Maria Lampropulos Wins PCA Main Event After Dramatic Finale

January 16th, 2018 | by Kaycee James

Argentina’s Maria Lampropulos becomes the first ever female PCA main event winner. (Image: Neil Stoddart/PokerStars Blog)

The main event of this year’s PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA) came to a glittering close on January 14 after Argentina’s Maria Lampropulos clinched the title and $1,081,100.

Following six days of sun kissed poker action inside the Atlantis Resort & Casino, Bahamas, Lampropulos came through a tough final table to secure her second seven-figure live score.

Entering the final day, third in chips, the Argentinian pro got off to a flying start when her pocket sixes connected with the 6♦ 8♠ 7♣ flop.

With Christian Rudolph all-in and all out of luck with A♣ 8♦, Lampropulos scooped a hefty pot to take the chip lead after the 8♣ and 7♦ fell on the turn and river.

Lampropulos Keeps Her Foot on the Gas

With the momentum on her side, Lampropulos took the initiative but quickly found herself in trouble after a hero call went wrong. After opening with Q♣ 3♠ from the small bling, Lampropulos didn’t believe Shawn Buchanan have a piece of the 4♠ 7♥ 2♦ 7♣ 4♣ board.

As Buchanan tabled his A♦ 7♠ for a full house, he took the chip lead and sent the table’s lone female back to the middle of the pack. Time in the shadows was relatively short-lived for Lampropulos as she managed to tread water while Dan Coupal, Adrian Mateos and Koray Aldemir hit the rail.

Eventually, after starting the heads-up battle behind, two double-ups in three hands put Lampropulos in front and on her way to becoming the first ever female PCA main event winner.

Aggression Wins the Day for Lampropulos

The final hand of this year’s Pokerstars Caribbean Adventure event saw another aggressive move by Lampropulos get it done. After Buchanan limped on the button, the Argentinian pro moved all-in with T♣ 7♣.

Considering his options, Buchanan eventually made the call with K♥ 5♠ but could only watch as his preflop advantage and the remainder of his chips slipped away.

As the lights went up and the confetti rained down, a jubilant Lampropulos said the support of her family and friends helped her overcome the 582-player field.

“I am extremely grateful for the people who believed in me, especially my boyfriend. Ivan always trusted me and helped me to improve and grow. Whenever I had doubts about how I’d played a hand, he helped me regain my confidence by telling me that I can get it,” the new PCA champ told Pokernews.