German high rollers have done well in large buy-in events and that domination continued in the first major event of 2014. This time, Fabian Quoss stole the show in the Bahamas’ special tournament reserved only for those with deep pockets and cool hands: PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA) Super High Roller.
Quoss joins a list of former High Roller Event winners filled with German names such as Tobias Reinkemeier, Philipp Gruissem and Igor Kurganov. The PCA $100,000$ buy-in event was never captured by a German since it first debuted in 2011. Three years later, Germany finally conquered the distant territory as general Quoss took the title. Quoss complained about his unlucky 2013 that saw him land at four final tables last year without taking home a championship. He finished third in both the $250,000 Aussie Millions event and EPT/UKIPT London High Roller, fifth in the $25,000 Aussie Millions event, and seventh in the EPT Barcelona Super High Roller.
“I said 2014 was going to be different. I hope it continues,” the winner told PokerStars Blog.
Quoss beat a 45-player field with big names like 2013 WSOP champion Ryan Riess, WSOP 2013 Player of the Year Daniel Negreanu, 2008 PCA Main Event winner and 2008 PCA High Roller champ Bertrand Grospellier, and last year’s Super High Roller winner Scott Seiver.
Riess and Gropellier were eliminated on Day 1 and neither of them chose to rebuy. Negreanu, however, invested three buy-ins worth $300,000, including one in Day 2. But KidPoker couldn’t stay ahead of the competition, busting out each time. Seiver survived Day 1, but didn’t have the chance to repeat or even finish in the money.
The money bubble burst in the most unusual way with two players going broke. Paul Newey had to push his 1/3 big blind in the middle and Mike McDonald, who also had less than a big blind, had a tough decision to make. “Jesus! I have no idea what I’m supposed to do,” McDonald said before calling. Matt Glantz competed from the small blind but Quoss held Ace-Queen suited and decided to isolate the two shortstackers. The flop gave the German the commanding lead and a glimpse of things to come in the last day of the event. Both shorties were eliminated, with McDonald cashing in $217,320 because he had the larger stack.
Quoss started the seven-handed final table fourth in chips and seated among tough competition such as Dan Shak, Vanessa Selbst and Antonio Esfandiari. The German made the first move, eliminating two players in one hand. Glantz was next to leave the table and already Shak was thinking of a deal. “I’m a business man,” he said.
But nobody was willing to negotiate. The four-handed play continued …. but not for long, as Esfandiari hit the rail after a flip lost to Selbst.
The time for the German to capture the spotlight was finally on. Two major straight hands helped him get the coveted trophy. The first one secured him the chip lead as he turned Broadway versus two pair by Selbst. Quoss check-raised all-in on the river with the nuts and Selbst couldn’t let go of her hand – pair of Aces and Kings. “I call. I can’t fold this hand,” she explained. Selbst was eventually eliminated in the third place, winning $760,640.
The second straight wrapped up the Super High Roller. Shak decided to check/move all-in with second pair and an open-ender on the turn only to get called by Quoss’ made straight. By finishing second, Shak won $1,178,980.
The German cashed in the big prize of $1,629,940 along with the Super High Roller Champion title. He has two other major live tournament victories, the English Poker Open in 2010 and the WPT Grand Prix de Paris High Roller in 2012.
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