Could a $500,000 deal really fall apart over as little as $2,000? If you've followed the Sunday Majors at all over the years, you know the answer is a resounding "yes." When tonight's field was down to four players, chip leader neto gol cleverly used his position to squeeze a little extra cash out of his opponents during the deal negotiations. One, however, was unwilling to budge. Once HKongBanker and Lekerov offered enough extra incentive to neto gol to inch the deal closer, AlexanGeo decided he wasn't willing to sweeten the pot any further from his end. This move appeared to offend neto gol, who wondered why AlexanGeo thought he could remain exempt from his demands. It appeared that the 40 minutes of negotiations over the division of over half a million dollars in prize money would evaporate over $2,000, but neto gol finally relented. Neto gol got the largest share of the four-way deal, but busted in third place, leaving Lekerov heads-up with AlexanGeo. Although Lekerov had a huge chip advantage and AlexanGeo got his chips in with the worst of it, he hit the perfect river card to double up in a massive pot and completely turn the tables. Moments later, AlexanGeo closed out the upset win and defeated Lekerov to claim his first Sunday Million title.

Two weeks later, the effects of the massive 10th anniversary Million are still being felt. Although down from last week's 7,000+ players, the Million drew a robust crowd of 6,271, bringing the total prize pool up to $1,254,200.00. 900 players earned a share of it with $190,767.96 up top.

The blinds were up to 150,000/300,000 with ten players remaining. With the action folded to him in the small blind, chip leader neto gol made it 750,000 to go and ShaiStar moved all-in for 5.23 million from the big blind. Neto gol called, his [9c][9s] crushing ShaiStar's [2c][2d]. The nines held up on the [Ks][7c][7s][6h][Qd] board and neto gol advanced to the final table, ending ShaiStar's run in tenth place.

Final table chip counts

Seat 1: AlexanGeo (10,626,949 in chips)
Seat 2: SPEWTARD (6,109,022 in chips)
Seat 3: neto gol (23,572,413 in chips)
Seat 4: placebo36251 (2,597,056 in chips)
Seat 5: gigibaston (3,614,760 in chips)
Seat 6: HKongBanker (2,326,872 in chips)
Seat 7: Achilles591 (4,856,102 in chips)
Seat 8: Lekerov (4,920,288 in chips)
Seat 9: GR8MIND (4,086,538 in chips)

Once again, the Million produced a distinguished final table. Tonight's final nine included a SCOOP champion, a Super Tuesday winner, and two players who have previously final tabled the Million. Gigibaston was runner-up back in October 2012 and Achilles591 finished ninth in January 2013.

Lekerov got off to an excellent start at the final table when he doubled through neto gol. Lekerov's [Ac][Jc] flopped aces and jacks against neto gol's pocket sevens and he moved up to 9.5 million in chips. Two hands later, HKongBanker also doubled, his [As][Kd] flopping a king and rivering an ace against Achilles591's pocket jacks. Achilles591 was left with 3 million in chips and a few hands later, three-bet shoved for 2.36 million with [Ks][Qc]. Unfortunately for him, neto gol called with [Ac][Qs] and turned an ace to eliminate Achilles591 in ninth place.

Moments later, Lekerov opened for a min-raise to 800,000 with [Kd][Jc] and GR8MIND moved in on the button for 1.9 million with [Kh][8h]. Lekerov called and flopped a jack on the [Jd][Tc][6c][2d][9c] board, ending GR8MIND's run in eighth place. Four hands later, AlexanGeo opened for 800,000 with pocket threes and placebo36251 called all-in for 777,056 with [Qs][8s]. Although the [Qc][7h][2s] flop favored placebo36251, AlexanGeo spiked the [3d] on the turn to make a set. The [Kd] peeled off on the river and AlexanGeo raked in the pot, while placebo36251 hit the rail in seventh place.

With the blinds up to 250,000/500,000, SPEWTARD three-bet shoved for 9.46 million with [Kc][Js] and initial min-raiser Lekerov called with [Ac][Qc]. Although SPEWTARD picked up a flush draw on the turn, Lekerov made aces up on the [Ad][8c][4c][7c][Qh] board and sent SPEWTARD packing in sixth place. With that pot, Lekerov took the chip lead with 21 million, neto gol hot on his heels with 18.1 million.

However, on the next deal, AlexanGeo opened for 1,000,000 on the button and gigibaston three-bet to 3.25 million from the big blind. AlexanGeo popped it to 6,952,500, gigibaston shoved and AlexanGeo called. AlexanGeo's [Ah][Td] held up against gigibaston's [Ad][9d] on the [Ks][6c][6h][3h][Th] board and gigibaston's run at the title came to a close in fifth place.

At this point, the final four agreed to pause the action and discuss a potential deal. Here's how they stacked up:

neto gol 22,611,595
Lekerov 17,845,331
AlexanGeo 16,082,525
HKongBanker 6,170,549

When presented with chip chop and ICM numbers, AlexanGeo, HKongBanker and Lekerov were quick to agree to the ICM deal. However, neto gol wanted more. He asked for $3,300 from each player added to his $135k ICM share (which would bring it up to about $2k over chip chop). HKongBanker offered $3,000, and Lekerov was willing to reduce his share from $127,524 to an even $125k. AlexanGeo, however, felt that an extra $5,700 was plenty for neto gol and wasn't willing to donate to the cause. HKongBanker, the short stack and perhaps the most motivated to close the deal, upped his contribution to $4,400, but Lekerov held fast to his $2,752 contribution.

Neto gol seemed satisfied with these numbers and the final table host recalculated the shares. However, when the numbers were presented again, neto gol didn't snap-agree like his three opponents. Instead, he wanted an explanation from AlexanGeo as to why he was too good to give up any money.

neto gol: hmmm
neto gol: hmmmm
HKongBanker: cmon neto, lets be friends
neto gol: i dont understand
neto gol: why alexan is thinking hes the best here
neto gol: and cant give me my k
AlexanGeo: hahahaha
HKongBanker: you got your 7k
neto gol: 2
neto gol: thats not the question

Neto gol stated that if the situation were reversed, he would have given up $2,000 to AlexanGeo. As neto gol claimed "It's not an ego thing," HKongBanker grew worried the deal would blow up... they had been stopped down for 40 minutes for negotiations at this point.

HKongBanker: it's a huge sum of money, please don't do this over 2k

Just as things were looking grim, neto gol said he was kidding and agreed to the terms.

neto gol: OK AGREE I WAS JUST KIDING

Cards went back in the air and it wasn't long before HKongBanker committed the rest of his chips pre-flop. He opened for 1.2 million from the small blind with [Ah][7s], Lekerov shoved for 23 million from the big blind with [9c][9s] and HKongBanker called. Although HKongBanker flopped a seven, he did not improve any further on the [Ts][7d][4c][Th][4d] board and went out in fourth place, while Lekerov moved into the chip lead with 30.8 million.

Then, in the largest pot of the tournament thus far, Lekerov opened for a min-raise to 1,000,000 and neto gol called from the big blind. Neto gol checked the [Ts][7s][7h] flop, Lekerov bet 888,000 and neto gol raised to 2,607,840. Lekerov three-bet to 5 million, neto gol four-bet, Lekerov shoved and neto gol called, his flopped trips with [7d][8h] up against Lekerov's nut flush draw with [As][Ks]. The [Qh] turn was good for neto gol, but the [4s] river was a disaster, making Lekerov an ace-high flush. Neto gol hit the rail in third place as Lekerov raked in the 34.7 million pot.

Heads-up chip counts

Seat 1: AlexanGeo (18,282,525 in chips)
Seat 8: Lekerov (44,427,475 in chips)

Lekerov had nearly a 2.5 to 1 chip lead going into heads-up play and took half of AlexanGeo's stack straight away. On a [Th][6d][2d] flop, AlexanGeo check-called 932,400, then led out for 1,929,312 when the [Qs] turned. Lekerov called and the [Kc] hit the river. AlexanGeo fired another 3,627,106 and Lekerov raised to 17.26 million. It was too rich for AlexanGeo and he gave up his hand, leaving himself with 7.6 million behind. However, AlexanGeo doubled a few hands later when his [3h][3d] flopped a set against Lekerov's [Kc][Qc]. Back up to 23 million in chips, AlexanGeo picked up [Kd][9h] and three-bet Lekerov's 1.2 million min-raise to 3,000,000. Lekerov four-bet to 6 million, AlexanGeo shoved and Lekerov called, revealing [Ah][Qd]. It looked like it could be the end for AlexanGeo when the flop came down [7h][5c][5s] and the [4c] turned, but amazingly, the [9c] rivered, making AlexanGeo a winning pair of nines. He took down the massive 46.8 million pot, leaving Lekerov on 15.9 million.

With the blinds up to 300,000/600,000 and 11.5 million behind, Lekerov picked up [Ac][Ks] and opened for 1.2 million. AlexanGeo shoved from the big blind and Lekerov called.

Lekerov [Ac][Ks]
AlexanGeo [4d][4s]

AlexanGeo had the poker gods on his side again as the board rolled out [8s][6c][5c][Qs][7d]. His pair of fours improved to an eight-high straight and AlexanGeo locked up his first Sunday Million title.

Congratulations to AlexanGeo on joining the ranks of Sunday Million champions! He banked $144,100.20 for the win, while runner-up Lekerov earned $125,000.00.

PokerStars Sunday Million results (4/3/16)
Entrants: 6,271
Prize pool: $1,254,200.00
Places paid: 900

1. AlexanGeo (Greece) $144,100.20*
2. Lekerov (Kazakhstan) $125,000.00*
3. neto gol (Brazil) $142,082.26*
4. HKongBanker (United Kingdom) $90,000.00*
5. gigibaston (Romania) $52,676.40
6. SPEWTARD (Peru) $40,134.40
7. placebo36251 (Canada) $27,592.40
8. GR8MIND (Canada) $15,050.40
9. Achilles591 (Luxembourg) $9,720.05

*= reflects the results of a four-way deal that left $20,000 in play for the winner