$100,000 No-Limit Hold'em High Roller (Event #83)

Keith Tilston made his way through a 99-entry field in the 2019 World Series of Poker Event #83: $100,000 High Roller to win his first bracelet and a career-high cash of $2,792,406, denying Daniel Negreanu heads-up in front of a packed crowd.

After a sixth-place finish in the $50,000 High Roller for $275,874, Tilston came into the final day of play in the biggest buy-in event of the 2019 WSOP as the chip leader but the only player without a bracelet. That's all changed now.

Negreanu came into the final table as the short stack and doubled up on five separate occasions. In fact, he doubled through everyone at the table apart from eventual champion Tilston. He notched his second runner-up finish at his fourth final table of this year's WSOP, unofficially tying Phil Hellmuth's record for most second-place finishes with ten.

Final Table Results

Tilston Emerges Victorious

Coming into the 2019 WSOP, Tilston had eight WSOP cashes stretching back to 2006 including two Main Event cashes in the last four years.

Tilston is no stranger to high-roller tournaments and the subtle reaction to winning his first-ever WSOP gold bracelet along with his largest career payday was no different. A hug from his mother who was on the rail cheering him on for much of the final table was about the most emotion Tilston gave away.

"It feels great to win one against this type of field," he said. "I've been running pretty well for the past year and things have just been going my way. I've been playing a bit more, usually see how I do to start the year and go from there."

Tilston had to overcome the fan-favorite Negreanu in order to win but he said that didn't bother him one bit.

"It was kind of surreal to be playing heads-up against Daniel. Any other time I would be rooting for him. Obviously, everyone here was in his corner," but Tilston kept his head down and did what he does best, play some solid poker. "I'm happy with how I played. I didn't really make any mistakes."

Negreanu's Near-Misses

This marked the eighth occasion since Negreanu's last bracelet win in 2013 where he finished in the podium spots, but after a summer where he notched 15 cashes, $1,725,838 should soften the blow.

Day 3 Recap

Once play got underway, there was action aplenty as start-of-day short stack Negreanu doubled twice in quick succession to move up to second in the chip counts. However, his ascent was short lived and no sooner had he acquired these chips, he bluffed them off to Igor Kurganov.

After both players checked a nine-high flop, Negreanu bet both turn and river with Kurganov calling it off with just a pair of eights. Negreanu held just ace-high and fell back down the counts once more.

This helped Kurganov move into the second spot on the leaderboard behind Tilston. However, a quick spurt from Nick Schulman saw him overtake the pair and he led by the first break of the day.

With no eliminations up until this point, two eliminations came in quick succession when play resumed. First, Dominik Nitsche was sent to the rail after Kurganov rivered a three-outer. Kurganov then added the elimination of Brandon Adams on the very next hand, with Adams getting king-nine against ace-nine and bricking to bring play to four-handed.

Kurganov had held a commanding chip lead late on Day 2, only to see it chipped away and eventually surpassed by Tilston. This time Negreanu called a halt to his lead, doubling for a third time at the final table with ace-eight against king-queen.

Kurganov was then sent to the rail in fourth place at the hands of Tilston, who returned to the top of the pile.

Negreanu grabbed himself a fourth double and then a fifth, both through Schulman, who was left with less than two big blinds and was eliminated in third place.

Stacks were almost level heading into heads-up play with Negreanu holding a slight advantage. Negreanu increased his lead over the early period of play, reducing Tilston to around 20 big blinds. But the American would double, calling a shove from his opponent with trip kings against Negreanu's pair of aces.

However, back came Negreanu who opened up a gap once more between the two opponents.

Tilston Wins Flush Over Flush

The pivotal hand came in a limped pot at 400,000/800,000 when Negreanu called a 1,000,000 bet from Tilston on a jack-high flop containing two spades. The turn was a third spade, pairing the board, and Negreanu called another bet worth 3,000,000.

The river put four spades on the board and Negreanu called a third time for 6,500,000. Tilston held the ten of spades, pipping Negreanu's nine of spades to take down the pot.

Four hands later, Negreanu was all in and ahead with ace-deuce against queen-jack. Negreanu looked set for a sixth double up until the jack hit the river, deflating the packed rail and handing Tilston his first-ever bracelet.

Thanks for keeping up to date with the coverage of the $100,000 High Roller. The PokerNews live updates continue until the end of the WSOP, with the Main Event resuming tomorrow evening with nine players remaining!

Hand #114: Keith Tilston raised to 3,000,000 on the button and Daniel Negreanu defended his big blind. The flop came     and Negreanu check-folded to a bet of 2,500,000 from Tilston.

Hand #115: Negreanu limped and Tilston checked his option. The flop fell     and Tilston led out for 1,000,000. Negreanu called and the   landed on the turn.

Tilston fired out another bet of 3,000,000 and Negreanu used up one of this time extensions. Negreanu called and the   on the river put four spades on the board. Tilston reached back for a bet of 6,500,000 and Negreanu made the call.

Tilston showed    for a ten-high flush while Negreanu could only muster a nine-high flush.

"Go Danny boy," one person on the rail shouted.

"I lost, bro," Negreanu responded.

Hand #116: Tilston just called on the button and Negreanu checked. The flop came     and Negreanu check-folded to a bet of 1,000,000 from Tilston.

Hand #117: Negreanu limped his button and Tilston made it 4,000,000 from the big blind which got a fold from Negreanu.

Hand #118: Tilston limped in and Negreanu opted to see a flop of    . Negreanu led out for 1,000,000 and Tilston called to see the   on the turn. Both players checked and the   completed the board. Negreanu checked once more and Tilston reached for a bet of 1,500,000. Negreanu folded his arms as he sat to think before making the call. Tilston tabled    for a pair of tens and Negreanu conceded the pot.

Keith Tilston	46,900,000	23,000,000
Daniel Negreanu	12,600,000	-23,000,000

Hand #106; Keith Tilston limped on the button and Daniel Negreanu checked his big blind. The flop was    . Negreanu checked and Tilston bet 1,000,000. Negreanu check-raised to 3,000,000.

Tilston called and the turn was the  . Negreanu used a time extension and then checked. Tilston bet 4,500,000. Negreanu moved all in and Tilston checked his cards before calling.

Keith Tilston:   
Daniel Negreanu:   

The river was the   and Tilston doubled up.

Keith Tilston	35,600,000	18,200,000
Daniel Negreanu	23,900,000	-18,100,000

Hand #96: Keith Tilston limped on the button and Daniel Negreanu raised to 3,200,000. Tilston called. The flop was     and Negreanu bet 2,000,000 and Tilston folded.

Hand #97: Negreanu limped but folded to a raise to 2,600,000 from Tilston.

Hand #98: Tilston limped and Negreanu checked. The flop was     and Negreanu check-folded to a bet of 800,000.

Hand #99: Negreanu limped and Tilston checked. Tilston checked a     flop and Negreanu checked back. The turn was the   and Tilston check-folded to a bet of 1,500,000.

Hand #100: Tilston limped and Negreanu checked. Negreanu checked a     flop to Tilston who bet 1,600,000. Negreanu folded.

Daniel Negreanu	32,100,000	800,000
Keith Tilston	27,300,000	-800,000

Hand #95: Daniel Negreanu made it 1,600,000 on the button and Keith Tilston called from the small blind. Nick Schulman was all in for 1,325,000 in the big blind which created a small side pot.

The flop came     and both players checked to the   on the turn and the   on the river. Negreanu held    for two pair while Schulman showed   . Negreanu scooped both pots to eliminate Schulman in third place.

The final two players are taking a quick break for a color up and to prepare for the heads-up match.

Daniel Negreanu	31,300,000	3,700,000
Keith Tilston	28,100,000	-1,600,000
Nick Schulman	0	-2,100,000

Hand #82: Daniel Negreanu limped in from the small blind and Keith Tilston checked his option. The flop came     and both players checked to the   on the turn. Negreanu checked again and folded to a bet of 1,200,000 from Tilston.

Hand #83: Nick Schulman received a walk in the big blind.

Hand #84: Schulman announced all in from the small blind and Negreanu called off his last 8,700,000 chips from the big blind.

Nick Schulman:   
Daniel Negreanu:   

The flop came     to give Negreanu two pair and Schulman an open-ended straight draw. The   was useless on the turn and the   bricked off on the river to award Negreanu his fourth double of the day.

Hand #85: Tilston picked up a walk in the big blind.

Hand #86: Negreanu just called on the button and Schulman checked his big blind. The flop fell     and both players checked through to the   on the turn and the   on the river. Two more checks and Negreanu picked up the pot with   .

Keith Tilston	25,900,000	300,000
Daniel Negreanu	19,200,000	9,300,000
Nick Schulman	14,300,000	-9,600,000

Hand #76: Daniel Negreanu opened to 1,200,000 on the button and Igor Kurganov ripped all in for 9,500,000 in the small blind. Keith Tilston also pushed all in from the big blind and Negreanu let out a big yell. "Wow! I was snapping him. I still might call," but he opted to let his    go to the muck.

Keith Tilston:   
Igor Kurganov:   

The flop came     and Tilston was still in a commanding lead with his pair of kings. The   on the turn left Kurganov drawing to just two outs. The river was the   and Kurganov was ousted in fourth place.

Keith Tilston	25,700,000	10,700,000
Nick Schulman	23,300,000	0
Daniel Negreanu	10,400,000	-1,200,000
Igor Kurganov	0	-9,500,000

Hand #72: Igor Kurganov raised to 1,350,000 from the small blind and Keith Tilston folded his big blind.

Hand #73: Kurganov raised to 1,100,000 on the button and took down the pot.

Hand #74: Keith Tilston moved all in for 10,100,000 from the button and took down the pot.

Hand #75: Tilston raised to 1,000,000 first to act and Kurganov defended his big blind. The flop came     and Kurganov check-called 800,000. The turn was the   and both players checked. The river was the   and Kurganov bet 1,100,000. Tilston called.

Kurganov tabled    and Tilston won the pot with   

Nick Schulman	23,300,000	-1,300,000
Keith Tilston	15,000,000	3,700,000
Daniel Negreanu	11,600,000	-1,300,000
Igor Kurganov	9,500,000	-1,200,000

Hand #62: Igor Kurganov raised to 1,100,000 and Daniel Negreanu defended his big blind.

The flop was     and Negreanu check-folded to a bet of 600,000.

Hand #63: Igor Kurganov received a walk in the big blind and tabled   

Hand #64: Negreanu shoved the button for 5,900,000 and took down the pot.

Hand #65: Kurganov opened to 1,100,000 on the button and Nick Schulman defended his big blind.

The flop was     and Schulman checked and Kurganov bet 650,000. Schulman check-raised to 2,400,000 and Kurganov folded.

Hand #66: Negreanu received a walk in the big blind.

Igor Kurganov	23,200,000	1,300,000
Nick Schulman	17,900,000	500,000
Keith Tilston	10,900,000	-2,500,000
Daniel Negreanu	7,400,000	-400,000