888LIVE 20th Anniversary Edition
Day 3 Completed
2022 888poker LIVE Madrid
888LIVE 20th Anniversary Edition
Day: 3
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 3
2022 888poker LIVE Madrid
Buy-in
€1,100
Prize Pool
€349,241
Entries
374
Level
31
Blinds
125,000 / 250,000
Ante
250,000
Entries
39
Players Left
1
Level 31
: Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante
It was a dominant performance from Abel Gongora who ran over the final table en route to capturing the title in the €1,100 888poker Live Madrid 20th Anniversary Edition. In rather short-order, Gongora managed to score the knockout of the final five eliminations, including his heads-up match with Bernat Carreras. Gongora outlasted a field of 374 entries to pickup the lion's share of the nearly €350,000 prizepool.
Gongora entered the final table as the chip leader and with a little bit of luck from the deck, put on a masterclass of steamrolling his competition. The Spaniard will pocket €70,000 for his efforts, by far the largest tournament win of his career. It was capped off when Gongora flopped the nut straight and faced check-raises from Carreras on both the flop and turn. With all of the chips in the middle on the turn, Gongora faded his opponent's flush draw to earn the title.
Final Table Payouts
| Place | Player | Country | Prize (EUR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Abel Gongora | Spain | € 70,000 |
| 2nd | Bernat Carreras | Spain | € 50,000 |
| 3rd | Paulo Castelo | Portugal | € 36,000 |
| 4th | Antonio Dascenzo | Italy | € 28,000 |
| 5th | Miguel Mora | Spain | € 22,000 |
| 6th | Jose Puente | Spain | € 17,500 |
| 7th | Palma Ferro | Spain | € 13,400 |
| 8th | Bienvenido Sanchez | Spain | € 10,000 |
| 9th | Sebastian Moreno | Spain | € 7,841 |
Action from the Final Day
There were 39 players who returned to their seats for the third and final day of the tournament, all of which had locked up at least a min-cash of €2,100. The start-of-day chip leader Sebastian Moreno began the day strong by eliminating multiple players before the first break and increasing his lead over the field. Ian Simpson was the lone 888poker team member still in the field and put up a valiant effort but fell just short, exiting in 26th place.
The short stacks continued to fall at a rapid pace and they were down to just 21 players at the first break of the day. Upon returning to the felt, Gongora began to make his move toward the top of the leaderboard. Once they reached the final table, Gongora solidified a healthy lead over the rest of the competition. The deck seemed to flip on Moreno who got coolered early on with ace-king against the pocket kings of Paulo Castelo.
The short stacks of Bienvenido Sanchez and Palma Ferro were next to hit the rail, pocketing a six-figure payday for their efforts today. That was when the patiently waiting Gongora began to make his move with the help of the deck hitting him straight in the face. With a very healthy chip lead, Gongora began to apply ICM pressure on the short stacks and started to hit some cards as well.
Pairing up against Jose Puente's ace-high brought the field down to five players and then Gongora woke up with the better of two pocket pairs when he battled Miguel Mora in the blinds. Moments later, Gongora finished off Antonio Dascenzo who was down to just one big blind by flopping a straight.
Despite a mini hiccup with three players left where Gongora doubled up both of his opponents at one point, he got right back on the train when he flopped another straight against Castelo's top pair. That set up the heads-up match where Gongora held over 90% of the chips in play. There were a couple of early all-ins that resulted in chopped pots and then Carreras struck first with a double-up. However, just three hands later, Gongora put a wrap on the event with his third flopped straight in less than two hours.
That wraps up the PokerNews coverage for this year's 888poker event held at the Gran Madrid Casino. Keep it locked here for more live updates at events to round out the year.
Level 31
: Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante
Abel Gongora limped in on the button and Bernat Carreras checked his option. The dealer fanned the flop of 
and Carreras checked to Gongora who bet 250,000. Carreras check-raised to 525,000 and Gongora called.
The turn brought the 
and Carreras checked again. Gongora counted out a bet of 700,000 and Carreras jammed all in for 3,300,000. Gongora snap-called and the cards were on their backs.
Bernat Carreras: 
Abel Gongora: 
Gongora flopped the nut straight and just needed to fade a spade on the river. It was the 
that hit the river and Gongora's straight held on to eliminate Carreras in second place.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
29,925,000
3,825,000
|
3,825,000 |
|
Busted |
Level 31
: Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante
Bernat Carreras came into the heads-up match as a huge underdog and only eight big blinds. He shoved all in for 2,100,000 on the button and Abel Gongora quickly called in the big blind.
Bernat Carreras: 
Abel Gongora: 
The flop came 
to give Carreras a pair of deuces but Gongora still had plenty of outs. The on the turn increased those outs but the 
on the river was a complete brick to give Carreras his first double-up.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
26,100,000
-1,700,000
|
-1,700,000 |
|
|
3,850,000
1,750,000
|
1,750,000 |
Level 31
: Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante
The final two players are taking a quick break before the heads-up action resumes.
Level 31
: Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante
Paulo Castelo raised to 550,000 on the button and Abel Gongora defended from the big blind. The flop fell 
and Gongora checked to Castelo who continued for 550,000. Gongora check-raised to 1,300,000 and Castelo shipped all in for 8,800,000. Gongora snap-called and the writing was on the wall.
Paulo Castelo: 
Abel Gongora: 
Gongora flopped the nuts with a straight flush redraw and Castelo was left grasping at straws. The and 
runout was no help and Castelo was eliminated in third place.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
27,800,000
9,000,000
|
9,000,000 |
|
|
2,100,000
-500,000
|
-500,000 |
|
Busted |
Level 31
: 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante
Abel Gongora was staying aggressive and shipped all in from the small blind. Paulo Castelo picked up a premium in the big blind and called off his stack of 4,100,000.
Paulo Castelo: 
Abel Gongora: 
The flop came 
and Gongora picked up a pair of sixes but was still trailing Castelo. The on the turn and the 
on the river solidified the double up for Castelo.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
18,800,000
-1,700,000
|
-1,700,000 |
|
|
8,200,000
2,600,000
|
2,600,000 |
Level: 31
Blinds: 125,000/250,000
Ante: 250,000
Level 30
: Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
Abel Gongora raised to 400,000 on the button and Bernat Carreras found a hand to go with in the big blind. Carreras shoved all in for 1,200,000 and Gongora quickly called.
Bernat Carreras: 
Abel Gongora: 
Carreras found himself in a dominating position and the board ran out 
to secure a double up in order to stay alive.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
20,500,000
-700,000
|
-700,000 |
|
|
5,600,000
1,800,000
|
1,800,000 |
|
|
2,600,000
-5,400,000
|
-5,400,000 |
Level 30
: Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
Antonio Dascenzo shipped all in from the cutoff with 
and Paulo Castelo also shoved all in from the small blind with . Castelo was the player at risk for 1,600,000 and was in a dominating position.
The board ran out clean for Castelo who managed to double up but Dascenzo was decimated, leaving himself with just over 200,000 chips.
On the next hand, Abel Gongora raised to 500,000 from the cutoff and Dascenzo found himself at risk in the big blind.
Antonio Dascenzo:
Abel Gongora:
The flop fell 
to give Gongora a straight and leave Dascenzo drawing slim. The on the turn cemented the pot for Gongora who eliminate Dascenzo in fourth place.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
21,200,000
2,200,000
|
2,200,000 |
|
|
3,800,000
250,000
|
250,000 |
|
Busted |