Joe McKeehen Wins Event #39: $25,500 “The Big 4” High Roller for $550,990
Joe McKeehen has a long list of poker accomplishments and he can now add the trophy from the 2021 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open Event #39: $25,500 “The Big 4” High Roller to his collection. McKeehen topped a field of 91 entries to win the tournament’s $550,990 first-place prize. He entered the final table with the chip lead, got to heads-up play with Darren Elias, and then won the final flip to get the trophy following a deal between the two top players. Elias took home $539,135 for his run.
At the final table, McKeehen took out four of his eight opponents. In addition to busting Elias in the end, McKeehen eliminated Thomas Boivin in third place, Joseph Cheong in sixth place, and Nadya Magnus in eighth place. For much of the final table, it was McKeehen’s show. He held the chip lead at the beginning of the final day and kept his spot at the top of the mountain for much of play at the final table until Elias made a late surge.
Chad Eveslage was the first player to bust on the day, falling in ninth place at the hands of Elias when he ran his pocket jacks into Elias’ pocket kings. Magnus was next in eighth and then Dylan Smith busted at the hands of Cheong in seventh place.
Cheong’s run came to an end in sixth place when he was dominated by McKeehen, then it was David Peters having his aces flushed by Elias to bust in fifth place. Jake Daniels was then knocked out in fourth place, followed by Boivin in third.
The final table payouts are as follows.
| Event #39: $25,500 “The Big 4” High Roller Payouts | |||
| Place | Name | Prize | PokerGO Tour Points |
| 1st | Joe McKeehen | $550,990 | 331 |
| 2nd | Darren Elias | $539,135 | 323 |
| 3rd | Thomas Boivin | $285,460 | 171 |
| 4th | Jake Daniels | $197,800 | 119 |
| 5th | David Peters | $128,120 | 77 |
| 6th | Joseph Cheong | $96,650 | 58 |
| 7th | Dylan Smith | $78,670 | 47 |
| 8th | Nadya Magnus | $67,430 | 40 |
| 9th | Chad Eveslage | $65,185 | 39 |
Ali Imsirovic is still at the top of the PokerGO Tour presented by Guaranteed Rate leaderboard and the top 10 remains unchanged, but there’s still one final $10,000 High Roller at Seminole Hard Rock that could have implications on the standings. Be sure to follow along with our coverage of that event to see the final results.
| Updated PokerGO Tour Top 10 | ||||
| Rank | Name | Country | Total Earnings | PokerGO Tour Points |
| 1 | Ali Imsirovic | Bosnia and Herzegovina | $3,004,960 | 2,394 |
| 2 | Sean Perry | USA | $2,572,578 | 1,819 |
| 3 | Sean Winter | USA | $2,557,920 | 1,539 |
| 4 | Cary Katz | USA | $2,310,800 | 1,347 |
| 5 | Sam Soverel | USA | $2,073,296 | 1,305 |
| 6 | Andrew Moreno | USA | $1,460,105 | 1,200 |
| 7 | Clayton Maquire | USA | $1,443,757 | 1,200 |
| 8 | Toby Lewis | UK | $1,235,204 | 1,200 |
| 9 | Chris Brewer | USA | $1,615,520 | 1,095 |
| 10 | Alex Foxen | USA | $1,207,786 | 1,023 |
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Darren Elias Eliminated in 2nd Place ($539,135)
After Thomas Boivin was eliminated, Darren Elias (pictured) and Joe McKeehen opted to look at the ICM numbers based on their chip stacks. Elias had 4.87 million in chips to McKeehen’s 4.23 million. After looking at the numbers, the two decided on a deal that saw them both take $539,135 and flip for $11,855 and the trophy.
On the first hand, Elias had the [Jc2c] and McKeehen had the [9h4h]. Elias was on the button and McKeehen in the big blind. The board ran out [Jh8d7h7cTd] and McKeehen won the flip to double up.
With 700,000 left, the next hand saw Elias with the [5c3c] to McKeehen’s [Jc3d]. The board ran out [Qd7d6sTdKh] and McKeehen was awarded the trophy and the victory.
| Player | Chips | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Joe McKeehen | 9,100,000 |
4,870,000  |
| Darren Elias | Busted |
-4,870,000  |
Thomas Boivin Eliminated in 3rd Place ($285,460)
Joe McKeehen raised on the button to 120,000 and Thomas Boivin (pictured) reraised all in for around 650,000 from the small blind. After Darren Elias folded from the big blind, McKeehen made the call with the [KdKh]. Boivin had the [Ah8c].
The board came [Jd9c3h4sJc] and Boivin was eliminated in third place, taking home $285,460.
| Player | Chips | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Darren Elias | 4,870,000 |
20,000 |
| Joe McKeehen | 4,230,000 |
765,000 |
| Thomas Boivin | Busted |
-785,000 |
Updated Chip Counts
| Player | Chips | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Darren Elias | 4,850,000 |
625,000 |
| Joe McKeehen | 3,465,000 |
-145,000 |
| Thomas Boivin | 785,000 |
-480,000 |
Jake Daniels Eliminated in 4th Place ($197,800)
After Darren Elias made it 125,000 to go on the button, Jake Daniels (pictured) moved all in for more than 900,000 from the small blind. Joe McKeehen folded from the big blind and Elias snap-called with the [KsKc]. Daniels had the [3c3d].
The flop, turn, and river ran out [7s6h5h2s8h] to eliminate Daniels in fourth place.
| Player | Chips | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Darren Elias | 4,225,000 |
825,000 |
| Joe McKeehen | 3,610,000 |
-65,000 |
| Thomas Boivin | 1,265,000 | - |
| Jake Daniels | Busted |
-1,375,000 |
Joe McKeehen Shoves On Thomas Boivin
Joe McKeehen raised to 120,000 on the button and Thomas Boivin reraised to 325,000 from the small blind. After play got back to McKeehen, he reraised all in. Boivin folded.
| Player | Chips | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Joe McKeehen | 3,675,000 |
225,000 |
| Thomas Boivin | 1,265,000 |
-335,000 |
Darren Elias Three-Bets Thomas Boivin
From under the gun, Thomas Boivin raised to 120,000. Darren Elias reraised to 350,000 on the button. Play folded back to Boivin and he also folded to give Elias the pot.
| Player | Chips | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Darren Elias | 3,400,000 |
600,000 |
| Thomas Boivin | 1,600,000 |
-80,000 |
Thomas Boivin’s Leads Don’t Phase Darren Elias
From under the gun, Darren Elias raised to 125,000. Thomas Boivin called from the big blind and the flop fell [Qh8d4s]. Boivin checked and Elias bet 110,000. Boivin made the call.
The turn paired the board with the [8s] and Boivin opted to lead out with a bet of 130,000. Elias made the call.
The river was the [2h] and Boivin led again, this time for 275,000. Elias put in a raise to 1.05 million and Boivin folded.
| Player | Chips | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Darren Elias | 2,800,000 |
385,000 |
| Thomas Boivin | 1,680,000 |
-635,000 |
Joe McKeehen Takes a Chunk from Thomas Boivin
Thomas Boivin raised to 120,000 from under the gun and Joe McKeehen called from the big blind. The two players saw the flop come out [5d2d2c] and McKeehen checked. Boivin bet 75,000 and McKeehen called.
The turn was the [Kd] and McKeehen checked. Boivin fired 400,000 and McKeehen made the call.
The river was the [8h] and both players checked. McKeehen showed the [KcQc] and Boivin mucked his hand.
| Player | Chips | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Joe McKeehen | 3,450,000 |
605,000 |
| Thomas Boivin | 2,315,000 |
-150,000 |
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