Spain Wins PokerStars 10th Annual World Cup of Poker

10 years ago
Spain Wins PokerStars 10th Annual World Cup of Poker
18:06
22 Dec

Although only play-money was at stake in PokerStars' tenth running of the World Cup of Poker (WCP), it did not deter the competitors from proudly representing their countries.

A total of 96 nations took to the play-money tables beginning in late November until only four remained over the past weekend. Battling for the third place consolation prize on Saturday were Italy and Kazakhstan, while Canada and Spain squared off for the title, PokerStars blog reported.

This year's WCP was structured a little bit differently, as all the action took place online. For the past five years, the finals were played live in the Bahamas in January while the world's most popular poker site hosted the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure. Also on the line in recent years was a $200,000 first place prize.

Not so in 2014, as real-money was taken off the table, the reason being the uncertainty surrounding PokerStars obtaining licensed approval to operate in New Jersey. Rumor has it that the bigwigs at PokerStars were planning to hold the WCP finals in New Jersey after being allowed entry into the U.S. by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE).

But lo and behold, that approval never came despite blaring headlines from various poker media reports that pegged October 1 as the likely launch date of PokerStars and Full Tilt in New Jersey. The calendar is nearing January 1 and still no thumbs up from the DGE.

Now to make matters worse, parent company Amaya has been the subject of possible irregularities regarding stock trading. Never a dull moment since Black Friday with regard to online poker in the U.S., regulated or otherwise.

Since the 2014 World Cup was a play-money affair, U.S. players with the required buy-in in play chips were welcome. Americans had been ineligible since 2011 due to the actions of New York U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara and the DoJ.

U.S. players were likely rusty, resulting in a first round elimination. Players from Spain were not rusty, as 38 ponied up 100k in play chips on Saturday in the finals against 102 Canadians who bought in for the same amount. The WCP rules permitted any players who belonged to countries still in contention to enter with the required buy-in.

The Spaniards were outnumbered, but not outplayed. The heads-up stage pitted Spain's 'minnie2354' against Canada's 'scottycel.' Twenty hands later, 'minnie2354' went all-in with A-10 and was called by her rival from Canada, who held K-Q.

The board paired the '10' of Spain's representative, and that was all she wrote for 'scottycel.' Canada will have to be content with second place, and being known for having the world's most freshwater.

A hearty round of congratulations from PokerTube to 'minnie2354' for doing her country proud in the PokerStars World Cup of Poker! Play-money chips totaling 64 million went his or her way.

Hopefully, 2015 will see the WCP once again offer real-money prizes, with the finals played out live perhaps in .... ahm .... New Jersey or California? Don't hold your breath waiting for that to play out.


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Charles is a Chicago native and long time poker player who dusted off his journalism degree and began writing about poker following the events of Black Friday in 2011. He has written for a number of leading poker websites, offering his insights and expertise on subjects ranging from online poker leg...Read more

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