Team PokerStars Pro Celina Lin seemed a little dejected when she spoke to us this afternoon, but that’s exactly what can happen when you get two-outered in a high equity spot on a final table. Luckily for Lin it’s hard to stay down for long in such a beautiful city.
“Monaco is absolutely stunning,” Lin said.
Her hopes were high when she returned to the Salle des Etoiles in Monaco today, sitting in second place of the final nine and in a great spot to claim the €2,200 8 handed title and the €48k top prize.
On the FT of the €2200 8 handed at #PSCMonteCarlo , plenty of tough opponents left. 2nd in chips with 9 left! ✌ ✌ ✌ send me ur energy! pic.twitter.com/bjla3VtcWO
— Celina Lin (@CelinaLin) May 5, 2017
She wasn’t bluffing. For a €2,200 event the final table was stacked with talent. Artur Koren, Dany Parlafes, Viliyan Petleshkov, Gianluca Speranza and Nacho Barbero all stood in her way – but ultimately it was a brutal beat that ended Lin’s tournament run in sixth place for €11,930.
“I was second in chips when Nacho shoved all-in from early position, then the chip leader (Speranza) reshoved,” Lin recounted. “I looked down in the big blind with queens and insta-called.”
Lin was in great shape against pocket jacks to not only secure a pay jump, but to take an overwhelming chip lead with just six players remaining. Unfortunately for the Team Pro her Q♥ Q♦ was no good by the river as Speranza’s J♣ J♦ made a four card flush when the board came down K♣ 8♣ 8♦ 3♣ 10♣ .
Barbera’s A♥ 9♠ saw him bust in the same hand so Lin received the pay jump from seventh to sixth but that didn’t seem to lessen the sting.
Looking forward to the next time I win an 80/20, was 2nd in chips when this happened against the CL. Finished 6th for 12k, #ontothenextone pic.twitter.com/uSYgBnoeJM
— Celina Lin (@CelinaLin) May 5, 2017
“Hopefully one day it comes together for me,” Lin lamented.
While morale might be low today, Lin already has her sights set on the next poker adventure. A plan which may have changed due to her results here this week.
“I actually booked to go to Budapest for SCOOP,” Lin explained, “but because I cashed the Main Event I’m a little tempted to go to Amsterdam.”
Lin was referring to a cross-promotion between PokerStars and the WPT called the MonteDam Swing. Her score in the Main Event meant Lin was eligible for a $300 SCOOP ticket and a leaderboard with great prizes if she played in WPT Amsterdam event as well. (Read all about the MonteDam Swing right here).
Lin may be undecided on where she’s off to next but despite her unlucky final table exit today it seems she’s still inspired to grind.
“The funny thing about me is that it goes back and forth a little bit,” Lin said. “So if I do well I continue being excited to play.”
It makes sense then that she’s motivated after this PokerStars Championship in Monte Carlo marks another series where she achieved an in-the-money percentage of 50%. And something tells us that wherever she’s headed next she’ll definitely be back again.
Stunning venue! Def the most extravagant I have come across. Always looking forward to this beautiful stop every year for #PSCMonteCarlo pic.twitter.com/EBJ7773XJD
— Celina Lin (@CelinaLin) April 28, 2017
P.S. We received word that Lin’s ongoing poker adventure has picked back up earlier than anticipated as she not only jumped in the €2,200 6 max after her final table finish today, but she’s already in the money with only 20 players left. That means the 50% in-the-money percentage mentioned above climbs to 60%. Good luck Celina!
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Brad Kain is a freelance contributor to the PokerStars Blog.
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