American poker player Tom Marchese claimed the champion title in the last $25,000 Aria High Roller event for 2016. Marchese succeeded in defeating some of the most experienced poker players in the world and left the final table with the first-place prize of $288,000. UK poker player Stephen Chidwick was also among the participants in the high roller event but could not make it to the money.
The 49th Aria High Roller poker tournament was held at the luxury hotel and casino resort of the same name, in Las Vegas. The final event commenced at 2 pm local time, with fourteen players competing at two tables. As more players joined the action at a later stage, the field increased to a total of 24 participants.
The prize pool for the event grew to $576,000 and this sum was divided between the four finalists in the event. Some of the players, who participated in the high roller battle, were the above-mentioned Chidwick, Justin Bonomo, and Isaac Haxton.
Throughout the day, the game moved at a rather fast pace, so much so that Marchese and his heads-up opponent, poker veteran Cary Katz, commenced their head-to-head battle at the final table shortly before 11 pm local time. The battle between the two opponents saw Marchese succeed in prevailing over Katz in two hands only.
At that final stage of the game, Katz went all in after a few moments of careful deliberations, while Marchese called instantly. Marchese held a pair of Queens and his opponent tabled [Ah][Kh]. The first up card was [Kd]. It was followed by [Ah] and [Qc]. A [Jc] brought the chops out but it was the [5d] on the river that finally ended the game in favour of Tom Marchese. Katz had no other option but to settle for the runner-up prize of $155,520.
This was the second in-the-money finish for Katz over a two-day span. On Wednesday, the player competed in the $25,000 Aria High Roller 48, but again failed to collect the first-place prize. Katz finished the event third and was awarded the sum of $93,600.
Doug Polk finished third in the final $25,000 Aria High Roller event for the year collecting $86,400. He was followed by poker pro Bryn Kenney, who walked away with the fourth-place prize of $46,080.
At the present moment, Tom Marchese’s live winnings exceed the sum of $15.6 million. The American has participated in 82 poker tournaments over a span of six years.
- Author
Harry Evans
