The PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA) is happening now, and later this month the PokerStars Players NLH Hold’em Championship (PSPC) will take place January 30-February 3. One man who will be heading to the Bahamas is 41-year-old Jared “BeamDoctorPoker” Halter, who won a Platinum Pass on PokerStars Michigan.
“I won a PSPC Platinum Pass on Wednesday, November 9,” Halter told PokerNews. “I had just returned from Vegas that morning on a red eye flight and slept for four hours on a friend’s couch before I drove home for two hours. To be honest, I was very fortunate to win because I had a very rough 72 hours. Some things happened in Vegas that caused me to have anxiety attacks for the first time in my life and I ended up only sleeping about five hours total in the previous 48.”
He continued: “I was exhausted and when the MTT started, I said to myself, it will take a miracle for me to win. Funny enough, I mis-clicked two different times early in the tourney and called three-bets with hands like 85o (I did not win those hands). I streamed the tourney, and only single tabled it, because of how tired and ungrounded I felt from the previous time. During the stream, I talked about how exhausted I was and how there was almost zero chance I win. Of course, as we know, the universe had a different plan.”
Jason Mercier opened to 6,000 from middle position and Thomas Muehloecker three-bet to 15,500 from the button. Action folded back to Mercier who four-bet jammed for 56,500. Muehloecker snap-called and they both tabled their hands.
Jason Mercier:
Thomas Muehloecker:
Mercier was at risk and dominated. The board was of no help to him, and he headed to the exit five away from the money.
Action was heads up with over 150,000 in the pot and on the board when Tobias Schwecht bet 85,000 from the big blind. Chris Brewer shoved with more and Schwecht thought it over for a moment before he tossed in his last 35,000 and turned over for fours and treys. Brewer turned over for the straight and Schwecht was out of the tournament.
Elsewhere, Anthony Swift was all in for 47,500 and Andre Akkari was the caller.
Anthony Swift:
Andre Akkari:
The board ran out and Swift held on with the pocket aces for a double.
Cassio Kiles moved all in from the cutoff for 23,500 and was called by Andy Wilson in the small blind.
Cassio Kiles:
Andy Wilson:
It was a flip for Kiles' tournament life. The flop came offering no help. The turn was a blank, but the river brought the to give Kiles a crucial double up which left Wilson with under ten big blinds.
Inaugural PSPC winner Ramon Colillas opened to 6,000 with his from the cutoff and called after Sam Grafton made it 27,000 with from the small blind.
Grafton continued for 20,000 on the and was called. The turn brought in the and Grafton fired a second bet of 50,000 and again Collias called.
The completed the board and Grafton still had the best hand. Grafton fired out for 60,000, leaving 3,000 behind. Colillas found the fold after several minutes of tanking and Grafton won the battle of the ambassadors.
Steve O'Dwyer opened from the hijack to 6,500 and was called by Michael Gathy and David Stamm from the blinds.
O'Dywer continued for 13,500 on the flop after the action was checked to him. Gathy then raised to 37,500 which folded out Stamm. O'Dwyer responded by jamming in his stack which Gathy wasn't too pleased about.
After asking for a count, which was confirmed at 128,500, Gathy ended up folding.
The very next hand, David Peters opened to 7,000 and Gathy made it 17,000 from the button. Stamm, now in the small blind, moved all in for 114,000. Peters folded and Gathy asked for a count and decided to call.
David Stamm:
Michael Gathy:
"Uh oh," said Stamm as the cards were tabled and there was more reason to worry as Gathy made two pair on the flop. No miracle runout would arrive to save Stamm and he was eliminated before the money after the dealer completed the board with the .