Event #3 of the November Power Weekend, the $100 + $10 Playground 100, was a tremendous success. This multi-day event gathered 905 entries from its various starting flights to nearly double the prize pool guarantee, which was set at $50,000. In the end, this event awarded $87,785 in prizes.

Day 2 play began this afternoon with the top 93 players already in the money. The action started out at a fast pace, as the qualifying players were looking to make a deep run rather than settle for a small cash so they took risks early and often. The early levels of play quickly reduced the field to less than 30 players after roughly four hours of play. There was a short lull in the action before things picked up again, bringing about the final table in level 28.

When play began at the final table two players – Sergei Gurin and Richard Drolet – controlled the largest stacks in play so it was only fitting that these two would meet in a heads-up battle for the championship. At the final table, it was either Gurin or Drolet who sent most of the other players to the rail over the course of roughly three hours of play. But when it came down to just the two of them, it did not take long for a winner to emerge.

After only a few hands of play both players connected with a flop and were happy to get their chips in the middle. Drolet had the best of it with a flop straight and managed to avoid a board pair that could have improved Gurin’s hand. Throughout the afternoon Drolet played a determined and focused game truly fitting of a champion.

Congratulations!

Playground 100 champion: Richard Drolet, $15,835 

Second place: Sergei Gurin, $11,140

Last hand of play: