Welcome to Day 1a of the 2019 PCA $10,300 Main Event
Poker enthusiasts from near and far will be heading to the Atlantis Resort & Casino on Paradise Island at the Bahamas for the 2019 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA) $10,300 Main Event. The first of two starting days kicks off at noon local time and plenty of big names are expected to join the action and try to become the latest EPT Main Event champion.
The defending champion is Argentina's Maria Lampropulos, who topped a field of 582 entries one year ago to lift the trophy and score a payday of $1,081,100, her second seven-figure score on the international poker circuit. Lampropulos has already taken part in the record-breaking $25,000 PokerStars NL Hold'em Players Championship, which concluded yesterday with the victory of Platinum Pass qualifier Ramon Colillas, and will be there to defend her title in the days to come.
Further previous winners in the PCA Main Event include such big names as Gus Hansen, Bertrand Grospellier, Harrison Gimbel, Galen Hall, Dominik Panka and Christian Harder, who have all engraved their names into the history books of poker.
PCA Main Events at a Glance
| Year | Buy-In | Entries | Total Prize Pool | Winner | First Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | $7,500 | 221 | $1,657,500 | Gus Hansen | $455,780 |
| 2005 | $8,000 | 461 | $3,487,200 | John Gale | $890,600 |
| 2006 | $8,000 | 724 | $5,647,200 | Steve Paul-Ambrose | $1,388,600 |
| 2007 | $8,000 | 937 | $7,063,842 | Ryan Daut | $1,535,255 |
| 2008 | $8,000 | 1,136 | $8,562,976 | Bertrand Grospellier | $2,000,000 |
| 2009 | $10,000 | 1,347 | $12,674,000 | Poorya Nazari | $3,000,000 |
| 2010 | $10,300 | 1,529 | $14,831,300 | Harrison Gimbel | $2,200,000 |
| 2011 | $10,300 | 1,560 | $15,132,000 | Galen Hall | $2,300,000 |
| 2012 | $10,300 | 1,072 | $10,398,400 | John Dibella | $1,775,000 |
| 2013 | $10,300 | 987 | $9,573,900 | Dimitar Danchev | $1,859,000 |
| 2014 | $10,300 | 1,031 | $10,070,000 | Dominik Panka | $1,423,096 |
| 2015 | $10,300 | 816 | $7,915,200 | Kevin Schulz | $1,491,580 |
| 2016 | $5,300 | 928 | $4,500,800 | Mike Watson | $728,325 |
| 2017 | $5,000 | 738 | $3,376,712 | Christian Harder | $429,664 |
| 2018 | $10,300 | 582 | $5,645,400 | Maria Lampropulos | $1,081,100 |
The Main Event features two starting days and a single re-entry option for a maximum of two entries in either of the flights is available, all players receive 30,000 in chips. The registration for the event closes at the start of Day 2 on Sunday, January 13th, 2019.
Both Day 1s will feature 10 levels of 60 minutes each and there will be a break every two levels. After the end of the 6th level of the day, there will be a 1:20 dinner break (approx. 18:40 - 20:00) and each Day 1 will conclude just after midnight local time.
As of Day 2, the level duration increases to 90 minutes each and once the money has been reached, a 30 second shot clock and 30 second time bank cards will come into play until a winner has been crowned. The tournament also features the popular Big Blind Ante. In an all-in situation, the Big Blind will be posted prior to the Ante.
Day 1 Level Structure
| Level | Duration | Small Blind | Big Blind | Ante |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 60 min | 100 | 100 | |
| 2 | 60 min | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| BREAK 20 min | ||||
| 3 | 60 min | 100 | 200 | 200 |
| 4 | 60 min | 100 | 300 | 300 |
| BREAK 20 min | ||||
| 5 | 60 min | 200 | 400 | 400 |
| 6 | 60 min | 200 | 500 | 500 |
| DINNER BREAK 80 min | ||||
| 7 | 60 min | 300 | 600 | 600 |
| 8 | 60 min | 400 | 800 | 800 |
| BREAK 20 min | ||||
| 9 | 60 min | 500 | 1,000 | 1,000 |
| 10 | 60 min | 600 | 1,200 | 1,200 |
Follow the PokerNews live coverage from the Bahamas to find out who will become the next EPT Main Event champion.
, Vittorio Dicriso and Guillaume Nolet started a raising war that saw the latter at risk for 23,200 and in need of help.
appeared on the river and Dicriso gasped "oh my god", dropping to just over one third of the starting stack.
with some 8,000 in the middle.
for two pair, having missed his flush draw, and Gabay mucked 
before heading to the rail.
flop with two diamonds, Michaelis check-raised to 700 to 2,600 and Eiler called to see another king on the turn. Michaelis bet and Eiler called. After the 
river, Michaelis jammed for 17,500 with pocket treys for a full house to get snap-called by Eiler with kings for quads.
turn. Kalidou Sow snap-called and the cards were tabled.
river further improved Sow to a full house and Roberts said "Only a full house, nice hand. I was hoping for ace-jack."
turn and Guillaume Diaz checked from under the gun. Tomas Jozonis made it 5,400 to go and that sent Diaz into the think tank. After more than two minutes he tossed in calling chips with some 20,000 behind.
fell on the river and Diaz moved all in, Jozonis almost beat him into the pot.
turn, Oscar Quijada checked over to former NFL star Richard Seymour and then called a bet of 2,400. The 
for the turned straight to claim the pot.
, Enrico Camosci pushed all in and Martijn Gerrits had a decision to make with around 18,000 behind. Gerrits only needed a few seconds before announcing the call and the cards were turned over.
on the river failed to improve Gerrits, instead, Camosci further improved to a flush to rake in the pot.
