Over 1,200 entrants did battle on the virtual felt of Full Tilt Online Poker Series (FTOPS) XIX Event #4. The stacks were very deep as each player started with a Super Stack. Besides starting with a ton of chips, Event 4 was played 6-handed. A hefty buy-in of $1,060 attracted seasoned online pros, satellite winners, and of course Full Tilt Red Pros. All three groups on the player spectrum would be vying for the $250,000 top prize.

Almost 40 members of Team Full Tilt Poker registered for Event 4 of the nineteenth installment of FTOPS. Some of the most famous names include David Pham, 2001 WSOP Main Event champion Carlos Mortensen, and Scott Fischman. Six of the skilled pros managed to make the money.

The deepest runs were made by Melanie Weisner (64th) and Praz Bansi (61st). Weisner is an up and coming star from Houston. In December 2010 the poker beauty finished 12th in the EPT Prague main event. Bansi is an accomplished pro from London with more than $2 million in live tournament winnings. He has won two WSOP Bracelets (2006 and 2010).

With the Full Tilt Pros out of the way the field continued to slug it out. Stacks were deep so there was plenty of room for 5-bet shoves and triple barrel bluffs. Eventually, the final three players agreed to make a deal before finishing the tournament. Deal making, or chopping, is considered normal when tens of thousands of dollars are at stake.

In the end, max_zefir bested adametes and JBlaze20 to take home the $186,000 top prize. max_zefir last played a tournament in November so this was a great welcome to 2011. Congratulations max_zefir!

The second place finisher, adametes, has an impressive tournament resume. He finished third in The Sunday Mulligan this year ($65,000) and pocketed $38,000 when he finished runner-up in the $150,000 Guarantee in late 2010. His second place finish in FTOPS XIX Event 4 was worth $177,000.

Finishing in third place was JBlaze20, an impressive tournament grinder with more than $2 million in winnings. His largest score was a first place finish in the $150,000 Guarantee worth $50k before he took home $177,000 in this event. JBlaze20 has also holds a Ultimate Bet Online Championship (UBOC) title.

FTPOP XIX rumbles on until the $3 Million Guaranteed Main Event on February 20th. Over $22 million will be awarded throughout the series.

Event #4 – NL Hold ‘em, Super Stack
Players: 1,246
Prize Pool: $1,246,000

1.) max_zefir – $185,957*
2.) adametes – $177,5668*
3.) JBlaze20 – $177,864*
4.) csimmsux – $88,466
5.) jeppish – $63,546
6.) HITTHEPANDA – $41,741

* Denotes a deal was made