PokerStars Summer Series: The final event of the PokerStars Summer Series cost $2,200 to enter, and it drew 448 eager players. Three people from Ontario, Canada, stood out among this tough group by getting their seats through an online qualifier.
Thanks to PokerStars Ontario, Cory Payne, Larry Smart, and Carson Shenfield won a coveted spot at the luxurious Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia. At first, the competition had a big guarantee of $500,000, but because so many people showed up, the prize pool grew to almost $900,000. This event was the big finale of the series. As usual, it made more money than it was supposed to, which shows how appealing it was.
The series’ big showdown happened on a Sunday morning in the busy city of Philadelphia. As the players fought for the prized title, which came with a nice cash prize of $172,390, the stakes were high and the competition was tough.
The trip was full of ups and downs for the three Ontario qualifiers. All of them went into Day 1 hoping to make it to the final table, but the cards didn’t go their way. Even though they had to leave, they made the most of their time at Philly Live! and enjoyed being in the City of Brotherly Love.
Cory Payne, who plays online poker under the name “cravincards,” and Larry Smart, who goes by the name “SmartAcesGuy,” took part in Day 1a on Thursday. On Saturday, Carson Shenfield, who goes by the name “carsons1414,” chose the 1c game. Shenfield and Smart ran into trouble early on, and they were out of the game before the money bubble burst on Day 1.
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But the story of how Cory Payne left was especially sad. This was his first time playing in a live poker game. Before this, he had mostly worked on his skills online. The Canadian poker player got his ticket to this important event through a small $5 qualifier, which shows how hard he worked and how skilled he was.
In a bad hand, Payne had the top set, which is a strong hand in any poker game. His opponent, the experienced poker player Frank Funaro, had the bottom set, which is a weak hand. When these two strong hands met, it set up a fight of the titans that was bound to happen, with the fate of their large stacks in the balance.
But luck was fickle, and Funaro got the one card he needed, a “one-outer,” which turned his hand into quads on the turn. Because of this surprising turn of events, Payne’s once-good stack went down quickly. In this case, “bad beat” didn’t seem like enough of an exaggeration. It was a really terrible turn of events. Still, Payne kept a good attitude and enjoyed the unique experience of playing in a real competition.
After he lost, Payne couldn’t help but talk about how amazed and excited he was by the PokerStars Summer Series. “It’s so cool that I can’t even explain it,” he said, thinking back on his first live poker game. On his way to Philadelphia, he took a road trip with his wife. Even though he was in a lot of pain, he loved every minute of the trip.
Even though Payne and the other Ontario qualifiers didn’t win as much money as they had hoped in the event, their trip to Philly Live! and participation in the PokerStars Summer Series will be remembered as an amazing and unforgettable experience.
Our Reader’s Queries
Can you still play PokerStars in Ontario?
PokerStars is fully compliant with the law, holding licenses from both iGaming Ontario and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. We believe that gambling should be an enjoyable pastime, but if it ever becomes a problem, ConnexOntario is here to help. Simply call 1-866-531-2600 or visit ConnexOntario.ca for assistance. We encourage all players to gamble responsibly.
Is PokerStars Ontario legit?
PokerStars is completely legal in Ontario. The AGCO has granted this operator a license and approval, which means that it is authorized to provide both free-play and real-money games to individuals aged 19 and above in Ontario.
What is spin and go poker?
Spin & Go’s are exciting Sit & Go tournaments that are perfect for those who love fast-paced action. With just three players and a 500-chip starting stack, these Hyper-Turbo tournaments are sure to get your heart racing. What’s more, the prize pools are randomly drawn, which means you could win up to $1,000,000! So, if you’re looking for a thrilling and potentially lucrative poker experience, Spin & Go’s are definitely worth checking out.
What does on demand mean PokerStars?
Similar to a sit & go, an On Demand Tournament doesn’t have a fixed start time. The game commences once the minimum number of players required to start the tournament is reached. Additionally, players can join the tournament during a specific re-entry period, even after the game has begun.