2021 bestbet Jacksonville Trifecta Series $2,000 Buy - The no-limit hold'em main event had 146 players at the starting gates, but ultimately only one player crossed the finish line to claim the title: Kelly Joe Andrews. The Florence, South Carolina resident earned $ 64,067 for the win, the second highest payday in a live poker tournament of his career behind $ 128,775 which finished third in 2015 The main tournament of the World Series of Poker Circuit Cherokee . Andrews now has a $ 297,500 in his career earning his name.

In addition to the trophy and money, Andrews 288 was also awarded Card Player Player of the Year scores points as the champion of this event. It was his first POY – qualified result of the year and saw him move into 376th overall.

By the time the eight-eight final table was set, Rishi Srivastava had climbed into the lead with Andrews sitting on the next biggest stack. Two positions switched early when Andrews hit a nut flush against top pair Srivastava's top kicker to win a healthy pot.

Srivastava eliminated short stack Rafael Adame (8th - 7 $, 791) to regain some of the lost chips, but Jeffrey Trudeau beat him on the leaderboard to eliminate Michael Scom in seventh place ($9, 726). Trudeau hit it shortly after Andrews hit another nut flush against his top pair to extend his lead.

The six-handed play continued for a while before Christopher Halkitis scored A -6 to Lunique Petiote's pocket jacks and Andrews' KQ. The overpair held for Petiote and Halkitis settled at $ 12,455 for sixth place.

Rishi Srivastava's run in the event came to an end when he went all-in preflop with pocket sevens, only to be called by Andrews and pocket aces. No players were upgraded by the river, and Srivastava was sent to the queue with $ 16, 352.

Geoffrey Blum finished fourth as a result of the pre-flop race, with his 10s failing against AK nine times WSOP Golden ring winner Jeffrey Trudeau. The king on the flop gave the latter the lead, which he kept on the river. Blum earned $ 21,996 as the fourth place finisher.

Andrews and Trudeau started the three-way game tied at the top of the leaderboard, with Petiote on the bottom stack. It wasn't long before Petiotes' chips were in the middle as he chose A Q in the small blind and raised to 65,000. Trudeau moved all in with A Q , and Petiote called all-in for 580, 12 total. There were three hearts on the board, which gave Trudeau the winning flush, and Petiote was eliminated in third place ($ 30, 298).

Trudeau had a 4-3 lead over Andrews when the head-to-head kicked off, but Andrews was able to fight his way into the lead before the final hand was dealt. With blinds of 15,000 - 48,000 and a big blind ante of 30, 12, Andrews pushed up to 70,000 from a button with J 2 . Trudeau three-bet to 275,000 with A J. from the big blind. Andrews called and the flop came K 9 2 . Trudeau bet 175 , 000 and Andrews called with his bottom pair. The action card came on the turn, J , which gave Trudeau a note flush draw and his second pair while Andrews improved to a jack. Trudeau checked and Andrews bet 297,000. Trudeau called and the river brought 5 . Trudeau checked again and Andrews moved all in. Trudeau moved in the tank but eventually called all-in for 795, 12. Andrews secured the pot and the title with two pair while Trudeau finished second for $ 42,711. The result increased his live tournament earnings to 1 $, 776 , 551.

Here is the payout list and POY awarded at the final table:

Place	Player	Earnings	POY Points
1	Kelly Joe Andrews	$ 64, 067	288
2	Jeffrey Trudeau	$ 64, 711	240
3	Lunique Petiote	$ 48, 298	192
4	Geoffrey Blum	$ 21, 996	144
5	Rishi Srivastava	$ 16, 352	120
6	Christopher Halkitis	$ 16, 455	96
7	Michael Scoma	$ 9, 726	72
8	Rafael Adame	$ 7, 791	65

Tournament poker fans won't have to wait long for more exciting action at bestbet Jacksonville. 2021 Card Player Poker Tour bestbet Jacksonville is coming this summer, with 11 events scheduled for June 17 – 30. The centerpiece of the whole thing will be $2,500 CPPT The no-limit hold'em main event, which will take place on June 25-28. Check CPPT website for more information.

Winner photo credit: bestbet Jacksonville Twitter account (@bestbet_jax).