Golden Performance Earns Platinum Pass Winner Ramon Colillas PokerStars Title

January 11th, 2019 | by Kaycee James

Ramon Colillas has won the PokerStars No Limit Hold’em Players Championship (PSPC) and banked $5.1 million after entering with a Platinum Pass.

Ramon Colillas PokerStars Players Championship

Spain’s Ramon Colillas has taken down the record-breaking PokerStars Players Championship for $5.1 million. (Image: YouTube/ Circuito Nacional de Poker)

Although Colillas describes himself as a poker pro with a decade’s worth of experience, his live tournament earnings heading into the $25,000 tournament were just over $10,000.

However, with PokerStars aiming to make their marquee event as accessible for low stakes players as pros, the Spaniard took full advantage of the extensive satellite system.

Platinum Colillas Shines

Entering the final day of the record-breaking high roller, Colillas was trailing chip leader Scott Baumstein. Despite the disparity in stacks, the circuit grinder played with the confidence of a man who’d won his way into the tournament via PokerStars’ Platinum Pass giveaway.

Receiving a $30,000 prize package meant that any sort of cash would have shown Colillas a healthy return on his investment. With that being the case, there was little to no pressure on the 30-year-old as he watched those around him crumble.

First to fall in the eight-handed finale was Englishman Talal Shakerchi. After leading the event after Day 1, the hedge fund manager thought he’d found the perfect spot to take control of the final table.

Following an opening raise from Marc Rivera and a three-bet from Julien Martini with A♠Q♠, Shakerchi looked down to see pocket aces. Moving all-in for just over five million chips, the high stakes regular forced a fold from Rivera but a call from Martini.

Taking a huge advantage to the flop, Shakerchi was relieved to see a lack of queens. However, as the board ran out 3♣K♠2♥T♠, the 5 ♠ on the river brought Martini a fortunate flush and an end to Shakerchi’s tournament life.

Luck Shifts During Finale

That dose of luck served France’s Martini well as he used it to outlast the likes of Baumstein and make it to a heads-up showdown with Colillas. Taking the fight to his opponent, it looked as though the Frenchman would parlay his good fortune into a win after flopping a flush with 9♥6♥.

Making a pair of queens on the flop, Colillas called Martini’s bet and continued in the same vein as the Q♦ landed on the turn. Unaware of his precarious position, Colillas caught his own slice of luck on the courtesy of the 5♦.

Instantly calling Martini’s bet, the Spanish pro showed his full house to secure a timely double-up and enough ammunition to win his first major tournament.

The final hand was a comparatively lackluster affair as an all-in from Martini with J♣9♣ was met with a call from Colillas holding A♦5♠. An ace on the flop was enough to bring the match to a close and hand the Platinum Pass winner his biggest ever payout.

PokerStars No Limit Hold’em Players Championship Result

1 – Ramon Colillas – $5,100,000

2 – Julien Martini – $2,974,000

3 – Marc Rivera – $2,168,000

4 – Scott Baumstein – $1,657,000

5 – Jason Koonce – $1,304,000

6 – Marc Perrault – $1,012,000

7 – Farid Jattin – $746,000

8 – Talal Shakerchi – $509,000

As things were wrapping up inside the Atlantis Resort & Casino, oRezidenTo was taking down the Mini PSPC online. Offered as an alternative to the main event in the Bahamas, the $25 MTT saw 4,402 entries create a prizepool of $118,050.

After five days of action, oRezidenTo cut a deal with Pkr_Pro_Ryan and locked up $16,291 as well as the Mini PSPC title.