2023 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure

The first high roller of PokerStars Caribbean Adventure kicked off in style with Day 1 of $100,000 PCA Super High Roller, an event that has, as expected, drawn plenty of big names and produced plenty of big hands. Leading the way is Canada's Mike Watson, who bagged a stack of 830,000 ahead of Latvia's Aleksejs Ponakovs (763,000) and fellow Canadian Timothy Adams (659,000).

The first and only starting flight attracted 45 runners, though that number is sure to climb with late registration open up to the beginning of Day 2 at 12:30 p.m. local time. There were 34 players who found bags on Day 1, including Patrik Antonius, Dan Smith, David Peters, Joao Vieira, Isaac Haxton, Mikita Badziakouski, Stephen Chidwick, Chris Brewer and Sam Greenwood.

The controversial Bryn Kenney also made his way into the Day 1 field and managed to bag a stack of 241,000. Kenney was accused last year of running an online cheating ring (an allegation that he has repeatedly denied), but the second all-time money leader hasn't let that stop him from firing in some of the biggest poker events across the world.

Speaking of all-time money leaders, the pink-haired Justin Bonomo bagged a stack of 132,000 in the High Roller Event as he looks to add to his $59 million in Hendon Mob-reported earnings.

$100,000 PCA Super High Roller Day 1 Top 10 Chip Counts

Plenty of Coolers Make Up Day 1

Kicking off the PCA return in true fashion, there were several massive pots and gutwrenching coolers during the eight hours of play on Day 1.

In just the first level of play, Ponakovs doubled up through Christoph Vogelsang in a two-pair versus full house confrontation that Vogelsang short before busting shortly after. For his part, Ponakovs also busted early on Day 1 but both players fired second bullets and made the most of them.

Petrangelo wounded Daniel Dvoress in the same level in a boat over boat cooler that left Dvoress riding fumes before he busted and bought back in.

A few hours later, Michael Addamo fell to Jean-Noel Thorel when his top set couldn't improve against the Frenchman's flopped flush. Like many of those who fell before him, the Australian crusher bought back in and ended the day with 209,000.

Day 2 action will pick up on Jan. 23 at 12:30 p.m. on Level 9 with blinds of 3,000/6,000/6,000. The event is scheduled for three days and will play to a winner on Jan. 24, who will add heaps to his lifetime earnings.

The PokerNews live reporting team is on-site here in the sunny Bahamas and will be back tomorrow to cover all the action in $100,000 PCA Super High Roller.

Day 1 has been completed with 34 players bagging up chips out of the 45 total entries. Mike Watson finished the day as the chip leader with 830,000 chips. A recap of the day's action along with a full recap will be posted shortly.

Christoph Vogelsang was all in for around 55,000 and got called by the bigger-stacked Ignacio Moron.

Christoph Vogelsang:
Ignacio Moron:

"Sixes!" Nick Petrangelo said as he tried to guess Moron's hand, only to groan when he saw he was a pip off.

The board ran out and Vogelsang was spared from elimination in one of the final hands of the night.

"The ole' re-buy shove! You dog!" Petrangelo said to Vogelsang.

The tournament clock has been paused and each table will play four more hands before the chips are bagged for the night.

Cary Katz was in position in a heads-up pot against Aleksejs Ponakovs on a flop of .

Ponakovs bet 11,000 and Katz raised all in with a stack of 77,000. The table chip leader gave it some thought and called.

Cary Katz:
Aleksejs Ponakovs:

Ponakovs was ahead with a pair of sevens while Katz had a flush draw. The board proceeded to run out and Katz gave a cheer and needle as he earned the double.

"Whoo! Two pair," Katz said, making note of Ponakovs no-good improved hand.

Katz was just getting started. "I've never seen you lose a hand! Can you give me another one before the end of the night?"

Seth Davies raised it up from the hijack and Jean-Noel Thorel three-bet to 30,000 in the cutoff. It folded back to Davies who called to see a flop of .

Davies check-called a bet of 30,000 from Thorel on the flop and then check-called another 50,000 on the turn card. The river brought the and Davies checked for the third time. Thorel ripped all in for 240,000 and Davies finally relinquished his cards.

Justin Bonomo was in position in a heads-up pot against Seth Davies on a board of .

Davies bet 50,000 and Bonomo raised all in for 135,000. Davies used through two time banks before calling with a bigger stack.

Justin Bonomo:
Seth Davies:

Bonomo was well ahead with a better kicker and a flush draw to go with it. However, the dealer put down the on the river and both players improved to full houses to chop up the pot.

Nick Petrangelo opened to 11,000 in early position and was called by Timothy Adams on the button and Ignacio Moron in the big blind. The flop came and the action checked around to the on the turn.

Moron led out with a bet of 29,000 which got Petrangelo to fold but Adams stuck around to see the on the river. Moron reached back for a bet of 110,000 this time and Adams was forced to lay his hand down.

Henrik Hecklen opened to 10,000 in early position and was called by Isaac Haxton in the big blind. The flop came and Haxton check-called a bet of 7,000 from Hecklen.

The paired the board on the turn and both players checked to the on the river. Haxton checked one more time and Hecklen bet 21,000 which got Haxton to fold.

Next door, Sergio Aido raised to 11,000 on the button and Chris Brewer defended from the big blind. The flop fell and Brewer checked to Aido who bet 8,000. Brewer check-raised to 18,000 and Aido called.

The turn brought the and Brewer sized up a bet of 55,000 which prompted a quick fold from Aido.