Aliaksandr Shylko took down the PokerStars Players No Limit Hold’em Championship (PSPC) on Friday after a final table full of mistakes, mishaps, and mega-money moves.
The session started with Argentina’s Nacho Barbero leading the final six. The former PokerStars pro has been on a crypto downswing in recent months but locked up his biggest live tournament score by making the final table.
However, as we’ve seen countless times in poker, nothing is guaranteed. Despite successfully outlasting more than 1,000 players without so much as a misstep, Barbero almost blew it early on.
Whether it was the pressure of playing for a top prize of $4 million, the bright lights, or the fact he was chatting to the rail, Barbero bet way more than he intended in a crucial pot then had to fold.
More mistakes in PokerStars Players No Limit Hold’em Championship finale
That wasn’t the only mistake at this year’s PSPC final table. Philipe Pizzari folded the best hand in a pot against Niclas Thumm. Fortunately for Pizzari, it wasn’t a fatal mistake and he quickly bounced back and went on to finish third after a three-way deal.
Niclas Thumm, aka Flushiisback, didn’t have the same luck. He hit the rail in sixth but, despite missing out on the title, the accountant and Platinum Pass winner celebrated like a champion after collecting his biggest ever payday. Next to fall were Pedro Marques and former chip leader Barbero.
With the PokerStars Players No Limit Hold’em Championship finale down to three, it was time for an ICM deal. The remaining players ran the numbers and agreed to lock up over $2 million each. That left $300,000 to play for and, of course, the PSPC trophy.
PokerStars Players No Limit Hold’em Championship result
- Aliaksandr Shylko – $3,121,838*
- Max Menzel – $2,859,990*
- Philipe Pizzari – $2,524,871*
- Nacho Barbero – $1,551,300
- Pedro Marques – $1,251,500
*Denotes a deal
Shylko dominated the final rounds and, eventually, once Pizzari had fallen, he delivered a knockout blow to Max Menzel. With that, the 2023 PokerStars Players No Limit Hold’em Championship was over.
For Shylko, the victory announced his arrival onto poker’s biggest stage. As for everyone else, the PokerStars Players No Limit Hold’em Championship will go as an experience they’ll never forget.
Everyone wins at PSPC
From a grand opening complete with Bahamian dancers and fireworks, to flamingo yoga and the appearance of stars such as Bruce Buffer, it’s been a blast.
Sam Grafton summed it up perfectly in an interview with CardsChat. He called it a festival, and that’s what it was. Shylko will go home as the PokerStars Players No Limit Hold’em Championship champion, but everyone who attended is a winner.
The only thing left to do now is wait for the next PokerStars Caribbean Adventure and the 2024 PSPC.
