Blom finally off the mark
Nosebleed poster boy Viktor ‘Isildur1’ Blom finally got the live tournament monkey off his back this weekend, ending a winless 12 months as a professional with his first ever major trophy at the PCA $100k Super High Roller for $1.25m.
Almost a year to the day since being unveiled as PokerStars’ newest Team Pro, Blom saw off 30 of the game’s most recognisable faces to bink the Super High Roller and finally prove that his poker talents aren’t just confined to his bedroom.
Blom’s first year as a professional failed to live up to all the Isildur hype, with the 21-year-old Scandi degen banking a big fat zilch in 2011. And while he’s still fond of the odd million dollar swing online, it was beginning to look like Blom would never crack the live tournament scene.
But with big names Daniel Negreanu, Scott Seiver, Erik Seidel and Jonathan Duhamel taking their seats alongside Blom for the costly Carribean sit-and-go, the youngster proved he can mix it with the best. Sporting a new brunette barnet and flanked by dozens of spectators, Blom eventually saw off Dan Shak heads-up for the win when his Kc-Qs held over the American’s Ah-5h on a 9d-7c-6h-Qh-4s board.
‘It feels really good,’ said Blom. ‘I have never done this well in any tournament before, and I’m really lucky to do so well in this specific tournament. I have worked on my tournament play. In all the tournaments I played last year, I played bad. It feels good to succeed.’
Is this the start of an upswing in Blom’s live career, or just a million dollar one-off? Only time will tell, but for the next few weeks at least, PokerStars’ nosebleed tables are going to be worth a watch. Degens, you gotta love ‘em.
Here’s how the PCA Super High Roller finished up:
1. Viktor Blom $1,254,400
2. Daniel Shak $846,700
3. Galen Hall $470,400
4. Jonathan Duhamel $313,600
5. Daniel Negreanu $250,900
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