Online qualifiers and 888poker Ambassadors alike were in with a chance of winning some serious cash courtesy of 888poker at the Victoria Casino in London this weekend, courtesy of the Chris Eubank Jr Knockout Challenge.
The newest 888poker Ambassador was in attendance and had a HUGE bounty on his head. Any player who knocked out Chris Eubank Jr would scoop £10,000.
That lucky player was Salvatore Sciarotta, who rivered the nut flush to best Eubank Jr’s flush and scoop the prize, but it was 888poker Stream Team member Dave Gibson who emerged triumphant as the overall winner of the event.
Chris Eubank Jr Knockout Challenge Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dave Gibson | £4,000 |
| 2 | Salvatore Sciarotta | £3,000 + £10,000 KO Prize |
| 3 | Joao Oliveira | £2,000 |
| 4 | Christiaan G | £1,000 |
| 5 | Chris Eubank Jr | – |
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Il3H8V3Q82g?wmode=transparent&modestbranding=1&showinfo=0
Winner’s Reaction
Gibson told PokerNews that he as “pretty chill” all things considered, and enjoyed the experience of playing in the event.
Supported by a buoyant rail of friends and fellow ambassadors, Gibson overcome a slow start and sinking to the bottom of the chip counts to emerge victorious. He said that he didn’t feel that much pressure from the rail.
“I know they were behind me, so even if it hadn’t have won they wouldn’t have been so annoyed.”
“It’s my biggest score by quite a distance”
With the £10,000 bounty on Eubank Jr’s head, Gibson said that he was keeping an eye on his fellow ambassador in the hopes of clinching the KO bonus.
“I was keeping a close eye on how many chips he had! Just to see if I still covered him, I wasn’t really looking at anyone else.”
In the closing stages, he eventually emerged triumphant and was mobbed by his friends on the rail.
“It’s my biggest score by quite a distance,” said Gibson. “So I’m really happy.”
He’s only gone and done it!! #888StreamTeam ‘s own @DaveGibson91 wins the @ChrisEubankJr Knockout Challenge after a… https://t.co/g8mjr4gLJt
Final Table Recap
Each player at the final table started with 30,000 in chips, with Christiaan moving ahead during the opening exchanges at the expense of Eubank Jr.
That sent Eubank Jr to the bottom of the pile, and with the £10,000 bounty playing on everyone’s minds it was only a matter of time before he was put to a decision for all his chips.
Eubank Jr Elimination
In the pivotal hand, Eubank Jr along with Sciarotta and Christiaan saw a flop of 
. Christiaan bet 3,300 and Eubank Jr moved all in for 7,500. Both opponents called and then checked the 
turn.
The river was the 
and Christiaan shoved, getting snap-called by Sciarotta. Eubank Jr held 
for a flush, with Christiaan having shoved the river with top pair 
. However, Sciarotta held 
for the nut flush and eliminated Eubank Jr to take home the £10,000 prize.
“If I came away with anything today it would have been a bonus”
“I feel absolutely wonderful,” Sciarotta told PokerNews. “If I came away with anything today it would have been a bonus. I’ve played in other live tournaments, but this was a much more exclusive tournament.
“For the opening stages my cards were so poor, there was no option but to throw them away. But as it went on, my cards improved and my luck!”
Closing Stages
Four-handed it was Gibson who moved atop the leaderboard as the blinds steadily increased. He sent Christiaan to the rail before a three-way all in could have finished things if Gibson came out on top, but Sciarotta eliminated Oliveira instead to bring things to heads-up with the stacks even.
There was a double for each player before Gibson finally closed things out, sparking jubilant scenes by his rail.