The PokerStars Caribbean Adventure has an uncanny habit of unearthing new talents. Each of the former champions John Gale, Ryan Daut, Steve Paul-Ambrose, Poorya Nazari, Harrison Gimbel, Galen Hall and John Dibella recorded the first major score of their careers in Paradise Island.

Polish player Dominik Panka is the latest to join that list after he took down the 2014 main event between 7-13 January 2014. Having qualified on PokerStars, Panka – the first champion from Poland – is $1,423,096 richer following his success.

And make no mistake, this was no fluke. Panka gained the genuine admiration of all who watched him, including those who remained on site through a gruelling three-hour heads-up session with Mike McDonald at the end of a 16-hour final table.

“Obviously, I’m an internet player,” Panka, 22, said. “I started playing live tournaments last year. Every day I sat down at the table, I was a little bit nervous, but then all that pressure came off. It’s weird, but I didn’t feel too much pressure. I was very confident in my game.”

Panka took on and bettered Isaac Baron and then McDonald, taking the largest slice of a three-way deal with the two established superstars. Then with $100,000 left to play for, and the all important title, Panka did not let up.

Baron bowed out and McDonald swung into a chip lead. But Panka wrestled it back on the 244th hand of final table play, winning an enormous flip with pocket nines against the KC-JS of McDonald.

After that, Panka ground down McDonald, the last adversary of some 1,031 others who assembled for this tournament, and snatched the top prize.