Today's champ Philych 085 got to sign up for the list below because the 2012 Battle of the Planets triple shootout champions. This end of the month freeroll paid out $600,000.00 in cash this year not including the weekly cash prizes awarded to people who qualified for this tournament.

January: beyessa $12,000.00February: ariejan1988 $3,995.56 (nine-way deal)March: Jackal69 $11,000.00 (two-way deal)April: Ansgar2000 $5,300.00 (two-way deal)May: danhp134 $10,000.00 (two-way deal)June: Koovoon $4,081.44 (nine-way deal)July: Bryn "BrynKenney" Kenney $12,000.00August: TheGreatRus $12,000.00September: 5pathic $12,000.00October: Hanggy $11,000.00 (two-way deal)November: marky crash $6,802.37 (four-way deal)December: Philych 085 $12,000.00

Two PokerStars Team Online members would make a deep run on the Battle of the Planets title this year. First, it was George "Jorj95" Lind III would collect $2,735.00 in March after his big slick didn't catch the board against A PIRAT taking fifth place. Then, Javier "El Cañonero" Dominguez would nearly take home the May title but instead collected $3,350.00 in fourth place. Today but the 500 player freeroll was absent of Red Spades.

Two players on that champions list were in search of a second title as March's victor Jackal69 and July winning Bryn Kenney won their first tables locking another $195.00 in earning from this freeroll series. Ansgar2000 and Hanggy also earned tickets to play today but finished in 400th place and 292nd place respectively as only the highest 81 players earned money.

DarkSelf would bow out to JayC170 in 82nd place because the second round of nine tables with nine players seated each with $195.00 in free money locked up.

LeSmit from The Netherlands would claim the primary seat on the final table with petros19890 following closely behind after taking down Table seven. Out of Table nine was a well-known face as former Team Pro Alex "Allingomes" Gomes took down the sphere to secure a shot at $12,000 on the final table. Gomes, the 2012 SCOOP Event #1-H champ, could be seeking to add one more title to his impressive poker career. So as to add more fire to this final table, Jackal69 can be eight players clear of a second triple shootout victory this year.

Bryn Kenney was grinding it out on Table 8 because the the entire other tables but one was finished but his table still had five left! Despite leading with three left, Bryn would lose two all-ins against LiNiZ13 and nkostas12 after leading preflop bowing out in 12th place. LiNiZ13 would miss a couple and straight draw and unfolded the overall table to nkostas12 below:

Seat 1: Jackal69 (1500 in chips)Seat 2: Philych 085 (1500 in chips)Seat 3: Vali005 (1500 in chips)Seat 4: ShaiC`akes (1500 in chips)Seat 5: Proudflop (1500 in chips)Seat 6: LeSmit (1500 in chips)Seat 7: petros19890 (1500 in chips)Seat 8: nkostas12 (1500 in chips)Seat 9: Alex "Allingomes" Gomes (1500 in chips)

A small ball game would tell the story of the primary twenty minutes and two full levels of the general table. No big chip leaders except Philych 085 gaining a tight stack over the starting 1,500 chips and all nine players remained within the contention for the last triple shootout title of 2012 during the 15/30 blind level.

Last piece of cake

Usually the carnage on this tournament starts within the 25/50 level, but our first elimination wouldn't happen until the 50/100 blind level. The chip leader Philych 085 would raise to 249 from the cutoff as ShaiC'akes shoved all-in from the small blind holding a wedding of face cards Q♣K♠. Philych 085 quickly called with the dominating Q♦A♣ and was rewarded with a king at the flop A♠ 6♦ K♦ 5♥ 7♥ to take the last of ShaiC'akes' crumbs in ninth place ($775.00).

Starting the floodgates

Back-to-back eliminations would follow shortly after ShaiC'akes took a seat at the rail. With the blinds still at 50/100 petros19890 would open for a min-raise from the cutoff as extreme short-stack nkostas12 shoved for 385 chips. The blinds folded as petros19890 trickled within the remaining 185 chips and flipped up pocket treys 3♣3♥. nkostas12's Q♠A♥ never had an opportunity as a 3 peeled off at the flop 4♥ 3♦ 9♦ 7♠ J♥ ending nkostas12's night in eighth place.

The very next hand LeSmit would attempt to push 876 chips and T♠J♦ from early position but got some action from Jackal69 would re-shoved for 1,764 chips holding pocket nines 9♥9♦. Despite the dreaded flop 8♥K♠Q♥ the nines were just fine in the course of the 4♥ turn and K♣. LeSmit would correct $1,700.00 in seventh place.

Hunting for chips

Jackal69 was looking very hungry for that second title and as shown within the video below, was not likely away quietly tonight.

RSS readers please click through to view video

Chalk up another critical flip won by the March champ as Jackal69's pocket fives 5♦5♥ would skip in the course of the 3♥ 4♥ 3♣ Q♣ 7♣ board and avoid Proudflop's A♠J♦ to take down the 3,280 chip pot and knock out Proudflop in sixth place ($2,200.00).

Down within the Vali

As the blinds moved as much as 75/150 the population of the tournament would quickly reach its champion. Jackal69 opened for a min raise from the button as both Philych 085 and Vali005 made the decision. Q♥A♥6♣ and Vali005 would put out a min bet that equaled the quantity of chips that Jackal69 had left after giving a double up earlier. Pocket fours 4♦4♠ for Jackal69 can be out-flopped by the 8♣6♥ of Vali005. The turn 3♦ and river K♣ changed nothing as there could be no repeat champs for 2012 as Jackal69 took $2,735.00 in fifth place.

Alex "allingomes" Gomes finishes in fourth place

Three hands after Jackal69's departure, Gomes was quietly bidding his time to climb the pay ladder and hoping for a breakthrough hand to vault him back to contention. Alex would open shove for 1,255 chips from the small blind and Philych 085 made the decision from the large blind holding 8♣A♥. The Q♦7♠ held by Gomes hit a jackpot with two pair off the flop 6♦Q♣7♣. But, he must watch the slow death of his hand as a 4♦ and 5♥ peeled off to offer Philych 085 a straight and the 2,510 chip pot. For his efforts, Gomes reeled in $3,350.00 in fourth place.

Alex "allingomes" Gomes 4th place ($3,350.00)

Fun at the river

The very next hand Philych 085 and Vali005 would get all of it in with the board showing J♥5♠6♦7♦. With 7,858 chips within the pot take a look at the video below for the winner.

RSS readers please click through to view video

Neither player was going to fold as Philych 085 turned a collection 7♠7♣ and Vali005 hit a straight 8♠9♠. The river 6♠ would turn the chips over to the chip leader as Vali005 left in third place earning $4,500.00

Eight is enough

It would only take Philych 085 eight hands to say the last 2012 Battle of the Planets triple shootout. With the blinds holding at 75/150 and 3 hands after surrendering a small double up, Philych 085 would get the payoff. Holding 3,234 chips, petros19890 would min raise from the button as Philych 085 made the decision. After a coordinated 8♦7♦6♠ flop Philych 085 would lead out for 300 as petros19890 shoved holding top pair 8♥J♣. Philych 085 made the decision with bottom pair 6♥K♦. But, just like the hand that Gomes was eliminated on, a runner-runner would take down, this time it was a flush as two diamonds J♦5♦ completed the win for Philych 085 earning $12,000.00 for the victory!

December Battle of Planets $50,000 Triple Shootout results (12-30-12):

Players entered: 500Places paid: 81Buy-in: Ticket/FreerollFirst place: $12,000.00

1. Philych 085 (Belarus) $12,000.002. petros19890 (Russia) $7,500.003. Vali005 (Romania) $4,500.004. Alex "allingomes" Gomes $3,350.005. Jackal69 (UK) $2,735.006. Proudflop (UK) $2,200.007. LeSmit (Netherlands) $1,700.008. nkostas12 (Greece) $1,200.009. ShaiC`akes (Costa Rica) $775.00

Read More... [Source: PokerStarsBlog.com :: Battle of the Planets]