Spring Classic 2017

High Roller Champion: Mike “Timex” McDonald

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The High Roller has come to close after almost 17 hours of play over 2 days, and seasoned pro Mike “Timex” McDonald was the last man standing, earning a cool $200,000 prize for his win along with a Playground Poker Spring Classic Champion’s Trophy. 47 players registered into this $10,000 + $300 event, of which 6 made a re-entry, and the final 6 players earned a cash payout.

Mike McDonald brought the field to the final table by eliminating Day 1 chip-leader Michael Addamo in 10th place, taking over the chip-lead in the process. Jason Koon was the first to exit from the final table after running Ace of Clubs King of Clubs into the Ace of Diamonds Ace of Hearts of Marc-Olivier Carpentier-Perrault. Mike then brought the event into the money by eliminating both 8th place John Krpan and 7th place Ryan Yu.

Sorel Mizzi found a runner-runner flush to eliminate Vishal Singh Maini in 6th place, who collected a $20,000 min-cash. Benoit Galland ($30,000) and Roberto Romanello ($50,000) were then sent to the rail leading to the final 3 – Mike, Sorel and Marc-Olivier.

Play continued 3-handed for several orbits before Marc-Olivier called Sorel’s 4-bet all-in. Marc-Olivier came from behind and score the knock to take over the chip lead as heads-up began between him and Mike. Sorel collected a 3rd place prize of $84,100.

Marc-Olivier began the heads-up match with a 3-to-2 chip advantage, although the stacks were flipped in a matter of minutes. Midway through the second level of the duel, Marc-Olivier bumped to 100K from the small blind and found a call from Mike. Both players checked on the 4 of Diamonds King of Clubs 6 of Clubs flop, and Mike checked once again as the 3 of Spades hit the turn. Marc-Oliver bet 150K, and called Mike’s check-raise of 500K. On the 3 of Diamonds river, Mike slid forward a bet of 800K, and called off Marc-Olivier’s all-in raise. Both players tabled a full house, however Mike’s Sixes-full with 6 of Diamonds 6 of Hearts triumphed over Threes-full as Marc-Olivier showed 4 of Spades 3 of Clubs.

With that pot, Mike was crowned our Playground Poker Spring Classic High Roller champion!

Congratulations!

High Roller Champion: Mike McDonald – $200,000.00

High Roller Runner Up: Marc-Olivier Carpentier Perrault – $130,000.00

Marc-Olivier Carpentier-Perrault

Last hand of play

Heads-Up: Marc-Olivier Carpentier-Perrault vs Mike McDonald

  • Level: 20
  • Small Blind: 20K
  • Big Blind: 40K
  • Ante: 0
  • Chip Average: 2.7M
  • Remaining: 2
  • Entries: 53

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The High Roller event is down to just 2 players from 53 total entries, and the two finalists are competing for a $200,000 top prize and the Playground Poker Spring Classic Champion’s Trophy – although second place will still earn a hefty $130,000 consolation prize.

Marc-Olivier Carpentier-Perrault is looking for his first big score on home turf after having posted results around the world in the recent months. He begins the heads-up duel with 3,275,000 versus the 2,025,000 of Mike McDonald, a Waterloo native who has tallied over $13 million in earnings in less than 10 years of live poker.

Both players are still very deep at the moment, with the average stack representing 66 big blinds. Blind levels are now 30-minutes long and action is underway!

Mizzi claims 3rd place

  • Level: 20
  • Small Blind: 20K
  • Big Blind: 40K
  • Ante: 4K
  • Chip Average: 2.7M
  • Remaining: 2
  • Entries: 53

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Mike McDonald opened to 80K from the button, and Marc-Olivier placed a 3-bet to 315K from the small blind. Sorel Mizzi 4-bet all-in for 704K, cueing Mike’s exit, but Marc-Olivier completed the bet and hands were tabled.

Sorel: Ace of Spades Jack of Spades
Marc-Olivier: Queen of Hearts 9 of Hearts

Marc-Olivier picked up a pair of Queens on the flop, and although Sorel turned some additional outs with the flush draw, he couldn’t find help of the river of a 4 of Hearts 4 of Spades Queen of Diamonds 2 of Spades 2 of Diamonds board.

3rd place: Sorel Mizzi – $84,100.00

Sorel Mizzi

Romanello out of the High Roller in 4th

  • Level: 18
  • Small Blind: 12K
  • Big Blind: 24K
  • Ante: 3K
  • Chip Average: 1.8M
  • Remaining: 3
  • Entries: 53

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Action folded around to Roberto Romanello, who completed the small blind. Marc-Olivier raised to 75K from the big blind, and called once Roberto quickly shoved for 744K.

Marc-Olivier: 7 of Clubs 7 of Spades
Roberto: King of Clubs 9 of Clubs

Board: 3 of Diamonds 2 of Diamonds 4 of Hearts 10 of Clubs 6 of Clubs

4th place: Roberto Romanello – $50,000.00

Roberto Romanello

McDonald gets paid with Aces

  • Level: 18
  • Small Blind: 12K
  • Big Blind: 24K
  • Ante: 3K
  • Chip Average: 1.3M
  • Remaining: 4
  • Entries: 53

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Mike McDonald just found 3 streets of value with his Ace of Diamonds Ace of Hearts. He opened to 50K from utg, and went heads-up to the flop versus Sorel Mizzi in the big blind.

On a King of Spades 8 of Clubs 7 of Clubs 4 of Diamonds 7 of Spades board, Sorel check-called three streets, first 50K, then 125K and finally 350K. He mucked his hand once Mike showed down pocket Aces, and was left with just over 700K after the hand.

Sorel found a full double-up two hands later, after he and Marc-Oliver went into a raising war pre-flop. Sorel tabled Ace of Hearts Queen of Spades and held versus King of Hearts Queen of Clubs on a 2 of Clubs 4 of Spades 9 of Diamonds 9 of Hearts Jack of Clubs board.

 

Big money; Little cards

  • Level: 17
  • Small Blind: 10K
  • Big Blind: 20K
  • Ante: 2K
  • Chip Average: 1.3M
  • Remaining: 4
  • Entries: 53

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Marc-Olivier Carpentier-Perrault

Faced with a button-raise of 45K from Marc-Olivier Carpentier-Perrault, Mike McDonald 3-bet to 140K from the big blind. Marc-Oliver made the call and the two players tangoed to the flop.

With 3 of Diamonds Ace of Hearts 5 of Hearts showing, Mike fired a continuation bet of 100K, and Marc-Olivier tagged along.
Mike fired another barrel on the 6 of Clubs turn, this time of 200K, and was called once again by his opponent.
Once the Queen of Spades was brought out on the river, Mike tanked a moment before announcing all-in, and Marc-Olivier made the call.

Mike tabled 5 of Spades 2 of Spades for a pair of Fives, and was bested by Marc-Olivier’s two-pairs with 6 of Hearts 3 of Hearts. He payed out the 696K all-in and the tournament played one more hand before going on break. Below are the counts as play enters level 18:

First Name | PrénomLast Name | NomStack | Tapis
Marc-OlivierCarpentier-Perrault2,208,000
SorelMizzi1,239,000
MikeMcDonald1,003,000
RobertoRomanello850,000