniere packing in fifth place.
Markus Prinz’s deep run ended in fourth place when he shoved with only to see Darryll Fish instantly calling with . No help for Prinz on the board and he the play got down to three-way.
Up next, Anthony Ruberto’s lined up at the cashiers desk at third place. Ruberto opened the action with and Black 3-bet holding . Ruberto called to see the flop flop and Ruberto bet. Black check-raised with his set of jacks and Ruberto called with just ace-high. On the turn , Black checked again and Ruberto announced all in with just a straight draw. Black snap-called and his slowrolling got him the massive pot and with that, the heads-up between him and Fish began.
It took over two hours of heads-up play to finally decide a winner and the last hand saw, Fish raising with , Black re-raised with and Fish called too see the flop . Black fired another big bet and Fish announced all-in. Black snap-called with his pocket aces and locked in on the title on the rundown .
Final Table Results (CAD)
1. Taylor Black – $1,400,000
2. Darryll Fish – $1,200,000
3. Anthony Ruberto – $1,000,000
4. Markus Prinz – $800,000
5. Charles La Boissonniere – $600,000
6. Demosthenes Kiriopoulos – $400,000
7. George Lagos – $302,500
8. Tommy Nguyen – $215,000