After besting a stellar field of 717 other players US online and live poker pro James Carroll scored his biggest career win yet Saturday, becoming an instant millionaire in the World Poker Tour Bay 101 Shooting Star tournament in San Jose, California.
At $1,256,550 it was Carroll’s biggest career win so far; he also secured a $15,000 seat in the WPT World Championships next month.
Entering the final table on Day 4 of the action, Mukul Pahuja led the field, facing Carroll, Dylan Wilkerson, Shaun Suller, Nam Le and Garrett Greer, and thought by many to be in an unbeatable position. It was not to be – Pahuja was eliminated at fourth for a still-impressive $320,800.
The heads up was between Carroll and the experienced US poker pro Dylan Wilkerson, with Carroll in the lead on 12,450,000 chips and his opponent chasing him with 9,100,000.
Wilkerson made good progress over the long heads up, eating into Carroll’s lead until the chip counts were about even, but then Carroll enjoyed a good run and, playing aggressively, was able to pull out into an impregnable lead that ended in victory and the main prize.
Wilkerson’s consolation was a hefty runner-up check for $728,650.
Other final table pay-outs were:
Shaun Suller – $477,470
Mukul Pahuja – $320,800
Nam Le – $223,810
Garrett Greer – $174,080