Coming into the heads-up match down 2-1 in chips, Bilokur slowly but surely fought his way back to snatch the title away and wrap up the 2012 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure in style with $1,134,930 for his win.
Duhamel, who was at his fourth final table of the PCA, walked away with $634,550 for his second-place performance.
Add that to the $571,420 he'd won already at the PCA and, while coming up just short of a picture-perfect ending, he still heads home with over $1.2 miilion in earnings.
Title Slips Away From Duhamel
With a 5.43 million to 1.96 million lead to start heads-up, plus momentum from knocking out Jason Koon in fourth and Isaac Haxton in third, it seemed like Duhamel was set to wrap up an epic PCA with a quick rush to the title.
Bilokur however, a steady pro with over $370k in career earnings coming in to the final table, had a diiferent plan and didn’t back down to the 2010 WSOP champ.
Picking his spots well, Bilokur overtook Duhamel for the chip lead about an hour into heads-up play when he rivered a straight and managed to get Duhamel to call a big bet.
Duhamel grabbed the lead back again quickly but from there it was all Bilokur as he ground out the win.
Haxton Out in Third, Koon out in Fourth
Coming in to the final table fifth in chips, no one counted Isaac Haxton out and he certainly justified that respect.
Steadily chipping up throughout the day, Haxton looked poised to make a big move of his own but couldn't quite get over the hump three-handed.
A big hand with Duhamel began his downfall when he opened to 80,000 with Q♦ 7♣ and Duhamel defended the big blind with K♥ 4♥.
The flop came down K♣ K♠ 7♦ to give Duhamel trips and Haxton a pair.
Duhamel checked, Haxton bet 140,000 and Duhamel check-raised to 380,000.
Haxton called and the turn came 6♣. Duhamel led for 560,000 and Haxton called.
When Duhamel shoved the 6♥ river, Haxton finally gave up to what he thought was a bluff and never recovered.
Haxton earned $380,730 for his third-place finish.
Koon, the chip leader coming into the final table, had a great start but lost a big flip to Bilokur mid-way through the day and couldn't hold on, eventually exiting in fourth for $271,950.
The rest of the final eight and their payouts:
1. Leonid Bilokur $1,134,930
2. Jonathan Duhamel $634,550
3. Isaac Haxton $380,730
4. Jason Koon $271,950
5. Nicolas Fierro $217,560
6. Govert Metaal $181,300
7. Michael Telker $145,040
8. Randy Lew $108,740
For a full recap of the day's action, check the PokerStars blog or visit PokerStars.tv.
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