The second PokerStars Championship Main Eventwrapped up Monday night in Panama with Kenneth Smaron navigating his way through a tough final table on his way to winning $293,860.

When the final six players bagged up their chips on Sunday night, Russia’s Denis Timofeev had the chip lead and Anthony Diotte, one of two Canadians still in contention, was the shortest.

Starting the final day with just 16 big blinds, Diotte was in search of a hand to push with and he found one on just the third hand. Robin Luca Wozniczek raised to 70,000 before Diotte move all in for 450,000 from the big blind. Wozniczek called and turned over while Diotte had . The flop gave Wozniczek bottom set and all but sealed Diotte’s fate. The turn was no help and the river was a formality as Diotte was sent packing in sixth.

Despite the momentum that came with picking up that elimination, Wozniczek was the next to go, a little over 90 minutes later. Jonathan Abdellatif raised to 100,000 from UTG and Wozniczek and Timofeev called from the small and big blinds respectively. The flop was and both Wozniczek and Timofeev checked, allowing Abdellatif to bet 160,000. Wozniczek raised to 380,000 and Timofeev folded. Abdellatif moved all in for 1,760,000 and Wozniczek called all in. Abdellatif turned up for a flush draw and double-gutter while Wozniczek turned over for top pair and a better flush draw. The turn changed nothing but the river gave Abdellatif a straight to eliminate Wozniczek.

However, almost two hours later Abdellatif suffered the same fate. Smaron opened to 125,00 from the button and Abdellatif called from the big blind. The flop was , Abdellatif check-raised to 650,000 after Smaron bet 100,000. Smaron called and showed down for top pair while Abdellatif had a flush draw with . The turn and river failed to complete that draw and he was out in fourth.

It took over four hours and 101 hands to go from three-handed to heads-up. Smaron raised to 160,000 from the button before Timofeev re-raised to 475,000 from the small blind. Smaron eventually four-bet to 1,100,000, Timofeev moved all in for 2,910,000 and Smaron called. Timofeev showed and Smaron was racing with . The flop kept Timofeev ahead. The turn did too but gave Smaron wheel outs. The river gave Smaron a runner-runner straight and eliminated Timofeev in third.

Smaron started heads up play with the chip lead and needed only nine hands to finish off Harpreet Gill. On the final hand Gill limped his button, Smaron raised to 350,000 and Gill moved all in for 2,615,000. After some delibieration, Smaron called and tabled and Gill showed . The flop kept Smaron firmly ahead. The turn and rier changed nothing, eliminating Gill, who started the day with the second smallest stack, in second place and giving Smaron the Championship.

The next PokerStars Championship event is scheduled for March 30 – April 9, 2017 at the City of Dreams in Macau.

Final Table Payouts

1. Kenneth Smaron – $293,860
2. Harpreet Gill – $217,860
3. Denis Timofeev – $161,340
4. Jonathan Abdellatif – $119,480
5. Robin Luca Wozniczek – $88,480
6. Anthony Diotte – $65,520
7. James Salmon – $48,520
8. Byron Kaverman – $35,920