Chris Kruk Books Win at PCA $25,000 High Roller for $836k

Christopher Kruk has won the 2018 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA) $25,000 High Roller, after outlasting a field of 144 players over three days on his way to lifting the title, and claiming the biggest score of his career worth $836,350. Following a victory which pushes his live earnings to $2,029,669, the Canadian pro told reporters:
“I feel good. I feel happy with the decisions I made. And that’s all you can really do in tournament poker, just hope to run good and make good decisions. And today was my day.”
The $25,000 High Roller was held at the Atlantis Resort & Casino in the Bahamas, and featured a prize pool worth $3,484,800. Amongst the recognizable pros subsequently finishing in one of its twenty money places was Mike Watson in 18th ($45,300), Isaac Haxton in 15th ($55,740), Liv Boeree in 14th ($55,740), Alan Engel in 12th ($60,980), and Steffen Sontheimer in 11th ($69,730).
Jonathan Jaffe then proceeded to dominate the action at the final table, and by the time he had reached the heads-up phase of the competition he was sitting on a commanding 11-to-1 chip lead over his remaining opponent Christopher Kruk.
Despite at one stage being reduced to just 7bbs, however, Kruk managed a series of double-ups to put himself back into contention, and eventually moved ahead after making a two pair hand which was paid off on the river by Jaffe. A failed bluff by Jaffe then saw him fall even further behind, with the deciding hand played after he went all-in preflop holding pocket fives, only to be called by Kruk holding pocket jacks.
The board ran out 8-5-2-K-8 to complete Kruk’s incredible comeback and secure him the title, while Jonathan Jaffe collected $569,760 for his runner-up finish, and now boasts $3,148,935 in tournament winnings. It also represents his second biggest score to date, with his best result recorded in 2008 after a second place finish at the $10,000 World Poker Finals Mashantucket for $670,636.
Final Table Results:
1: Christopher Kruk $836,350
2: Jonathan Jaffe $569,760
3: Richard Seymour $376,360
4: Justin Bonomo $310,150
5: Igor Kurganov $249,160
6: Mikita Badziakouski $195,150
7: Stefan Schillhabel $146,360
8: Felipe Ramos $108,030
9: Daniel Negreanu $83,640