Final tabler from the 2009 World Series of Poker Main Event, UK poker pro James Akenhead, has just shown once again that his success in poker is not a fluke, as he has just taken down the Pokerstars Sunday Million.
It hasn’t been a winning year for Akenhead, with a series of tough losses after going deep in big money tourneys. But persistence paid off last Sunday, January 22, 2011.
For this particular win, playing under the username Asprin1, Akenhead started out the 9-seated final table with the third highest chip stack, holding 9,600,000.
One of the most exciting hands of this tournament saw Akenhead accidentally raising a bet to over 8 million when he meant to raise it to just over 800,000. His opponent, holding pocket Queens, called. Fortunately for Akenhead, the flop paired his King which was enough to hold out for him on the turn and river.
To quote Akenhead’s Facebook status after the event was over: “YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!”
28-year-old UK native James Akenhead claimed $213,750 for his win, adding it to his $2,994,779 career winnings in live poker since 2005. That includes a $1,263,602 cash at the 2009 WSOP for his ninth place finish.
Runner-up pnp23 took the $157,277.25 second prize. Ansgar2000 rounded out the top third, claiming $114,000.
The PokerStars Sunday Million takes place every Sunday for a $215 buy-in and promises a guaranteed $1 million prize pool. Throughout the week leading up to each Sunday Million, Poker Stars holds daily satellite tournaments awarding free seats in the event.