Chidwick vs Kenney: €100K One Drop Final Sets Up Epic Showdown

The battle for poker’s all-time money list supremacy takes center stage as Stephen Chidwick and Bryn Kenney both navigate their way to the €100K High Roller for One Drop final table at EPT Monte Carlo. With over €2 million up top and nearly $4 million separating them in career earnings, this isn’t just another high roller—it’s a pivotal moment in the race to become poker’s greatest tournament earner.

What Happened

The €100K High Roller for One Drop at EPT Monte Carlo delivered a record-breaking field of 76 entries, creating a staggering €7.3 million prize pool—the largest ever for a €100K buy-in event on the PokerStars tour. When late registration closed at the start of Day 2, the tournament had already established itself as a historic gathering of poker’s elite.

Among the carnage, both Chidwick and Kenney survived to reach the final eight players. Chidwick sits comfortably in fourth position with 2,725,000 chips, while Kenney faces an uphill battle as the short stack with just 690,000—roughly 10 big blinds. The contrast in their positions adds another layer of intrigue to their ongoing rivalry.

The bubble proved particularly brutal for Mikita Badziakouski, who became the unfortunate 11th-place finisher, missing out on the minimum cash of €182,400 after an hour of tense bubble play. Adrian Mateos fell just before the bubble burst, leaving with nothing after a deep run.

Wiktor Malinowski commands the chip lead with 4,360,000, followed by Artsiom Lasouski (3,310,000) and Albert Daher (3,210,000). Leonardo Drago, Enrico Camosci, and Teun Mulder round out the final table, each with their own ambitions of capturing the €2,055,000 first-place prize.

The Poker Strategy Breakdown

The dynamics of this final table present fascinating strategic considerations, particularly for Kenney and Chidwick given their contrasting stack sizes. Kenney’s 10-big-blind stack requires an aggressive approach—he cannot afford to wait for premium holdings and must identify spots to move all-in with a wider range than typical final table play would suggest.

With 10 big blinds, Kenney’s strategy should revolve around push-fold poker. He needs to look for opportunities to shove from late position when the action folds to him, particularly against the medium stacks who face significant ICM pressure. Players like Camosci and Mulder, sitting in the awkward middle positions of the chip counts, will be reluctant to call without premium hands, knowing a mistake could cost them hundreds of thousands of euros.

Chidwick’s position is far more comfortable but requires a different skill set. With a healthy stack, he can apply pressure selectively while avoiding unnecessary confrontations with the chip leaders. His optimal strategy involves targeting the medium stacks who are playing scared, while staying out of the way when Malinowski, Lasouski, or Daher enter pots.

The key for Chidwick is patience combined with selective aggression. He doesn’t need to gamble—every player who busts ahead of him increases his payout significantly. However, he also can’t become so passive that he allows his stack to dwindle through blinds and antes. The sweet spot involves stealing blinds from tight players while avoiding marginal situations against the big stacks.

One critical strategic element at this stage is hand reading and range construction. With such high stakes and experienced opponents, every decision carries massive financial implications. Players must consider not just their cards, but their opponents’ likely holdings, stack sizes, and tendencies. A hand like ace-jack might be a snap-call against some players but a clear fold against others.

Reading The Field & Table Dynamics

The final table composition creates a complex web of ICM considerations that will dictate every major decision. ICM (Independent Chip Model) pressure is particularly acute in high roller tournaments where the pay jumps are substantial. The difference between eighth place (€182,400) and first place (€2,055,000) is life-changing, even for professional high rollers.

For Kenney, ICM actually works in his favor as the short stack. The medium stacks cannot call his all-ins lightly, even when they suspect he’s shoving wide. A failed call could cripple their stack and drop them down the pay ladder. This dynamic gives Kenney more fold equity than his cards alone would merit.

The chip leader Malinowski enjoys the most freedom to apply pressure. With nearly 44 big blinds, he can afford to take calculated risks that other players cannot. However, he must also be careful not to spew chips in marginal spots—maintaining the chip lead requires discipline as much as aggression.

The presence of multiple elite players creates additional complexity. This isn’t a soft final table where one player can run over the competition. Chidwick, Kenney, Daher, and Mulder are all world-class tournament players who understand advanced concepts like blockers, range advantage, and optimal bet sizing. Every pot will be contested by players operating at the highest level.

Table dynamics will shift dramatically as players bust out. The first elimination will trigger a significant pay jump and change the entire complexion of the table. Kenney needs to survive at least one elimination to ladder up, while Chidwick needs to avoid being the next player out to protect his investment and maintain his position in the race for number one.

The psychological element cannot be ignored either. Kenney knows he’s fighting to maintain his lead on the all-time money list, while Chidwick is hunting him down. This adds pressure to both players, though professionals at this level are typically adept at compartmentalizing such considerations and focusing on optimal play.

How To Apply This To Your Game

While most players will never compete in a €100K buy-in tournament, the strategic principles on display at this final table apply to poker at every level. Understanding how to navigate different stack sizes and ICM pressure is crucial whether you’re playing a $50 tournament or a six-figure high roller.

First, recognize when you’re in push-fold territory. If you have 10 big blinds or fewer, your strategy should simplify dramatically. Stop trying to play small-ball poker and start looking for profitable shoving spots. Use push-fold charts to understand which hands are profitable to move all-in with from different positions. This mathematical approach will save you from making costly mistakes in critical situations.

Second, understand that your stack size dictates your strategy. A comfortable stack like Chidwick’s allows for patient, selective aggression. You can wait for good spots and avoid marginal situations. A short stack like Kenney’s requires urgency—you cannot afford to blind down waiting for aces. Adjust your aggression level based on your chips, not your emotions.

Third, study ICM and how it affects calling ranges. When you’re considering calling an all-in at a final table, you must factor in not just pot odds but also the tournament equity you’re risking. Sometimes a mathematically profitable call in a cash game becomes a losing play in a tournament because of ICM pressure. This is particularly true in the middle positions of the chip counts.

Fourth, practice selective aggression rather than constant pressure. The best tournament players know when to apply pressure and when to step aside. Don’t feel compelled to play every hand or contest every pot. Pick your spots carefully, focusing on situations where you have maximum fold equity or strong equity when called.

Finally, pay attention to your opponents’ stack sizes and tendencies. A player with 15 big blinds will play very differently than one with 50 big blinds. Adjust your strategy accordingly, targeting players who are playing scared while avoiding unnecessary confrontations with those who can hurt you.

Key Takeaways

• Stack size should dictate strategy: Short stacks require aggressive push-fold play, while medium and large stacks benefit from selective aggression and patience
• ICM pressure creates fold equity: Medium stacks often cannot call short stack all-ins even when they suspect a wide range, giving short stacks more power than their chips suggest
• Chip leaders must balance aggression with discipline: Having the most chips provides freedom to pressure opponents, but reckless play can quickly erode that advantage
• Table position matters more at final tables: With significant pay jumps, every decision carries amplified consequences compared to earlier tournament stages
• The gap between Chidwick and Kenney on the all-time money list could narrow significantly based on this single tournament result
• Record-breaking fields in high rollers demonstrate the continued growth and health of poker’s premium tournament ecosystem

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the current gap between Chidwick and Kenney on the all-time money list?

Bryn Kenney currently leads Stephen Chidwick by approximately $4 million on poker’s all-time tournament money list. A first-place finish for Chidwick combined with an eighth-place finish for Kenney in this €100K One Drop event would nearly halve that deficit, making the race for number one significantly tighter.

How does ICM pressure affect final table strategy?

ICM (Independent Chip Model) pressure refers to the tournament equity considerations that affect decision-making at final tables. Because pay jumps are substantial, players must consider not just chip equity but also their likelihood of moving up the pay ladder. This typically makes medium stacks more conservative, as they have the most to lose, while giving short stacks additional fold equity when they move all-in.

What is push-fold strategy and when should it be used?

Push-fold strategy is a simplified approach to tournament poker used when stack sizes become short, typically 10-15 big blinds or fewer. Instead of making standard raises and playing postflop poker, players either move all-in (push) or fold their hand. This strategy maximizes fold equity and prevents opponents from outplaying you postflop when stacks are shallow. Mathematical push-fold charts help players identify which hands are profitable to shove from different positions.

Final Thoughts

The €100K High Roller for One Drop final table represents more than just another high-stakes tournament—it’s a pivotal moment in poker history. The ongoing race between Chidwick and Kenney for all-time money list supremacy adds a compelling narrative to what would already be a fascinating final table filled with world-class talent.

Kenney faces the steepest challenge as the short stack, but his track record of pulling off unlikely victories cannot be discounted. Chidwick sits in a comfortable position to make a serious run at the title, while six other elite players have their own ambitions of capturing a seven-figure score. The strategic complexity of this final table—with its ICM considerations, stack size dynamics, and world-class competition—makes it must-watch poker for anyone serious about improving their tournament game.

Whether you’re rooting for Chidwick to close the gap, Kenney to extend his lead, or one of the other talented players to claim victory, this final table promises to deliver high-level poker strategy and dramatic moments. The lessons on display—from short stack management to ICM navigation to selective aggression—apply to players at every level who want to improve their tournament results.