The 2017 partypoker Grand Prix Canada crowned Raphael Duval, who emerged victorious out of a packed field of 3,746 entries, bagging the first prize of $200,000 CAD. The player defeated Debra Ann Holman in the heads-up battle to rake his second live-tournament cash.
It was yesterday, 21st August, when the final Day 3 of the tournament started. The number of players, who took a seat at the poker tables was only 25, plus 2 online qualifiers. Duval started as the chip lead, after collecting a solid stack of chips worth 22,165,000. With such a good start, it is not surprising that the player was encouraged to steam ahead to the first position, without allowing any other player to pretend for the chip lead position.
By the time the final table was set, Duval had already collected a monstrously enormous stack of chips, so it looked like the first place is already in his bag. The first to leave the final table was Said Michailidis, who banked $16,000 CAD for his 8th place. It did not take a long until the other elimination took place. It was Paul Scott, who needed to leave the table in 7th position, scooping $21,000 CAD.
It is interesting to note that the only online qualifier, who managed to enter the final table was the Canadian poker pro Jeff Cuccurullo. What is more is that he appeared to be second in chips in the beginning of Day 3. Eventually, the player started to lose grounds under his feet and bowed out in 4th position, cashing a prize of $52,000 CAD. Being a Golden Chip holder, Cuccurullo also received a $10,000 partypoker Caribbean Poker Party package.
Brandon Aaron Kitchen was the player, who was close to entering the heads-up battle, but he was eliminated by Raphael Duval in 3rd position. Kitchen collected $84,000 CAD for his deep run in the event.
At the final stage of the game, it was Raphael Duval, who was holding 6:1 chip advantage over his opponent Debra Ann Holman. From that point on, Duval was even more unstoppable on his way to the triumph. On the final hand of play, Duval still continued to keep the edge. Holman was holding [Ah][Jd] against Duval’s [Kd][8s]. On the turn, Holman managed to match a pair of aces, which sparked hope for surviving. Nevertheless, in poker even the last card can change the entire course of the game. The dealer tabled [Qs][6c][Ks][As][5s] to end the tournament. Duval claimed the title and the top prize by striking a flush over Holman’s pair of aces.
Duval boosted his bank account and also his poker career with a solid prize of $200,000 CAD by investing only $220 CAD for a buy-in. Holman, on the other hand, also had a good payday, as she pocketed $125,000 CAD for her runner-up finish. Besides the cash prizes, the two heads-up opponents were awarded $1,000 tickets to an online $10,000 CPP package satellite, as an extra bonus for the players, who were wearing a Caribbean Poker Party emblem.
