Montenegro’s “la.creme” has secured a stunning victory in the 888poker $100,000 Mystery Bounty Main Event, topping a field of 934 entrants and collecting $8,993. This win, marked by thrilling eliminations and unexpected twists, capped off 2024 in grand fashion.
Despite starting the final table with a modest stack, “la.creme” outlasted seven other competitors, showcasing skill and resilience. The event, filled with high-stakes drama and jaw-dropping hands, will be remembered as a defining moment in online poker this year.
Big Bounties and a Record Field
The tournament drew an impressive 934 entries, creating a prize pool that promised excitement from the outset. By the time the final table was set, all major bounties had been claimed, including the tournament’s largest—a $10,000 prize found by Brazil’s “irineu530.” While they finished 10th, their combined payout of $10,866 made them the event’s top earner.
Other notable winners included the UK’s “Popoj33” and Finland’s “niilasson,” who secured $3,000 mystery bounties before their exits. But it was “la.creme” who emerged from the pack, proving that persistence often beats fortune.
Final Table Drama: Early Exits Set the Stage
When the final table began, Montenegro’s “sheshhhhhhhh” held the shortest stack at just six big blinds. Despite briefly rebuilding, they were the first to fall, bowing out in eighth place. Their exit came after an ambitious shove with a flush draw was called by “SayPlease,” whose pocket fives held strong.
Next to depart was “VanessaCbet” of Brazil, whose ace-ten was dominated by “la.creme’s” ace-queen. Her seventh-place finish was followed by her compatriot, “MenosehMais,” who suffered a brutal turn card that cracked pocket aces with “snowmen” (a pair of eights).
“la.creme” Seizes Control
Five-handed play ended swiftly when “Datschi1” jammed with pocket threes, only to lose to “SayPlease’s” ace-queen, which hit top pair on the flop. With four players left, “la.creme” stepped into the spotlight, eliminating Sweden’s “Kombogg” in a high-stakes blind battle.
Holding queen-jack, “la.creme” managed to outmanoeuvre “Kombogg’s” pocket sixes on a dramatic board, leaving the Swedish player to settle for fourth place. From here, it became clear that “la.creme” was building unstoppable momentum.
The Final Showdown
As the field narrowed to three, the action intensified. Finland’s “niilasson” ultimately finished in third after losing a critical pot to “la.creme.” This set the stage for a thrilling heads-up clash between “la.creme” and “SayPlease.”
While “SayPlease” had entered the final table as the chip leader, their stack couldn’t withstand the relentless pressure from “la.creme.” A series of calculated moves and well-timed aggression saw the Montenegrin player secure the title and the lion’s share of the remaining prize pool.
