At simply 29 years of age, Stephen Track has already amassed a large event poker {hardware} assortment. The skilled participant from Greenwich, Connecticut should make room subsequent to his World Collection of Poker bracelet and WPT Prime Championship trophy for a brand new marquee addition: the 2024 PokerStars European Poker Tour Barcelona important occasion golden spade. This was his thirteenth recorded title.
Track overcame a discipline of 1,975 whole entries within the €5,300 buy-in no-limit maintain’em event that ran from Sept. 1-8 inside On line casino Barcelona, incomes a career-best payday of $1,432,328 for the win. He now has greater than $8.1 million in lifetime earnings to his title.
This victory additionally awarded 2,160 Card Participant Participant of the 12 months factors to Track. This was his first title and fourth final-table end of the 12 months. With 2,650 factors and almost $1.6 million in to-date POY earnings, he’s now ranked 73rd within the 2024 POY standings introduced by International Poker.
The highest 287 finishers earned a share of the prize pool on this occasion, which ended up being price greater than $10.6 million when reckoned in US {dollars}. After two beginning flights and 5 extra days of combined-field motion, simply six gamers remained heading into the ultimate day of play.
Track held the chip result in begin. Andrew Hulme was capable of earn an early double up with pocket aces on his method to overtaking the highest spot within the chip counts. Rania Nasreddine, who completed third within the EPT Monte Carlo important occasion earlier this 12 months, scored the primary knockout of the day. Her A-Ok held towards the Q-J suited of Boris Kuzmanovic (sixth – $340,659) to slender the sphere to 5.
David Coleman was the following to fall. The American poker professional defended his large blind with J9 going through a small-blind elevate of 1,100,000 from chip chief Hulme, who held QQ. The flop got here down J33 and Hulme made a 750,000 continuation wager. Coleman referred to as and the two rolled off on the flip. Hulme wager 1,450,000 and Coleman referred to as once more along with his jacks and threes. The A on the river prompted a shove from Hulme, regardless of the late look of an overcard to his pocket queens. Coleman made the decision and was proven a successful overpair by his opponent.
Coleman earned $442,835 because the fifth-place finisher, his fourth-largest rating but. This was his twenty first final-table end of the 12 months, with 5 POY-qualified titles and greater than $3.6 million in POY earnings gathered alongside the best way. His 8,300 whole factors are good for second place on the POY leaderboard.
A battle of the blinds noticed Nasreddine left on fumes. Marius-Catalin Pertea shoved from the small blind with 9-8 and Nasreddine referred to as with A-Ok. The flop and switch have been secure for Nasreddine, however a 9 on the river gave Pertea the double-up and left Nasreddine with fewer than three large blinds. She was quickly all-in with A3 trailing the A8 of Hume, which made two pair on the flop. Nasreddine was drawing useless by the flip and was eradicated in fourth place ($575,646). She now has greater than $1.7 million in lifetime earnings, with nearly all of that coming from her back-to-back EPT important occasion last desk showings this 12 months.
Track was the clear chip chief heading into three-handed play. That hole was closed significantly, although, when Hulme’s A6 outraced Pertea’s 55. A six on the river despatched Pertea, who certified for this event on-line for simply $55, packing in third place ($748,307). This was far and away the biggest rating but for the Romanian.
Heads-up play started with Track holding 33,550,000 to Hulme’s 25,980,000. The 2 struck a deal to redistribute the remaining prize cash, locking up $1,293,832 for Hulme and $1,369,281 for Track whereas leaving the title and $63,048 to play for.
Track was capable of get an enormous bluff by way of to increase his lead. Within the last hand, Track shoved from the button with A7 and Hulme referred to as off his final 9 or so large blinds with 88. The board got here down 565349 and Track turned a seven-high straight to win the pot and the title. Hulme walked away with the payout he negotiated for within the deal. This was the biggest rating but for the participant from the UK, topping the $350,000 he earned because the 18th-place finisher within the 2023 WSOP important occasion.
Here’s a take a look at the payouts and POY factors awarded on the last desk:
Place
Participant
Earnings
POY Factors
1
Stephen Track
$1,432,328
2160
2
Andrew Hulme
$1,293,832
1800
3
Marius-Catalin Pertea
$748,307
1440
4
Rania Nasreddine
$575,646
1080
5
David Coleman
$442,835
900
6
Boris Kuzmanovic
$340,659
720
Picture credit: Rational Mental Holdings Ltd. / Danny Maxwell.