Weekend highlights on PokerStars

* The latest from the WSOP
* A win for Australia Jay-Syl11 in the Sunday Million

WSOP update

It's only right that the American Fourth of July weekend should feature one of the most gloriously expensive events on the WSOP calendar, one that shuns any form of modesty in place of a Battle Royale. 

The $50,000 Poker Players Championship is just that, an expensive scrap between the best players in the world who are not just happy to pay the entry fee, but are prepared to forgo the fireworks outside for the some fireworks inside. 

After a day's play Team PokerStars still has an interest in the form of Daniel Negreanu, Jason Mercier, Andre Akkari and Naoya Kihara. 

Andre Akkari

All four have been prominent all summer.

Several deep runs including a second and fourth place finish at the WSOP so far for Daniel Negreanu

Negreanu finished fourth in the $1,500 7 Card Razz, and then second in the Championship event of the same game, with several other deep runs. It hardly needs pointing out that Mercier has two bracelets (and a second place) from this summer alone.

Jason Mercier looking for bracelet number three for 2016 alone

Meanwhile Akkari reached the final table of Event #8, finishing in sixth place, while Kihara, one of a handful of Japanese Pros making a a name for themselves in Las Vegas, has had deep runs in H.O.R.S.E. and seven card stud events so far. 

Naoya Kihara

Right now the field of 91 has been whittled down to 42, with play set to resume later today. It's an all-star field whichever way you look at it, hardly surprising as players convene in Las Vegas for what is the last week of action before the Main Event begins next Saturday. 

Sunday Million

None of which interrupted this week's online action, with 47 weekend majors taking place. As Kristin Bihr reported, the big winner was undoubtedly Jay-Syl11 from Australia who won the Sunday Million for a first prize pay-out of $177,297. 

The full result is below:

PokerStars Sunday Million
Entries: 5,668 (4,788 players, 880 re-entries) 
Prize pool: $1,133,600.00
Places paid: 810

1. Jay-Syl11 (Australia) $177,297.74
2. bogurdan (Russia) $132,064.40
3. VSB.Gimli (Czech Republic) $93,351.96
4. Smaxx440 (Germany) $64,048.40 
5. xhiti_b (Switzerland) $48,178.00
6. Alisson "heyalisson" Piekazewicz (Brazil) $36,842.00 
7. mrvogt (Denmark) $25,506.00
8. Deividas K (Lithuania) $14,170.00
9. Kepalas89 (Lithuania) $9,068.80

Weekend winners

Away from the Sunday Million there was plenty to play for over the weekend, with the biggest winners listed below. 

Click here for all the results on PokerStars for the weekend of July 2 to 3, 2016. 

That's it from another weekend on PokerStars. To our American readers, a happy fourth of July to you all. As always send your questions and comments to us on Twitter: @PokerStarsBlog.

WSOP Photos by PokerPhotoArchive.com

It wasn't exactly a day for underdogs in the sporting world, as France put an end to Iceland's improbable run in Euro 2016. However, in our little corner of the internet, the opposite was true as the two least-decorated players at the Sunday Million final table dodged past seven more experienced opponents to finish one-two. Russia's bogurdan ended up heads-up with Australia's Jay-Syl11 and the two were nearly deadlocked in chips, but the man from Down Under turned a flush against two pair at the most opportune time and secured the title, along with a $177k score.

This week's Million drew 5,668 total entries-- 4,788 unique players and 880 re-entries-- resulting in a $1,133,600.00 prize pool. 810 places paid with $177,297.74 up top.

Blinds were 50,000/100,000 on the final table bubble when elAsdespadas opened for 216,000 from the cutoff. Mrvogt reraised to 521,300, elAsdespadas four-bet shoved for 2.16 million and mrvogt called, his pocket tens in a race against [As][Qc]. Fortunately for mrvogt, the [Ks][7s][7h][5d][Th] board made him two pair on the flop and a full house on the river, stamping his ticket to the final table while elAsdespadas had to settle for a tenth-place finish.

Final table chip counts

Seat 1: bogurdan (4,997,938 in chips)
Seat 2: VSB.Gimli (4,694,169 in chips)
Seat 3: Deividas K (4,880,364 in chips)
Seat 4: heyalisson (4,457,767 in chips)
Seat 5: Smaxx440 (5,392,527 in chips)
Seat 6: mrvogt (7,270,779 in chips)
Seat 7: Kepalas89 (1,912,859 in chips)
Seat 8: Jay-Syl11 (14,169,884 in chips)
Seat 9: xhiti_b (8,903,713 in chips)

The first significant clash of the final table came between xhiti_b and bogurdan on a [7c][6d][5s] flop. Xhiti_b led out for 360,000 and bogurdan called to see the [3d] turn. Xhiti_b checked, bogurdan made it 360,000 to go and xhiti_b came back with a raise to 960,000. Boggurdan called. The [8h] landed on the river and xhiti_b shoved for 7.28 million with bogurdan making a quick call. Xhiti_b revealed [4s][4d] for an eight-high straight, but bogurdan had him beat with [Ah][9s] for a straight to the nine. Bogurdan doubled to 11.8 million, good for second in chips. Xhiti_b was left with only 2.7 million, but doubled up in short order when his [Ac][Ah] held up against Jay-Syl11's [Js][7s].

Lithuania's Kepalas89 arrived at the final table as the shortest stack and never found any momentum. Down to 1.6 million with the blinds at 60,000/120,000, he three-bet shoved preflop with [6c][6d] and was called by Smaxx440 with [Ac][8c]. However, Smaxx440 hit an eight on the flop, ending Kepalas89's run in ninth place.

Deividas K followed his countryman to the rail midway through the next level. After opening for a min-raise to 320,000, Deividas K bet 387,000 from position on a [Jc][Tc][9s] flop and fired another 880,000 when xhiti_b checked the [4s] turn. Xhiti_b shoved for 5.61 million and Deividas K called all-in for less, revealing [7s][8s] for a jack-high straight. However, xhiti_b turned up [Kh][Qs] for a king-high straight. The river was the [Qd] and xhiti_b doubled to 9.22 million as Deividas K made an agonizing exit in eighth place.

Almost a half hour passed before Smaxx440 opened for 552,500 and mrvogt three-bet shoved for 3.41 million from middle position. Although mrvogt's [As][Td] had the preflop lead over Smaxx440's [Ks][Qs], a queen hit the flop and mrvogt's tourament came to an end with a seventh-place finish. This was mrvogt's second appearance at a Sunday Million final table-- he finished fourth for over $96k back in December 2008.

Super Tuesday champ Alisson "heyalisson" Piekazewicz was the short stack when six-handed play commenced and although the Brazilian doubled to 4.57 million when his pocket threes held against bogurdan's [As][8c], he wouldn't survive the next confrontation. Holding [Ad][Td], heyalisson open-shoved for 1.78 million from UTG and Smaxx440 called with [Ks][Js]. The board ran out [Tc][9s][6c][8h][7h] and for the third time at this final table, the result was straight over straight, Smaxx440's jack-high straight besting heyalisson's ten-high to send him home in sixth place.

Then on the very next deal, xhiti_b picked up [Ad][6s] and open-shoved for 6.56 million from the cutoff, only to run headlong into VSB.Gimli's [Qc][Qd] in the small blind. The queens held up on the [7c][5s][3d][7h][5c] board and xhiti_b departed in fifth place.

When four-handed play got underway, Smaxx440 was the chip leader with 20.1 million... but hanging on to it was another story. Jay-Syl11 doubled through Smaxx440 when his pocket fours held against [As][Qc], taking him up to 8 million. Then VSB.Gimli took away a nice chunk of chips when he rivered two pair, tens and nines, on a [9h][8h][5d][Qc][Tc] board. Both players had checked the turn and VSB.Gimil made it 1.38 million to go on the river. Smaxx440 raised to 3.12 million with only ace high, but VSB.Gimli smelled a rat and looked him up. Smaxx440 fell to 13.9 million, only to double Jay-Syl11 again. This time Smaxx440 had the best of it, pocket nines vs. [As][2s], but Jay-Syl11 flopped an ace and rivered an ace-high flush, increasing his stack to 14.9 million. Smaxx440 was left on the short stack with 6.88 million.

Jay-Syl11's roll continued when he picked up pocket kings and opened for a min-raise to 800,000. VSB.Gimil three-bet to 2.4 million, Jay-Syl11 shoved and VSB.Gimil called... with pocket queens. VSB.Gimil didn't get a miracle on the board to escape this cooler and Jay-Syl11 seized the chip lead with 22 million.

Jay-Syl11 fell back to earth when he lost a flip to bogurdan, his [9h][9c] falling to bogurdan's [As][Kc] when an ace flopped. Bogurdan briefly assumed the chip lead before the very same hand matchup arose between Smaxx440 and Jay-Syl11. Smaxx440 made it 1,105,000 with [Ad][Ks], Jay-Syl11 shoved with [9h][9d] and Smaxx440 called, having Jay-Syl11 covered by only 15,000. The nines held up on the [Qc][7c][2d][8c][2h] and Smaxx440 was crippled, while Jay-Syl11 rocketed to 29 million in chips. Although Smaxx440 managed to triple up on the next hand, he was eliminated in fourth place on the one after.

VSB.Gimil wasn't long for three-handed play and three-bet shoved for 4.84 million from the big blind with [As][5h]. Jay-Syl11 called with [Qd][4d] and hit a queen on the flop to end VSB.Gimli's run in third place.

Heads-up chip counts

Seat 1: bogurdan (17,029,892 in chips)
Seat 8: Jay-Syl11 (39,650,108 in chips)

Jay-Syl11 began heads-up play with a comfortable lead, but on the fifth hand, sparks flew on a [Ks][Qs][4h][8d] board. Jay-Syl11 checked, bogurdan bet 2,000,000 and Jay-Syl11 moved all-in for 37.7 million. Bogurdan called with [Qc][8s] for two pair while Jay-Syl11 revealed [Ah][Qd] for a pair of queens with an ace kicker. Jay-Syl11 needed an ace or a king on the river but got the [6c] instead, and bogurdan doubled to 31.55 million.

Moments later, their stacks were nearly even at 29 and 27 million when Jay-Syl11 wrote, "u want split?" Bogurdan hadn't replied yet when they saw a [Qs][8d][7s] flop for 1.2 million apiece. Jay-Syl11 checked to pre-flop raiser bogurdan, who bet 2.4 million. Jay-Syl11 raised to 5.4 million, bogurdan shoved and Jay-Syl11 called all-in.

Jay-Syl11 [Js][8s] (pair of eights, flush draw)
bogurdan [7h][8c] (two pair eights and sevens)

Although bogurdan had the best hand on the flop, Jay-Syl11 was actually a slight favorite to win and he hit the [Ks] on the turn to make a flush. The river was the [4c] and Jay-Syl11 raked in the massive 54.1 million pot, leaving bogurdan on only 2.5 million.

Bogurdan made his last stand a few hands later, open-shoving for 1.14 million with [6c][Tc]. Jay-Syl11 called with [Ac][6d] and his ace-high held up on the [Qc][Qh][5s][9d][8s] board to lock up the Sunday Million title.

Congratulations to Jay-Syl11 on joining the ranks of Sunday Million champions! He banked $177,297.74 for the win, while runner-up bogurdan scored $132,064.40.

PokerStars Sunday Million results for 7-3-2016
Entries: 5,668 (4,788 players, 880 re-entries)
Prizepool: $1,133,600.00
Places paid: 810

1. Jay-Syl11 (Australia) $177,297.74
2. bogurdan (Russia) $132,064.40
3. VSB.Gimli (Czech Republic) $93,351.96
4. Smaxx440 (Germany) $64,048.40
5. xhiti_b (Switzerland) $48,178.00
6. Alisson "heyalisson" Piekazewicz (Brazil) $36,842.00
7. mrvogt (Denmark) $25,506.00
8. Deividas K (Lithuania) $14,170.00
9. Kepalas89 (Lithuania) $9,068.80

Don't throw away your shot at the Sunday Million! Sign up for PokerStars now.

It's a holiday weekend in America, one that will see lots of BBQs, fireworks, and revelry. Nevertheless, Team PokerStars Pro Vanessa Selbst hopes she'll be spending a lot of today indoors.

Selbst won the first two rounds of her $1,500 shootout on Thursday to advance to the final day of the World Series of Poker event. She is among the final twelve players, a group that includes the always tough Sam Greenwood and Niall Farrell. It's going to be a fun one to watch.

So far this year, Selbst has managed two cashes, one of which was a 9th place finish in the $10,000 Six-Handed Championship. She is still working to win her fourth bracelet, and tonight could be the night she gets it.

While Selbst may be celebrating her Fourth of July weekend going for gold, the rest of us round the world might need a few other things to occupy our time. Fortunately, PokerStars has you covered.

Need to make some plans? Here are four other ways to spend the next few days.

Win $1 million

For the next ten days, PokerStars is running $5 Spin & Go tourneys that pay off in a big way.

How big? Well, you could win $1 million in a matter of minutes.

If you're unfamiliar with the Spin & Go system, it couldn't be more simple. You buy in for $5, you play against two other people, and you can win in a matter of minutes. Every once in a while, that $5 tournament will turn into a $1 million payoff.

For more details, visit the $1 million Spin & Go information page.

Take on the PokerStarsNJ Challenge

If you happen to be in New Jersey this weekend, don't miss your opportunity to win your share of the $50K Summer Daily Challenge.

PokerStarsNJ players are offered three daily challenges. Whoever completes the challenge will get a ticket to an all-in shootout with $1,000 added to the prize pool. There is also a chance to get in on the $30,000 Summer Bonus Challenge Freeroll.

For all the details on that, check out this blog post from earlier in the week.

Practice your #RaiseIt tricks

If you haven't been following the fun Neymar Jr and Ronaldo are having, you're missing out. The two football superstars have been going back forth with some pretty slick tricks.

While these guys are pros, you can get in on it, too.

To learn how to submit your own #RaiseIt video, check out the second round of their battle here.

Go for a ride with Fatima & Conor

On the roads around PokerStars HQ in the Isle of Man, there isn't anything much more exciting than the TT course, unless you want to power it up by putting local legend Conor Cummins and Team PokerStrs Pro Fatima Moreira de Melo out there on a bike.

To go along for the ride, check out this story and video.

That should do you for the weekend.

Once again, good luck to Vanessa Selbst tonight as she tries to win her fourth WSOP gold bracelet!

PokerStars has been a long time sponsor of the Isle of Man TT Senior Race and local TT rider Conor Cummins. Although we're a global brand that sponsors the likes of Neymar Jr. and Cristiano Ronaldo, not to mention the biggest names in poker, the TT is something that we've been incredibly proud to support for the last ten years. When PokerStars set up shop on the Isle of Man in 2005, it didn't take long to realise how important the two-week festival is to the Island, the people that live here and of course, petrol heads the world over. 

It's been our privilege to work with Conor through the rough and the smooth. Watching him come back from a terrible accident in 2010 and witnessing his return to world class competition has been an awe inspiring tale of human spirit, devotion and bravery. 

He's a passionate competitor,  a proud Manxman and enjoys his poker, so it was little surprise to us that he hit it off with Fatima Moreira de Melo, an Olympic gold medal winner and member of Team PokerStars Pro, at the UK and Ireland Poker Tour a couple of years ago. That led to an offer to take her out for a spin on his bike during TT week earlier this month. 

If you ever get the chance to visit during the TT you should take it. It really is like nothing else on Earth. 

Jon Weedon looks after Corporate Sponsorship for PokerStars.