Extra day needed to conclude poker stars festival London 2017 high roller event

By Brian Cullingworth, Last updated Feb 5, 2021

“Magic” Joe Johnson takes the loot

The GBP 2,200 buy-in High Roller at the Pokerstars Festival London has concluded, although it took an extra day to do so amid some tough competitive action, and a two-player chop at the finish.

178 players entered the event at the Hippodrome Casino in Leicester Square, distilling to a final table that took six hours to produce the winner, “Magic” Joe Johnson, who claimed a GBP 59,912 pay-day after a chop with runner-up Enzo Del Piero.

On the additional third day needed to complete the competition, five players were left, but all but two succumbed to the fierce pace in the first two hours, leaving Johnson with a two-to-one chip lead over Del Piero, which he quickly extended following a double up.

Del Piero counter attacked with a couple of double ups of his own, and the two finalists then paused to discuss a chop that left just GBP 3,000 and the trophy on the table.

With a split agreed, play resumed, and for a while it looked as if Del Piero might pull it off with another significant double up, but Johnson ultimately proved too strong to be denied the win, and Del Piero had to be content with an agreed second placing prize not far short of the winner at GBP 56,678.

It was an economical victory for Johnson, who financed his buy-in from an earlier win in a PokerStars Live event in the Hippodrome Casino Loyalty Race.

Other final table cashes included:
Harry Lodge GBP 36,150
Yuriy Boyko GBP 26,500
Nicolas Beker GBP 19,410
Nicolas Cardyn GBP 14,240
Jonathan Clark GBP 10,440
Nathan Manuel GBP 7,650

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