Michael Lech was crowned winner at the $365 No-Limit Hold’em Six-Handed Event 10 of the 2016 WSOP Circuit Caribbean and walked away with the first-place prize of $6,400. This was the second and final day of the event, where nine players out of a 61-entry strong field returned to the tables in Sint Maarten’s Casino Royale.
Lech earned his champion title after five levels and fifteen minutes. In addition to winning the first-place prize of $6,400, the American was awarded his first WSOP Circuit gold ring. Lech was among the players with the biggest stacks on Day 1 of the event, yet his victory was anything but plain sailing.
A total of nine players made it to the final table. Mohamed Bourhaleb was 45 minutes late for the event as he was caught in traffic. By the time Bourhaled made it to the table, the number of competitors had already shrunk to eight. Frederic Maniez was eliminated after opponent Alexandre Annovazzi responded with ace-eight to his king-jack.
Dutch player Tommie Janssen doubled through Lech with kings versus tens. Lech, who was occupying the last position at this point, doubled short with nine-eight against Frenchman Bourhaleb’s suited ace-ten. Tommie Janssen, who took over the secondary table, was in possession of 50% of the chips in play as he robbed opponent Joachim Lob of a substantial portion of his pot.
The number of players dropped to four only 20 minutes after the restart. As Bourhaleb’s jacks were powerless against Janssen’s kings, the Frenchman left the game at seventh place. Aroon Maharaj quickly followed in his footsteps as his ace-king was no match for the kings of Lech.
The next one to go was Sean Stoll, who finished at fifth place. Former chip leader Tommie Janssen left the game in fourth place winning a prize of $1,860. Lech was already in the lead with pocket jacks. Willie Janssen went home with the third-place prize of $2,620 after Lech made a full house on the river.
After the restart, Lech was head to head with Frenchmen Annovazzi, who managed to collect several pots in succession. Only 15 minutes into the heads-up battle, Annovazzi five-bet jammed king-ten suited into his American opponent’s pocket kings. Lech made yet another full house sending Annovazzi to the second place with a prize of $3,960.
Lech, who studied International Business, has earned over $434,000 in WSOP tournaments. The American finished second at the 2016 WSOP $888 Crazy Eights No-Limit Hold’em Event 54 claiming a prize of $401,888 – his most lucrative win to date.
