Mike Watson Defeats Tony Gregg To Win 2016 PCA Main Event for $728,325
Mike Watson has done it, winning the 2016 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure $5,300 Main Event after he topped a field of 928 entries, including an extremely tough heads-up match against three-time final tablist Tony Gregg.
After he and Gregg worked out a deal, Watson took home $695,325. Gregg locked up $612,175, and the two left $33,000 to play for. Watson won that additional prize to take home a total of $728,325.
Final Table Payouts
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mike Watson | Canada | $728,325 |
| 2 | Tony Gregg | USA | $612,175 |
| 3 | Phillip McAllister | UK | $356,020 |
| 4 | Toby Lewis | UK | $267,340 |
| 5 | Vladimir Troyanovskiy | Russia | $207,940 |
| 6 | Randy Kritzer | USA | $153,920 |
| 7 | Ken Demlakian | Australia | $110,220 |
| 8 | Timothy Ulmer | USA | $78,540 |
For Gregg, his finish was bittersweet. Yes, he took home $612,175, but once again he finished as the bridesmaid in the event. It was his third trip to the PCA Main Event final table, and, even though he did not win, proves just how successful he is in this tournament.
Also at the final table on Thursday were Randy Kritzer, Vladimir Troyanovskiy, Toby Lewis, and Phillip McAllister.
Kritzer, the neurosurgeon from North Carolina, was the only amateur player at the final table, and he finished in sixth place for $153,920, and then it was the well known Russian Vladimir Troyanovskiy falling in fifth place for $207,940.
In fourth place, Lewis was eliminated, falling just a few spots short of landing his second European Poker Tour title to earn $267,340. In third, it was the blossoming upstart McAllister who took home $356,020.
Heads-up play began with Watson in the lead. He and Gregg took a dinner break, and upon their return, they agreed to the deal.
Despite just about a 2-1 lead going into the heads-up duel, Gregg pulled back to even with Watson in a match that would last over two hours. In the end, though, Watson proved too strong for Gregg to overcome, and the final hand of Level 34 saw Gregg take a big hit before the two got all the money in shortly after Level 35 began.
The final hand took place on the 8♥6♥2♥ flop, where Watson called Gregg's shove with the 7♥4♠ for a draw. Gregg had top pair, top kicker with the A♠8♣, but he didn't have a heart. The turn was the 7♠ to give Watson some additional outs, and then the river delivered the final blow with the 5♥. Watson had made a flush, and that was all she wrote.
For Watson, the win pushed him over $9 million in live tournament earnings and he added another trophy to his case.
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