Eugene Katchalov Wins High Rollers

As the rest of the Caribbean Adventurers started the main event, the $100,000 buy-in High Rollers competition was coming to an end. The final table of seven faced each other in the Bahamas to see who would take home the $1.5 million prize money. This was an all to play for match as despite the buy-in, only the top five players were guaranteed any money and the field had already been whittled down from its original 38. 

At the start of play Nick Shulman led the pack with just under 3 million chips, followed by Daniel Negreanu with 2.1 million in front of him. Eventual winner Eugene Katchalov was in third slot with 1.5 million. The first two unlucky casualties who went home empty handed were Andrew Lichtenberger and reportedly Hungary’s richest man, the real estate developer, Sandor Demjan. 

With the elimination of Humberto Brenes in fifth place, Nick Shulman into fourth and Bryn Kenny coming third, it was left to Katchalov and Negreanu to decide the final positions. As Katchalov went into the head to head with a massive 5-1 chip lead all bookmakers would have fancied their odds. He must have felt somewhat apprehensive though facing Negreanu who as one of the most accomplished poker players in the world wouldn’t be a push over. 

Katchalov need not have worried as he managed to add to the 2007 WPT Doyle Brunson victory he’d already landed, when that time he took home $2,482.605. The resultant $1 million Negreanu made meant he now heads up the world leader board for highest ever earnings. The result took him to over $14 million throughout his career and finally ahead of Phil Ivey.