First ever female PCA Main Event Champion crowned

After six days of play, Argentina's Maria Lampropulos was the last (wo)man standing. She outlasted a field of 582 to win the $1,081,100 prize and the title.

The 2018 Pokerstars Caribbean Adventure $10,300 Main Event started last week, with 582 players. The prize pool grew to $5,645,400 with $1 million+ for the eventual winner. This spectacular win only makes the second biggest score for Maria. She took down the Partypoker Millions Life for $1,255,004 back in 2017. The Argentinean pro has amassed $2,794,574 in live tournament earnings which puts her into third place on her country's all-time money list, with Nacho Barbero sitting on the second spot and Ivan Luca - Maria's boyfriend - on the top.

Maria started out Day 6 pretty strong, as she busted Christian Rudolph with pocket sixes early in the day. Rudolph put his short stack into the middle holding Ace-eight, which couldn't beat the flopped set of Maria's. Only ten hands later Daniel Coupal from Canada goth fifth after he check-raise bluffed on a king high flop against WPT champ, Shawn Buchanan, who had a king and made the easy call. The Canadian farmer earned $293,560 for his efforts.

Three-time WSOP bracelet winner, Adrian Mateos got 4th which made him $372,600 richer. He shoved his last chips with Ace-King on a king-high board. Buchanan played the same role as he did against Coupal - he was the one to bust Mateos by calling with his flush draw, wich became a flush on the turn. Three really accomplished players remained with $18 million+ in combined tournament earnings.

It took a while for them to reach the heads-up. Finally, Koray Aldemir left the table on Hand #96. The young German shoved the button holding King-seven suited. Buchanan called from the big blind with Ace-eight suited and took down the pot. Koray cashed for $481,560.

Hopefully Koray can now change his childhood wardrobe

Shawn started the duel with a 2-to-1 chip lead but Maria was lucky enough to double up twice in just three hands to take the lead. Buchanon finally shoved the button with King-five which couldn't beat the Ten-seven of Maria's after she paired her ten on the flop. Buchanon became 2nd for $672,960 while the champ could walk to the cage to pick up $1,081,100.

The $25K High Roller also ended on Sunday. Christopher Kruk was the fortunate one to beat 141 of his peers and lift the trophy - he also pocketed $836,350. Day 3 of the event saw only 8 players at the table. All of them were guaranteed for $108,030 but everyone was aiming for the first prize.

Felipe Ramos was the fist to be busted. He moved in for his last 50k chips with a pair of sevens but this time the pocket fives of Kruk's got the better of it. Christopher flopped a set and even made a full house on the river, which he indeed needed as Ramos hit a flush on the turn.

The next player out was Stefan Schillhabel who shoved with an open-ended straight draw on the ♠T ♥9 ♣2 flop. Jonathan Jaffe made an easy call with top set. The board pairing on the turn meant the tournament was over for Stefan. The young German earned $146,360.

Online high-stakes cash game specialist, Mikita "fish2013" Badziakouski seems to make the final table at any events he enters. It was also the case this time as he became 6th for $195,150. His Ace-nine ran into the Aces of Jonathan Jaffe's. (Fun fact for the math guys: Ace-nine suited is the worst possible hand to be up against aces)

Igor Kurganov finished 5th for $249,160 and Justin Bonomo got 4th for $310,150. The three-handed game saw Christopher Kruk as the short stack but he managed to turn his luck around by doubling up twice pretty quickly. As Richard Seymour was the endurer of these two hands, he became pretty short-stacked and decided to shove his Ace-nine against Jaffe, who held pocket-queens. The board didn't help Seymour who took 3rd place for $376,360.

The heads-up

Even though Jonathan was a 12-to-1 favourite early in the heads-up play, Kruk managed to make an epic comeback. After doubling up several times, he finally busted Jaffe when the latter shoved all-in with pocket fours. Christopher made the easy call with Jacks and managed to hold.

With this win, Kruk has $2,029,669 in live tournament earnings while Jaffe amassed $3,148,935 with his second biggest score ever.