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When all you’ve received is a hammer, all the pieces appears to be like like a nail
“You’re studying about event poker” stated Sam Grafton to Karl Chappe-Gatien after the French day dealer prematurely celebrated spiking a 3-outer on the flop, just for PokerStars ambassador to smash his personal 3-outer on the flip. They exchanged fist bumps and Chappe-Gatien gave a wry smile, realizing he had made a misstep calling off with Ace-Eight after Grafton had squeeze-shoved Ace-Queen.
This hand was the turning level of the 115-runner $200,000 buy-in Coin Rivet Invitational last desk in Cyprus, a part of the Triton Tremendous Excessive Curler Collection. Up till that second, it was all one-way visitors as Chappe-Gatien carved his approach by the sector, his instinctive, albeit crude, understanding of find out how to put his opponents in an ICM coffin. When all you’ve received is a hammer, all the pieces appears to be like like a nail.
event poker has a approach of you toppling you out of your pedestal and that it did
It additionally helped that the deck was hitting him within the face, including little question to a way of invincibility, a sense that it was destined to be his day. Event poker has a approach of you toppling you out of your pedestal and that it did, as an emboldened Grafton was gifted extra weapons and ultimately a hammer of his personal.
Having completed second within the $50,000 6-max for simply shy of one million {dollars} just some days in the past, Grafton went one higher, finally defeating high-stakes money recreation end-boss Linus Loeliger heads-up to say the title, the trophy, and a staggering $5.5m first prize.
Agony for Ebony
Regardless of the nosebleed stakes, the banter was plentiful on the last desk, particularly between Grafton, Chappe-Gatien, Fedor Holz, and newcomer to the excessive curler scene, Ebony Kenney. This was testomony to the distinctive format that pitted rich businesspeople in opposition to invited poker professionals, segregating the 2 teams initially earlier than combining the sector to play to a winner.
After the unlucky eliminations of Tom Vogelsang and Seth Davies in ninth and eighth respectively, each by the hands of Chappe-Gatien, it could be Elias Talvitie’s flip to hit the rail after a foul beat. With six gamers left, Chappe-Gatien had half the chips in play and a quintet of gamers at his mercy, all making an attempt to outlast one another.
By the point Ponakovs bust in sixth, Holz had chipped up a bit, however Grafton, Kenney, and Loeliger have been all within the hazard zone. Kenney doubled by Holz, her King-Queen holding in opposition to his King-Ten in a blind versus blind confrontation. Just a few arms later, she awoke with pocket jacks and re-shoved over the very lively Chappe-Gatien. On this event, he had pocket Nines and made the decision, a large spot that may have put Kenney into snug second, effectively away from the brief stacks.
Alas, it wasn’t to be as Chappe-Gatien hit a 9 on the flip and he or she must accept $1.7m and a second fifth place end in excessive rollers this week. The Americas Cardroom ambassador and Twitch streamer completed in the identical place within the $25,000 buy-in occasion for $240,500 earlier within the week.
Holz busts and Chappe-Gatien’s “totally different playbook”
Wunderkind turned twenty-something retiree Fedor Holz was subsequent on Chappe-Gatien’s chopping block after the German accurately evaluated a troublesome state of affairs and made a no-fold fairness chilly 4-bet shove with Ace-Jack. There was a Jack on the flop, however Chappe-Gatien’s Ace-Ten of diamonds made runner-runner flush to remove Holz in fourth place.
With three left, Chappe-Gatien ran out of luck. He doubled up the affected person and exact Loeliger after which doubled up Grafton in a pocket Tens versus Ace-King cooler. It was the Englishman’s flip to show the screw.
An enchanting hand ensued with the massive blind at 300,000 when Grafton opened to 1.1 million with Q♠️3♠️. Chappe-Gatien, taking part in the efficient stack of 9 million, was in no temper to be bullied and referred to as with J♥️6♥️. The flop got here 5♥️2♦️9♣️ and Grafton continued for 1.5 million. Remarkably, Chappe-Gatien floated, clearly with larceny in thoughts. The flip got here the 4♣️ and now with an open-ended straight draw, Grafton fired a 3.2 million-chip semi-bluff, leaving Chappe-Gatien with no choice however to fold.
In his post-match interview, Grafton paid tribute to Chappe-Gatien’s braveness, unpredictability and trickiness. He stated “Karl was taking part in so aggressively, so creatively, actually coming at us from a unique playbook and that was very, very difficult. So it was an actual battle all day.”
Loeliger hits rivers
As Grafton performed some masterful endgame, wielding the ICM stress on a understanding Loeliger and a conveniently card-dead Chappe-Gatien, he labored his approach right into a super-dominating place. In the long run, Chappe-Gatien was compelled to shove his 5 massive blinds with simply Q♠️2♠️, working into Grafton’s A♠️Okay♦️. A clear board meant we have been down to 2 with Loeliger needing to beat a 9:2 chip deficit.
Once I double him up, I do know now I’ve received to play in opposition to probably the greatest on the planet.”
It was nearly over instantly once they received it in on the second hand of heads-up, Loeliger’s Okay♦️T♠️ versus Grafton’s A♦️5♥️ for ten massive blinds apiece. The run out was tantalizingly merciless for Grafton: J♦️8♥️4♦️9♥️Okay♣️. Reflecting on the competition, Grafton spoke to the toughness of his Swiss opponent. “Once I double him up, I do know now I’ve received to play in opposition to probably the greatest on the planet.”
A forwards and backwards battle commenced as the 2 skilled professionals performed for the $1.6m distinction between first and second place cash. Loeliger was once more on the cusp of elimination after a King flopped when he received it in with pocket Fives versus Grafton’s King-4. An unlikely 5 meant that Grafton could be as soon as once more disadvantaged by the river.
A reminiscence Grafton will cherish without end
Within the last hand, the Loeliger moved all-in with King-Six and Grafton referred to as with Ace-Seven. There was an Ace on the flop, however Grafton was not counting his chickens. A Six on the flip gave Loeliger a glimmer of hope, however the 9 on the river secured a well-known victory.
This result’s the biggest of Grafton’s profession after his runner-up end within the 2019 EPT Barcelona €100,000 Tremendous Excessive Curler.
“It’s simply an enormous type of feeling of aid when it’s throughout,” stated Grafton after the victory, including: “it’s so intense on the market on the felt taking part in in opposition to high opponents…I’m very grateful to be champion. And it’s a reminiscence that I’ll cherish without end.”
Triton Poker Coin Rivet Invitational Remaining Desk Outcomes
1. Sam Grafton $5,500,000
2. Linus Loeliger $3,900,000
3. Karl Chappe-Gatien $2,600,000
4. Fedor Holz $2,100,000
5. Ebony Kenney $1,700,000
6. Aleksejs Ponakovs $1,350,000
7. Elias Talvitie $1,050,000
8. Seth Davies $770,000
9. Tom Vogelsang $620,000