2017 PokerStars Festival Uruguay

$3,300 High Roller
Day: 3
Event Info

2017 PokerStars Festival Uruguay

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
1010
Prize
$54,480
Event Info
Buy-in
$3,300
Prize Pool
$186,240
Entries
64
Level Info
Level
25
Blinds
20,000 / 40,000
Ante
5,000

$3,300 High Roller

Day 3 Completed

Francisco Garcia Wins PokerStars Festival Uruguay $3,300 High Roller for $54,480

Level 25 : 20,000/40,000, 5,000 ante
High Roller champion Francisco Garcia
High Roller champion Francisco Garcia

Francisco Garcia took the top prize in the $3,300 High Roller at the inaugural PokerStars Festival Uruguay at the Conrad Hotel & Casino for $54,480, beating a 64-entry field.

Final Table Results

PlacePlayerCountryPrize
1Francisco GarciaUruguay$54,480
2Christopher FrancoChile$39,120
3Jean SierraUruguay$25,420
4Ernesto PannoArgentina$19,180
5Alejandro LopezUruguay$14,900
6Martin CrosaUruguay$11,540
7Andres ViolaArgentina$9,120
8Matias ScaffoUruguay$7,080
9Christian FernandezChile$5,400

Thirteen players took took to the felt at the start of Day 3 action, including some notoriously tough ones like PokerStars Team Pro Leo Fernandez, recent bracelet winner Andres Korn, and previous LAPT champion Maria Lampropulos, who began the day as the short stack. However, only nine spots were paid in this event, and all three of the aforementioned players failed to make the money. Although Lampropulous found a couple of double-ups in fairly short order, she departed when she got her stack in preflop holding jacks against Alejandro Lopez's pocket fives to see her opponent flop quads. Fernandez took a healthy stack out of the bag at the start of play but found himself on the unfortunate end of a set-over-set confrontation early on which left him quite short-stacked, and while he managed to rebuild a bit, he lost a coin flip against Ernesto Panno to exit in 11th place. Korn became the bubble boy when he hit a runner-runner king-high flush and got his stack in on the river only to see his opponent, the eventual champion Francisco Garcia, table the nut flush.

After the bubble broke and the last nine contenders took their seats at the final table, eventual runner-up Christopher Franco knocked out Christian Fernandez and Matias Scaffo in a massive three-way all-in to take the chip lead. Franco held pocket tens and they held up against Fernandez's pocket sixes and Scaffo's suited ace-king. Fernandez had the shortest stack and finished in ninth while Scaffo took eighth place.

Andres Viola was the next to go in seventh place when he got the last of his short stack in the middle holding queen-ten against Garcia's king-eight and got no help from the board. Day 1 chip leader Martin Crosa hit the rail in sixth when he lost a coin flip holding pocket tens against Franco's ace-jack. Alejandro Lopez fell in fifth when he jammed preflop with queen-jack and failed to improve against Garcia's king-nine.

Argentinian Ernesto Panno, who finished in fourth place in the $1,650 Main Event earlier this week for $29,880, took fourth in this tournament, as well. He made his exit when he shoved holding ace-ten and got a caller from Franco with king-nine only to see his preflop advantage evaporate when the flop paired his opponent's king. Jean Sierra departed in third when he couldn't win a race holding ace-eight suited against Franco's pocket sixes.

The heads-up battle between Garcia and Franco lasted for over two hours. Franco had a small chip lead at the beginning and Garcia slowly accummulated the larger stack without any huge pots. In fact, the only hand of heads-up play in which there was an all-in and a call was the final one. Franco opened from the button, Garcia three-bet, Franco four-bet jammed, and Garcia called holding two black tens. Franco showed two black eights and Garcia's hand was still best when the final card hit the felt. When he posed for his winner's photo several minutes later, he was still shaking with excitement. The two tens which had been his vehicle to victory fluttered slightly in his unsteady hand as the surrounding cameras snapped away.

Even at the moment Garcia took the title, the atmosphere in the room was rather subdued. A small rotating cast of players lined the rail throughout final table play, including Leo Fernandez for a time. Just a handful remained by the time the tournament drew to a close on the final day of the first-ever PokerStars Festival Uruguay. And although the action in Punta del Este has concluded, the PokerStars Festival Dublin kicks off in just a few days. Be sure to check back for updates on the action starting on September 27 from the PokerNews live reporting team.

Tags: Alejandro LopezAndres KornAndres ViolaChristopher FrancoCristian FernandezErnesto PannoFrancisco GarciaJean SierraLeo FernandezMaria LampropulosMartin CrosaMatias Scaffo

Christopher Franco Eliminated in 2nd Place ($39,120)

Level 25 : 20,000/40,000, 5,000 ante
Christopher Franco
Christopher Franco

Christopher Franco raised to 80,000 from the button, Francisco Garcia three-bet to 275,000 from the big blind, Franco jammed for about 875,000, and Garcia instantly called to put Franco at risk.

Franco: {8-Spades}{8-Clubs}
Garcia: {10-Spades}{10-Clubs}

Franco found himself way behind with the smaller of the two pocket pairs and Garcia was just one favorable runout away from taking the title. The board ran out {K-Diamonds}{7-Clubs}{6-Hearts}{A-Clubs}{10-Hearts} and Garcia took the pot with a set of tens to eliminate Franco and end the PokerStars Festival Uruguay $3,300 High Roller.

A full recap will be posted shortly.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Francisco Garcia uy
Francisco Garcia
3,200,000
920,000
920,000
Profile photo of Christopher Franco cl
Christopher Franco
Busted

Tags: Christopher FrancoFrancisco Garcia

More For Garcia

Level 25 : 20,000/40,000, 5,000 ante

Christopher Franco raised to 80,000 and Francisco Garcia called.

Both players checked on the {9-Diamonds}{3-Diamonds}{3-Spades} flop. When the {2-Spades} hit the turn, Garcia led out for 110,000. Franco called.

The river was the {4-Diamonds} and Garcia led out again, this time for 155,000. Franco called and mucked upon seeing Garcia's {9-Diamonds}{7-Spades} for two pair.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Francisco Garcia uy
Francisco Garcia
2,280,000
75,000
75,000
Profile photo of Christopher Franco cl
Christopher Franco
920,000
-75,000
-75,000

Tags: Christopher FrancoFrancisco Garcia

Garcia Extends His Chip Lead

Level 25 : 20,000/40,000, 5,000 ante

Francisco Garcia raised to 85,000 from the button and Christopher Franco three-bet to 275,000 from the big blind. After some thought, Garcia called

The flop came {J-Diamonds}{4-Diamonds}{2-Clubs} and Franco bet 275,000. Garcia called.

The turn brought the {8-Spades} and Franco checked. Garica bet 225,000, Franco folded, and Garcia took the pot.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Francisco Garcia uy
Francisco Garcia
2,205,000
380,000
380,000
Profile photo of Christopher Franco cl
Christopher Franco
995,000
-380,000
-380,000

Tags: Christopher FrancoFrancisco Garcia

Level: 25

Blinds: 20,000/40,000

Ante: 5,000

Garcia Calls and Wins

Level 24 : 15,000/30,000, 5,000 ante

Francisco Garcia raised to 65,000 from the button and Christopher Franco called from the big blind.

The flop came {Q-Spades}{J-Diamonds}{8-Clubs} and Franco checked. Garcia bet 65,000 and Franco called.

The turn brought the {6-Diamonds} and both players checked.

The {K-Spades} fell on the river and Franco bet 140,000. After a bit of thought, Garcia called. Franco instantly mucked and Garcia took the pot.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Francisco Garcia uy
Francisco Garcia
1,825,000
475,000
475,000
Profile photo of Christopher Franco cl
Christopher Franco
1,375,000
-475,000
-475,000

Tags: Christopher FrancoFrancisco Garcia

Garcia Gets Some Back

Level 24 : 15,000/30,000, 5,000 ante

Francisco Garcia opened with a raise to 65,000 on the button. Christopher Franco called from the big blind.

The flop came down {K-Spades}{10-Hearts}{5-Diamonds} and both players checked to see the {7-Clubs} on the turn. Franco checked again. Garcia bet 70,000 and Franco called.

The river was the {9-Spades} and Franco checked a third time. Garcia cut out a bet of 190,000 which Franco called quickly. He let out a big groan as Garcia turned up {8-Spades}{6-Diamonds} for a rivered straight. Garcia took down the pot and inched the stacks a bit closer to even.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Christopher Franco cl
Christopher Franco
1,850,000
-450,000
-450,000
Profile photo of Francisco Garcia uy
Francisco Garcia
1,350,000
450,000
450,000

Tags: Christopher FrancoFrancisco Garcia

Franco Fires Twice

Level 24 : 15,000/30,000, 5,000 ante

Christopher Franco raised to 65,000 from the button and Francisco Garcia called from the big blind.

The flop came {K-Diamonds}{Q-Hearts}{2-Diamonds} and Garcia checked. Franco bet 65,000 and Garcia called.

The turn brought the {7-Hearts} and Garcia checked. Franco bet again, 135,000 this time. Garcia called.

The {7-Spades} fell on the river and both players checked. Garcia tabled {A-Diamonds}{5-Diamonds} for ace high, having flopped the nut-flush draw and missed. Franco flipped over {K-Spades}{5-Spades} for top pair and took the pot.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Christopher Franco cl
Christopher Franco
2,300,000
140,000
140,000
Profile photo of Francisco Garcia uy
Francisco Garcia
900,000
-140,000
-140,000

Tags: Christopher FrancoFrancisco Garcia