Earlier today, MyScarHand became the fifth player to make two final tables in the MicroMillions 4 and tonight, mikal12345 became the sixth. Ten days ago, mikal12345 finished third in Event #4, and lest we forget, back in September the Norwegian also won a little something called the WCOOP Player of the Series. Mikal12345 was no doubt eager to finally close out a MicroMillions title, but fell short again. After an incredible late-game surge, Grindalf came out on top in Event #88, banking $21,000.00 after a heads-up deal.
12,027 players made 23,043 rebuys and 6,285 add-ons to push the prizepool up to $165,420.00. 1,650 places were paid with first place set to earn $23,167.47 Team Pro Martin Hruby and Team Online's Andre Coimbra carried the flag for the Red Spades in this event, Hruby cashing in 538th place.
With seven players remaining, blinds were up to 400,000/800,000 and kmocar was hanging on by a thread with only 2.9 million in chips. However, SphinX88 and PRINCE JULIO started exchanging fire on the other table. PRINCE JULIO opened for a min-raise to 1.6 million, Sphinx88 three-bet to 4 million and PRINCE JULIO pulled the trigger for the rest of his chips, having SphinX88 well-covered. SphinxX88 tanked to the very end of his time bank and ultimately called with [Ac][Qc]. PRINCE JULIO had him dominated with [As][Kh] and flopped Broadway, ending SphinX88's run on the final table bubble.
Final table chip counts
Seat 1: Grindalf (15,324,701 in chips)
Seat 2: faza29 (15,553,752 in chips)
Seat 3: mikal12345 (37,219,864 in chips)
Seat 4: clayton0719 (19,675,625 in chips)
Seat 5: PRINCE JULIO (45,960,394 in chips)
Seat 6: kmocar (2,900,664 in chips)
Faza29 frozen, kmocar's tank runs dry
Kmocar should have been thrilled just to make the final table, but instead began lobbying for a deal. The rest of the table wasn't interested, especially after kmocar folded away over half his stack in the blinds. Down to 1.2 million, kmocar doubled through faza29 when [Ah][Jc] made top pair against [Kh][7c], then doubled again vs. clayton0719 when [Ad][Qh] held against [Ah][5h]. Now up to 7 million, kmocar continued to pitch a deal, still to no avail.
However, faza29's rotten luck ended up being kmocar's gain. Dealt [Jd][Js], faza29 three-bet shoved from the small blind for 22.3 million and initial raiser PRINCE JULIO called. PRINCE JULIO revealed [Qh][Qs] for a nasty cooler and flopped a set to boot. Faza29 was suddenly on the rail in sixth place, collecting $2,067.75 for his efforts.
Three hands later, PRINCE JULIO opened for a min-raise to 2 million and kmocar moved in for his last 3.75 million. PRINCE JULIO called, his [Jh][7c] dominated by kmocar's [Ad][7d]. That changed in a hurry on the flop, which fell [Jc][4c][3c] to give PRINCE JULIO top pair and a flush draw. The [3s] on the turn improved PRINCE JULIO to two pair and the [5c] river made his flush. That was all she wrote for kmocar, who picked up $3,308.40 for fifth place.
First attempt
Just as kmocar departed, the final four agreed to pause the action and discuss a deal. Here's a look at how they stacked up at the time:
PRINCE JULIO - 75,766,138
mikal12345 - 35,694,864
Grindalf - 13,924,701
clayton0719 - 11,249,297
Per clayton0719's request, ICM numbers were presented, but PRINCE JULIO made it clear he was in favor of a chip count chop. However, when the chip count chop numbers revealed that PRINCE JULIO would earn more than the published first place should he go on to win, his three opponents naturally protested. Mikal12345 declared that he wanted at least second-place money or he wouldn't make a deal and with all parties quite far apart in the negotiations, cards went back in the air.
Grindalf makes gains, clayton0719 falls in fourth
Both short stacks doubled up in short order. On the first hand after the failed deal attempt, clayton0719 doubled through PRINCE JULIO, his [9s][6d] flopping a nine against pocket sevens. Grindalf worked his stack up to 23 million by picking up a few small pots preflop, then doubled through PRINCE JULIO. In a three-bet pot, the money went in on a [6h][5d][2s] flop, Grindalf revealing [7c][7s] while PRINCE JULIO turned over [3d][3c]. Grindalf improved to a nine-high straight, the turn and river falling the [9s] and the [8h] to give him the 52.4 million pot.
PRINCE JULIO sunk to 42 million in chips, but three hands later clayton0719 open-shoved for 7.6 million and PRINCE JULIO looked down again at pocket threes. PRINCE JULIO called and was racing against [Jh][Td], but the treys held up, the board running out [Kd][Qc][5c][6d][2d] to send clayton0719 home in fourth place ($6,358.74).
mikal12345 sinks second deal, busts in third
Following clayton0719's elimination, the final three made another attempt at a deal. Now, the chip counts looked like this:
Grindalf - 52,649,406
PRINCE JULIO - 51,615,732
mikal12345 - 32,369,862
Despite a 20 million-chip disadvantage, mikal12345 nevertheless tried to sell his opponents on an even chop (a tactic that actually worked for him at his first MicroMillions 4 final table). PRINCE JULIO and Grindalf weren't having it, though. Mikal12345 even reminded them that he was "the wcoop champ" but Grindalf was already well aware of this fact. The final table host came back with ICM numbers that awarded PRINCE JULIO and Grindalf about $17,200 apiece while mikal12345's share came out to just over $15,000. Again, mikal12345 declared that he wanted at least second-place money and challenged PRINCE JULIO and Grindalf to come up with the additional $1,000. They agreed to take an even $17k apiece, but it wasn't enough for mikal12345 and the deal fell apart over a $500 discrepancy.
Cards went back in the air and Grindalf continued to rake in pots, taking his stack up to 68.7 million. Mikal12345 slipped to 21.7 million, and with the action folded to him in the small blind, he limped in for 750,000 more. PRINCE JULIO checked and they saw a [8h][6h][4d] flop. A raising war broke out that ended with mikal12345 five-bet shoving for 20 million and PRINCE JULIO calling with [Jc][8d] for top pair. Mikal12345 revealed [2h][4h] for bottom pair and a flush draw but did not improve, the turn and river falling the [As] and the [Ts] to end his run in third place ($11,165.85). Factoring in his score in Event #4, mikal12345 has earned nearly $20,000 in the MicroMillions 4, an incredible accomplishment and an utterly absurd ROI.
Heads-up chip counts
Seat 1: Grindalf (73,324,408 in chips)
Seat 5: PRINCE JULIO (63,310,592 in chips)
Grindalf and PRINCE JULIO immediately agreed to pause the action and take a third trip to the negotiating table. This time it was smooth sailing, both players agreeing to a slightly modified ICM chop.
With $1,000 to play for, cards went back in the air. Four hands later, sparks flew when the river card made straights for both players, PRINCE JULIO's the higher one:
PRINCE JULIO raked in the 125 million pot, leaving Grindalf on only 10.8 million. However, the wizard found a double-up on the next hand, his [Ac][8s] holding up against [Kd][6h]. Five hands later, Grindalf doubled again, this time to 55 million when his [Kh][Th] flopped a pair of tens against PRINCE JULIO's [Ac][8h]. Grindalf didn't stop there and with [Ad][2c] on the button, opened for a min-raise to 3 million. PRINCE JULIO called and they saw a [Ah][Ks][2d] flop. Grindalf check-raised the flop with aces up and PRINCE JULIO called. The [5c] came on the turn and Grindalf fired again, making it 11.25 million to go. Again, PRINCE JULIO called. Grindalf moved in for 36.7 million on the [Js] river and PRINCE JULIO called with [Kd][5c], his pair of kings no good.
PRINCE JULIO was left with 20.8 million. He doubled up a few hands later when his [Jd][7s] rivered a pair of sevens against Grindalf's [As][Th], but wouldn't be able to do it again. Grindalf kept the pots small and snagged the last of PRINCE JULIO's chips when his [Jd][7d] hung on against [5d][6d].
Congratulations to Grindalf, our newest MicroMillions champion! He took home an even $21,000.00 for the win while runner-up PRINCE JULIO banked $18,295.92.
PokerStars MicroMillions 4 Event #88 ($4.40+R NLHE 6-Max, Action Hour) results
Players: 12,027
Rebuys: 23,043
Add-ons: 6,285
Prizepool: $165,420.00
Places paid: 1,650
1. Grindalf (Germany) $21,000.00*
2. PRINCE JULIO (United Kingdom) $18,295.92*
3. mikal12345 (Norway) $11,165.85
4. clayton0719 (Mexico) $6,358.74
5. kmocar (Slovakia) $3,308.40
6. faza29 (Russia) $2,067.75
*= reflects the result of a heads-up deal that left $1,000 in play for the winner
Tomorrow is the final day of the MicroMillions 4. Don't miss out on your chance to turn pocket change into a whole new bankroll. Visit the MicroMillions page for more information and a complete tournament schedule.
Kristin Bihr is a freelance contributor to the PokerStars Blog.