2023 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure

$3,000 PCA Mystery Bounty
Day: 3
Event Info

2023 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
k3
Event Info
Buy-in
$3,000
Prize Pool
$1,309,308
Entries
763
Level Info
Level
37
Blinds
200,000 / 400,000
Ante
400,000
Players Info - Day 3
Entries
22
Players Left
1

$3,000 PCA Mystery Bounty

Day 3 Completed

Samuel Cobian Wins $3,000 PCA Mystery Bounty ($239,658)

Level 37 : Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante
Samuel Cobian
Samuel Cobian

There were 22 players who returned to the felt for the third and final day of the $3,000 PCA Mystery Bounty and it was Samuel Cobian who topped them all to take home the first-place prize of $239,658. Cobian overcame a star-studded field of 763 entries to record his largest career poker score after defeating Andy Wilson in a heads-up match.

Cobian will also add 15 bounties to his total, all of which were of the $1,000 minimum variety, but he couldn't wipe the smile off his face after capturing the illustrious PokerStars trophy.

"This feels great man," Cobian told PokerNews in his post-win interview. "I never thought this could happen. But it does, and it did."

The recreational poker player from Indianapolis said this isn't often where he and his wife travel in the winter, but his wife convinced him to come to the 2023 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure.

"We usually go to Florida in the winter but my wife convinced me to come to The Bahamas and play some poker this year."

Cobian can often be seen at the WSOP in Las Vegas where he's cashed the Main Event on multiple occasions. He's already won a seat for this upcoming summer trip.

Cobian was off to get his winner's photo taken but said the chances of playing in the PSPC later this week is definitely a possibility.

"You'll just have to buy in!" his wife shouted with exuberance on their way out of the tournament room.

Cobian has guaranteed this will be the most successful winter getaway that he's experienced, and he plans to keep the run-good going.

Final Table Results

PlacePlayerCountryPrize (USD)
1stSamuel CobianUnited States$239,658
2ndAndy WilsonUnited Kingdom$149,450
3rdJustin SteinbrennerGermany$106,750
4thYuliyan KolevBulgaria$82,100
5thMatthew LambrechtUnited States$63,150
6thRui BouquetPortugal$48,600
7thKayhan MokriNorway$37,400
8thDavid PetersUnited States$28,750

Day 3 Action

With 22 players returning for Day 3, there was no shortage of action in the opening levels of the day. There were 10 eliminations in the first two hours of the day that included PokerStars ambassador Rafael Moraes, David Stamm and Kitty Kuo. During the rush of eliminations, Kayhan Mokri was busy at the "tickle trunk" redeeming his bounty tickets. A burst of excitement was overheard as Mokri managed to find the last $100,000 bounty prize, going along with Sebastien Aube, who pulled his six-figure prize last night.

Kayhan Mokri won the $100,000 bounty prize
Kayhan Mokri won the $100,000 bounty prize

When the field finally reached the final table, Wilson came in as the chip leader and extended his lead with the quick eliminations of Michael Uguccioni and David Peters. With seven players still remaining, Wilson had accumulated over one-third of the chips in play. The talkative Mokri was next on the chopping block as one of the short stacks and was forced to settle for just over $37,000 and seventh place. However, the $100,000 and change in bounties will no doubt keep his spirits high.

Justin Steinbrenner was down to less than four big blinds but managed to double up and then go on to eliminate the next two players in Rui Bouquet and Matthew Lambrecht. Steinbrenner went from 600,000 to 6,000,000 chips in the blink of an eye and was all of a sudden in the running. Yuliyan Kolev bowed out in fourth place which set up a dynamic three-handed battle.

Wilson started three-handed play with a huge chip lead and over half of the chips in play. He continued to grow his lead and looked poised to capture his first PokerStars title. However, the tide turned and not just once, but on multiple occasions. The three remaining players exchanged chip leads over the course of nearly two hours, with Cobian finding himself with just four big blinds after a failed bluff attempt. Cobian managed to double-up on three straight attempts and was right back in the match.

Andy Wilson was eliminated in second place for $149,450
Andy Wilson was eliminated in second place for $149,450

Steinbrenner also held the chip lead at one point but it didn't last very long much to the dismay of the German rail cheering him on. Steinbrenner eventually shoved all in from the small blind and was called by Cobian's ace-high in the big blind. An Ace on the flop spelled disaster for Steinbrenner who was kicked to the rail in third place.

Cobian took a healthy lead into the heads-up duel with Wilson and never looked back as he managed to finish the match in just a few hands. On the final hand of the day, Cobian's king-high was ahead of Wilson's jack-high with all of the chips getting in the middle preflop. Wilson was unable to find any help on the board and fell just short of the PCA title.

That wraps up the coverage for this event but there is still plenty to come from the Baha Mar Resort so stay tuned to PokerNews for all of the up-to-date coverage from around the event.

Tags: Andy WilsonDavid PetersDavid StammJustin SteinbrennerKayhan MokriKitty KuoMatthew LambrechtMichael UguccioniPCAPokerStarsPokerStars Caribbean AdventureRafael MoraesRui BouquetSamuel CobianSebastien AubeYuliyan Kolev

Andy Wilson Eliminated in 2nd Place ($149,450)

Level 37 : Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante
Andy Wilson
Andy Wilson

Samuel Cobian moved all in putting Andy Wilson at risk if called. Wilson took a moment to count his stack before sliding it into the middle.

Andy Wilson: {j-Spades}{8-Spades}
Samuel Cobian: {k-Spades}{3-Spades}

Cobian's king-high connected for bottom pair on the {5-Diamonds}{4-Hearts}{3-Hearts} flop, while Wilson failed to improve on the {10-Spades} turn or {4-Clubs} river. Cobian took down the final pot, eliminating Wilson in 2nd place.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Samuel Cobian us
Samuel Cobian
22,890,000
4,340,000
4,340,000
Profile photo of Andy Wilson gb
Andy Wilson
Busted
WPT 1X Winner

Tags: Andy WilsonSamuel Cobian

Cobian Shoves on Wilson

Level 37 : Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante

Samuel Cobian raised to 1,000,000 on the button and Andy Wilson called from the big blind. The flop came {q-Spades}{q-Diamonds}{8-Diamonds} and both players checked to the {3-Hearts} on the turn.

Both players checked again and the {7-Clubs} landed on the river. Wilson led out with a large bet of 2,400,000 and Cobian shoved all in. Wilson was forced to lay his hand down and Cobian's lead grew larger.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Samuel Cobian us
Samuel Cobian
18,550,000
3,800,000
3,800,000
Profile photo of Andy Wilson gb
Andy Wilson
4,200,000
-3,800,000
-3,800,000
WPT 1X Winner

Tags: Andy WilsonSamuel Cobian

Justin Steinbrenner Eliminated in 3rd Place ($106,750)

Level 37 : Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante
Justin Steinbrenner
Justin Steinbrenner

Justin Steinbrenner shoved from the small blind and was at risk when Samuel Cobian called in the big.

Justin Steinbrenner: {10-Hearts}{7-Hearts}
Samuel Cobian: {a-Hearts}{4-Hearts}

Cobian was already in the lead before connecting with the {a-Clubs}{9-Spades}{4-Spades} flop. The {2-Diamonds} turn locked up the knockout, with the {9-Hearts} river completing the board. Steinbrenner wished his opponents good luck on his way to the payout desk with a 3rd place finish.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Samuel Cobian us
Samuel Cobian
14,750,000
7,550,000
7,550,000
Profile photo of Andy Wilson gb
Andy Wilson
8,000,000
800,000
800,000
WPT 1X Winner
Profile photo of Justin Steinbrenner de
Justin Steinbrenner
Busted

Tags: Justin SteinbrennerSamuel Cobian

Steinbrenner Recovers Again

Level 37 : Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante

Andy Wilson raised it up to 1,200,000 in the small blind and Justin Steinbrenner called from the big blind. The flop came {k-Spades}{j-Clubs}{10-Diamonds} and Wilson started with a check. Steinbrenner slid out a bet of 1,000,000 and Wilson called.

The turn brought the {5-Clubs} and Wilson quickly checked. Steinbrenner shoved all in and Wilson instantly mucked his cards.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Justin Steinbrenner de
Justin Steinbrenner
8,750,000
2,550,000
2,550,000
Profile photo of Andy Wilson gb
Andy Wilson
7,200,000
-3,200,000
-3,200,000
WPT 1X Winner

Level: 37

Blinds: 200,000/400,000

Ante: 400,000

Steinbrenner Strikes Back

Level 36 : Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante

In a battle of the blinds, Andy Wilson put Justin Steinbrenner all-in from the small and the call was made.

Justin Steinbrenner: {a-Diamonds}{8-Clubs}
Andy Wilson: {k-Spades}{4-Hearts}

Each player found a piece of the {a-Hearts}{k-Clubs}{7-Spades} flop, with Wilson bricking out on the {2-Clubs} turn and {6-Clubs} river. Steinbrenner recovered much of his lost stack while cutting into Wilson's chip lead.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Andy Wilson gb
Andy Wilson
10,400,000
-2,150,000
-2,150,000
WPT 1X Winner
Profile photo of Samuel Cobian us
Samuel Cobian
7,200,000
-950,000
-950,000
Profile photo of Justin Steinbrenner de
Justin Steinbrenner
6,200,000
2,750,000
2,750,000

Tags: Andy WilsonJustin Steinbrenner

Deuces are Better than Aces

Level 36 : Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante

The action folded to Andy Wilson in the small blind who ripped all in for 6,125,000. Justin Steinbrenner looked down at his cards in the big blind and snap-called to put Wilson at risk.

Andy Wilson: {2-Hearts}{2-Clubs}
Justin Steinbrenner: {a-Spades}{a-Clubs}

The flop came {j-Clubs}{5-Hearts}{4-Hearts} and Steinbrenner looked poised to score the elimination. However, the {9-Hearts} on the turn gave Wilson a flush draw and the {a-Hearts} on the river allowed him to double-up into the chip lead.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Andy Wilson gb
Andy Wilson
12,550,000
7,200,000
7,200,000
WPT 1X Winner
Profile photo of Justin Steinbrenner de
Justin Steinbrenner
3,450,000
-6,200,000
-6,200,000

Tags: Justin SteinbrennerAndy Wilson

Cobian Connects for a Double

Level 36 : Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante

Samuel Cobian limped from the small blind and called once Andy Wilson announced all-in from the big blind.

Samuel Cobian: {q-Spades}{10-Clubs}
Andy Wilson: {5-Spades}{5-Diamonds}

Wilson's pocket pair remained ahead after the {j-Spades}{j-Diamonds}{2-Clubs} flop, but Cobian hit the {q-Hearts} turn to take the lead. The {3-Clubs} river completed the board, giving Cobian the double up.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Justin Steinbrenner de
Justin Steinbrenner
9,650,000
-900,000
-900,000
Profile photo of Samuel Cobian us
Samuel Cobian
8,150,000
5,900,000
5,900,000
Profile photo of Andy Wilson gb
Andy Wilson
5,350,000
-4,650,000
-4,650,000
WPT 1X Winner

Tags: Andy WilsonSamuel Cobian