ShareIke Haxton has won Super High Roller Bowl VIII, defeating a field stacked with elite-level talent. Disappointingly, the event only attracted 20 entries but at least we got to watch a group of the very best out there fighting for glory in what is one of poker’s flagship tournaments at $300,000 to buy in.
Two-Time Winner
This win is Haxton’s second Super High Roller Bowl title and adds $2,760,000 to his career earnings, which now stand at more than $40 million. This takes him to 11th place on the all-time winners list, only $730k behind Phil Ivey in 10th place.
Haxton has won $5,415,797 from live events over the last six months, including no less than seven victories. Only four players have won more in that time period.
Speaking to PokerGO after his win, Haxton said:
"It feels great. That was a tough collection of players to beat. Obviously, it helps to come in with half the chips and continue to run good after that, but yeah, I feel great. I'm very happy to win this tournament. It's one of my favorites."
Final Day Action
When the players returned on Day 3 of the event, Ike Haxton already had a considerable chip advantage. Six players remained in the fight but only four would get paid.
Chris Brewer, a man with a reputation as high stakes poker’s bubble boy after being incredibly unfortunate many times in the past, would continue his run of terrible luck.
Bryn Kenney was the first to go, after his pocket threes couldn’t win a race against Chidwick’s ace-king. Then Brewer was slapped hard by lady luck after getting his pocket aces in against Andrew “LuckyChewy” Lichtenberger’s KTs. Lichtenberger flopped a pair and flush draw and hit the gin card on the turn to leave the two-time bracelet winner wondering what he must do to change his luck.
Lichtenberger must have the best recipe because not long after, Jason Koon suffered a similar fate to that of Brewer. Picking up pocket kings and hitting top set on the flop would have most players feeling the pot was already in the bag. But Lichtenberger’s gutshot improved to a straight on the turn, sending Koon home with a $600,000 payday.
LuckyChewy still wasn’t done. Hitting two pair at the perfect time, he managed to get Chidwick to call off his top pair to leave him and Haxton alone to fight for the plaudits.
The heads-up battle was as exciting as they come with the lead chopping and changing repeatedly.
Then Haxton thought he was building momentum before a failed three-barrel bluff gave Lichtenberger the advantage once more.
But as quickly as Haxton thought he was possibly doomed, he turned it around with semi-bluff jam holding a flopped flush draw while Lichtenberger hoped his kings would hold. The poker gods favoured Haxton and Lichtenberger was left with a stack on life support.
One hand later it was all over and Ike Haxton was the champion.
Super High Roller Bowl VIII Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isaac Haxton | United States | $2,760,000 |
| 2 | Andrew Lichtenberger | United States | $1,680,000 |
| 3 | Stephen Chidwick | United Kingdom | $960,000 |
| 4 | Jason Koon | United States | $600,000 |
