Poker News

Isildur1 aka Viktor Blom has pocketed $51,596 by beating Daniel Cates, aka Jungleman12, in the latest match in the PokerStars SuperStar Showdown Series.

Isildur, 20, who won, lost and won back millions playing online last year was 'outed' as Blom by Pokerstars at their Carribean Adventure tournament in the Bahamas earlier this month.

This was his third SuperStar Showdown online poker clash after losing to $42k to Isaac Haxton but taking $44k off Aussie loudmouth Tony G.

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And the highly-anticipated clash against Cates - who has already won $750,000 in online cash games in 2011 - was the quickest yet, as the pair played out their 2,500 hands in just over four hours.

Cates, like Blom known for being a highly aggressive player, dominated the early exchanges of the four-table $50/$100 No-Limit Hold'em match.

Cates, who plays on PokerStars under the pseudonym 'w00ki3z', stormed ahead over the first 200 hands. On Table 1, he picked up two back-to-back all-in pots, the first when he hit top set on a 9♥4♠2♦ flop against Blom's pocket aces.

Blom led out for $1,000 on the flop and another $2,200 when the Q♦ fell on the turn, Cates smooth-calling both times.

The 3♠ on the river was an innocuous enough card for Blom to shove and Cates snap-called, raking in the $23,000 pot.

On the very next deal that same $23,000 went in the middle before the flop, Cates making yet another five-bet shove. Blom called with pocket sevens, but could not catch a miracle to outrun Cates' K♥K♦.

But Blom gradually fought back and managed to finish as the clear leader - despite not winning any of the true monster pots.

He picked up $32,000 when, with the board reading 3♥6♣4♣A♥8♥ on the river, Blom moved all-in for $11,050 into the $9,800 pot and Cates called.

Isildur1 turned over K♥J♥ for the nut flush while Cates showed Q♥5♥ for the second nuts. Blom continued to hack away, gathering momentum as he got maximum value on a full house against Cates' two pair in a $21,000 pot and three streets of value on an ace-high flush to win a $15,300 pot.

The last hour of the match belonged to Blom and were it not for the miracle river card Cates caught in a $54,400 pot, he may have lost a lot more.

The final half-hour was marked by a flurry of all-ins, the majority of them falling Blom's way. Cates bluffed one stack off with queen-high. Blom bluffed one of his off with ace-high.

And in another hand that left observers scratching their heads, Cates check-raised the river with king-high and Blom snap-called with bottom pair to take down a $28,400 pot.

It was only fitting that a dramatic river card decided the last major pot of the match. Following Cates' $200 opening raise, Blom three-bet to $800 and Cates made the call. Blom led out for $1,000 on the A♠T♥8♥ flop and Cates caled. The turn brought the Q♣ and Blom fired again, making it $2,200 to go.

Cates raised to $4,900 and Blom called. The river was the K♦ and Blom shoved, setting Cates all-in for his remaining $6,000. Cates made the call and turned up Q♠Q♥ for a turned set, but Blom revealed J♣T♣, having rivered the nut straight.

At the end of the game the two players exchanged civil 'ggs' in the chat box and Cates even Tweeted happily about losing $50,000.

No opponent has yet been set for the 4th clash in the SuperStar Showdown, but PokerStars is thought to be lining up Daniel Negreanu for a shot at Blom.

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