PokerStars Open Philadelphia ends with a three-way chop for $125K+ each

On Sunday in Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love, three men shared the winnings between them.

What was behind this moment of communal victory? Whether it was love for one's fellow man, or the epic 18-hour day that came to an end only as the sun was rising, only Edward Leonard, Guan Huang and Frank Funaro can say. But at around 5:45am ET on Monday morning, the inaugural PokerStars Open Philadelphia came to its conclusion as the final three players split the remaining prize money between them.

Taking the trophy and the biggest share of the spoils, $147,806, was Pennsylvanian local Edward Leonard, pictured above, for whom the prize represent the biggest score of his career. Guang Huang took $126,507 for his part in the chop, with Frank Funaro banking $125,708.

18-hour day tests players' endurance levels

Across the four Day 1 starting flights, the event garnered a field of 1,154 entrants to generate a total prize pool of $1,107,840, with 146 players paid. 

When play resumed on Day 2, those 146 players returned to battle down to a winner – each already in the money and eyeing up what was, then, the $184,000 top prize and the very first PokerStars Open Philadelphia Main Event title.

Among those who tried and failed to make significant progress on Day 2 were PokerStars ambassador Maria Konnikova (83rd, $2,605), Ryan DePaulo (115th, $2,050) and Greg Himmelbrand (116th, $2,050).

Maria Konnikova made the money, but not the podium places.

It took almost 12 hours of play to reduce the field to an unofficial final table of 10, at which point Adam Agaev held a chip lead of close to 2-to-1 over Edward Leonard in 2nd.

The unofficial final table of 10 in the PokerStars Open Philadelphia Main Event.

If anyone thought the pace would quicken once the final table was set, they were wrong. It would take another four hours to play down fronm 10 to 5, then another 90 minutes for the next elimination, as one-time chip leader Agaev shoved pocket jacks from the button and was called by Funero in the big blind. The latter's leapt ahead on the flop and stayed there as the board ran out with the and bringing no help for the unfortunate Agaev.

Just 20 minutes later William Beer got his chips in good holding against Leonard's , only to run into immediate pain when the board showed .

After a punishing 18 hours of play, the field was reduced to three, upon which a deal was quickly struck.

Congratulations to Edward Leonard, the first PokerStars Open Philadelphia Main Event champion!

$1,100 PokerStars Open Main Event - final table results

* Three-way deal

^{Images courtesy of PokerStars Live/Trevor Scott.}