Canadian Pascal Lefrancois took down the partypoker MILLIONS Grand Final to win €1.7M. (partypoker photo)

For the last 10 days the poker world has had its attention on the city of Barcelona as the first partypoker LIVE season came to a conclusion with the partypoker MILLIONS Grand Final. The final table played out on Sunday with some of the most dominant tournament players in the world battling it out for one of three seven-figure scores and in the end it was Canadian Pascal Lefrancois that overcame a stacked final table to walk away with €1.7 million and yet another major title.

With four players holding over 100 big blinds at the start of the day, it took 4.5 hours before the first bustout. Down to just about eight big blinds, Thomas Boivin moved all in from UTG and Stephen Chidwick called from the small blind. Boivin showed Ah3h and needed some help after seeing Chidwick tabled JcJd. The 7s5s3s flop gave him a couple of extra outs, but the 6c turn and Td river were both bricks and Boivin was out in eighth place.

It took just a couple of minutes for the next elimination. Davidi Kitai, who came into the final table with the chance to be the first person to own a World Series of Poker bracelet, a World Poker Tour title, a European Poker Tour championship and a partypoker MILLIONS victory, moved his seven big blind stack all in from UTG and Diogo Veiga called from the small blind. Kitai showed AsJd and got great news when Veiga showed Ah4c but the Kc6h4d flop changed everything. Kitai was unable to catch up after the 8d turn or Td river and was out in seventh place.

Veiga’s night didn’t last much longer. An hour after taking out Kitai, Veiga found himself on the bad side of a clash with Chidwick. After Chidwick raised to 10,000,000 from the cutoff, Veiga re-raised to 39,000,000 from the small blind. Chidwick called and the two players saw the Ah8s3d flop. Veiga checked, Chidwick bet 20,000,000 and Veiga moved all in for 84,000,000 more. Chidwick called and showed Ad3c for top and bottom pair while Chidwick was behind with Ac9c. The turn was the Jh keeping Veiga ahead but the Js river paired the board and gave Chidwick the pot, eliminating Veiga in sixth.

Jan-Eric Schwippert started the day third in chips, but was unable to weather the storm and fell victim to Adam Owen a number of times before seeing Owen send him off for good. From the cutoff, Owen raised to to 16,000,000 before Schwippert moved all in for 136,000,000 from the big blind. Owen called and showed 7d7h which put him ahead of Schwippert’s Ac9c. The board ran out Js6d5hJhQs and Schwippert was eliminated.

The final four players battled for another two hours before the next player was sent packing. Action folded to Dominik Nitsche in the small blind and he moved all in for 71,000,000 and Lefrancois called from the big blind. Nitsche found himself slightly ahead with Ks6c over Lefrancois’ Kd3c. The Ts4s2c flop was harmless, but the 5c turn gave Lefrancois an open-ended straight draw. Nitsche could only shake his head and pack up his things as the Ac river completed the draw to eliminate him in fourth place.

Ten minutes later, Chidwick suffered a similar fate. Lefrancois called from the button, Owen folded the small blind and Chidwick moved all in from the big blind for 94,000,000. Lefrancois called and showed KsTs which put him behind Chidwick’s Ah7c. The Kh9s8d flop moved Lefrancois into the lead and he maintained that position after the 5d turn and 8c river to bust Chidwick in third.

Heads-up play began with Lefrancois holding 65% of the chips in play. Over the first 45 minutes of heads-up play, Owen chipped away at the lead and eventually took the lead for himself only to see Lefrancois return the favor before putting an end to the tournament. Owen raised to 38,000,000 and Lefrancois responded by three-betting to 105,000,000. Owen continued to apply pressure and moved all in for 451,000,000 and Lefrancois called. Owen turned over AsTs but grimaced as Lefrancois had him out-pipped with AdJd. The Qc5c5d flop gave Owen some hope, but the 3s turn and 7d river offered no relief and gave Lefrancois the final pot of the tournament, the MILLIONS Grand Final title and a cool €1.7 million to with it all.

Final Table Payouts

  1. Pascal Lefrancois – €1,700,000
  2. Adam Owen -€1,300,000
  3. Stephen Chidwick – €1,000,000
  4. Dominik Nitsche – €800,000
  5. Jan-Eric Schwippert – €602,500
  6. Diogo Veiga – €450,000
  7. Davidi Kitai – €325,000
  8. Thomas Boivin – €225,000