Almost exactly a year ago, at the start of the 2011 PCA, PokerStars proudly unveiled the identity of Isildur1 as 20-year-old Viktor Blom. Now the young Swede – who has garnered a fearsome reputation online – has taken down his first major live title by winning the PCA $100k Super High Roller.
Fighting off competition from some of the best live tournament players in the world, Blom – who joined Team PokerStars Pro just a month before last year’s PCA – bested the 30-strong field to win a massive $1,254,400 first prize as well as a stunning bracelet worth over $20,000 from Official Bracelet Sponsor Shamballa Jewels.
Blom, who earned his legendary online status playing high stakes heads-up cash games, said: “This was more fun than winning the same amount in a cash game. I’m not used to making it this far in a tournament. I didn’t expect it. It feels great – very different to playing online.”
Blom took the title after beating American Dan Shak heads-up, but the real battle had been the protracted three-way struggle between Blom, Shak and PCA champion Galen Hall.
Shak has a string of great results to his name including winning the Aussie Milllions $100,000 Challenge two years ago for $1.1 million and coming second to Team PokerStars Pro Vanessa Selbst at NAPT Uncasville last April. He took $846,700 for his runner-up finish here at the PCA, while last year’s PCA Main Event champion Galen Hall snagged $470,400 for third place.
A total of 30 players entered this year’s event (with two rebuys) creating a total prize pool of $3,136,000. Team PokerStars Pro and 2010 World Champion Jonathan Duhamel came fourth for $313,600 while fellow Canadian and team-mate Daniel Negreanu, who was runner-up to Eugene Katchalov in this event last year, took $250,900 for fifth place.
PAYOUTS
Viktor Blom, Sweden, Team PokerStars Pro, $1,254,400
Dan Shak, USA, $846,700
Galen Hall, USA, $470,400
Jonathan Duhamel, Canada, Team PokerStars Pro, $313,600
Daniel Negreanu, Canada, Team PokerStars Pro, $250,900
