The High Roller was Event #12 in the Playground Poker Fall Classic, and featured a $10,000 + $300 buy-in with a $300,000 guarantee. Players were allowed unlimited re-entries leading up to the start of Day 2, and once registration was closed there were a total of 29 entries, one shy of the guarantee.
Some of the biggest names in poker took part in this 2-day event, including Bryn Kenney, Jonathan Duhamel and Darren Elias to name a few. When play wrapped up after Day 1, there were 14 players who found a bag, and another 3 jumped into the action prior to the Day 2 restart.
The 9-handed final table was formed rather quickly on Day 2, but it took a few more hours of play to reach the money-bubble, with 4 places on the payout list. The first player eliminated in-the-money was Lawrence Greenberg, who collected a $30,000 prize for his finish. Ajay Gnanasambanthan was then eliminated in 3rd place for $50,000, leaving way for a heads-up match between Martin Raus and Jonathan Duhamel.
Martin, who re-entered the tournament early in Day 1 after his AA was cracked by Darren’s AK, began the duel slightly behind Jonathan, however he flipped the stacks rather quickly. Jonathan then grinded his way back into the chip lead, and began leaning on his opponent until the final hand took place after nearly 4 levels of heads-up play.
Martin completed from the small blind for 40,000, and Jonathan moved all-in from the big blind. With around 600,000 in front of him, Martin committed the chips, and hands were tabled.
Jonathan: 
Martin: 
Martin took the lead on the 
board, but Jonathan turned a set to lock in the hand as the runout brought a 
and a 
. Jonathan was crowned our High Roller champion, collecting $130,000 for the win, while Martin took home a runner-up prize of $81,000.
Congratulations!
High Roller Champion: Jonathan Duhamel – $130,000.00
Runner-up: Martin Raus – $81,000.00
Last hand of play
