$3,500 WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Championship
Level 35: 200,000/400,000/50,000 Ante
The blinds have gone up. Griffin Paul currently has 31 million in chips and Joe Ebanks has 13.225 million in chips.
Championship: Blinds Up
All posts by Aaron Hendrix
Championship: Paul Wins Race To Grab Chip Lead
$3,500 WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Championship
Level 34: 150,000/300,000/50,000 Ante
Joe Ebanks started things off with a raise to 600,000 and Griffin Paul re-raised to 1.8 million. Ebanks put in another raise, making it 3.5 million. As has been his custom, Paul had his mouth covered with his jacket, using his hand to hold it up. He peeked back at his cards and then announced that he was all in. Ebanks quickly called and turned over 
. He would pump his fists as he stood up when he saw Paul was behind with his 
.
The crowd started yelling out different cards depending on who they were rooting for. Some were yelling for an ace or a jack, obviously that was the Paul contingent. Others yelled for any card but an ace or a jack — the Ebanks crowd.
It would be Paul’s rail that would get their wishes fulfilled as the flop came 
. Screaming and screeching ensued as their man was one step closer to taking the chip lead. He would do precisely that when the turn was the 
and the river was the 
.
Paul, who had been pacing the stage nervously, pumped his fists, having doubled up to nearly 31 million and taking control of the heads up match with a more than 2:1 chip lead.
Seat 1: Griffin Paul 30,950,000 (103 bb)
Seat 2: Joe Ebanks 13,275,000 (44 bb)
Championship: Plaques Are In Play!
$3,500 WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Championship
Level 34: 150,000/300,000/50,000 Ante
Players are about to return from their break and cards will be in the air soon. They will notice something new when they take their seats as the tournament staff has introduced the T500,000 plaques.
Championship: Andre Crooks – 3rd Place ($383,000)
$3,500 WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Championship
Level 33: 100,000/200,000/25,000 Ante
Chips were flying pre-flop and it all started with Joe Ebanks raising to 550,000. Andre Crooks made it 1.1 million to go and the action was back on Ebanks who put in another raise – this time to 2.35 million total.
Crooks wasn’t done yet though as he put in yet another raise, for 4.8 million which was nearly half of his remaining stack. Ebanks didn’t think long before moving all in and he was immediately called by Crooks who had the second best starting hand in poker with his 
. Ebanks had a pair of his own, nines again, as he held 
.
To say nines have been treating Ebanks well today would be an understatement as the flop came 
causing the crowd to let out some “ooooohhhhhs” and “aaaaaahhhhhs” as Ebanks had seized control of the hand with his set.
Someone on the rail yelled “deuce” as the dealer put out the 
. “Deuce,” came the yell again as they paused the action for dramatic effect. Finally, they burned and flipped over the river card.
It was the 
and that was the end of Andre Crooks tournament life who could at least take some consolation in getting it in with the best hand and the $383,000 payday he took home for his third place finish.
They are taking a brief break to set up for the money presentation. Here are the chip counts as we enter heads up action:
Seat 1: Griffin Paul 17,750,000 (89 bb)
Seat 2: Joe Ebanks 26,475,000 (132 bb)
Andre Crooks – 3rd place
Championship: Nguyening Without A Showdown
$3,500 WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Championship
Level 33: 100,000/200,000/25,000 Ante
Shawn Nguyen opened to 475,000 and Andre Crooks called out of the small blind. The flop came and both players checked. The turn was the 
and Crooks bet 650,000. Nguyen made the call.
The river was the 
and Crooks made another bet, this time for 1.375 million. Nguyen thought for a bit and then made the call. Crooks mucked his hand which meant Nguyen did not have to show his hand. He slid his cards to the dealer and once again his rail let out a load roar of approval.
Championship: Griffin Paul Moves Back Into The Chip Lead
$3,500 WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Championship
Level 33: 100,000/200,000/25,000 Ante
Griffin Paul opened to 400,000 and Shawn Nguyen called out of the blinds. The flop came and Nguyen check-called a bet of 425,000 from Paul.
The turn was the 
and Nguyen again check-called a bet from Paul, this time for 975,000. The dealer put out the 
on the river and Nguyen checked a third time. Paul moved all in for an effective 4.15 million and Nguyen would tank for two minutes before letting his hand go.
Championship: Nguyen Doubles
$3,500 WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Championship
Level 32: 75,000/150,000/25,000 Ante
It’s been a quiet level thus far but we finally had a hand worthy of talking about. Joe Ebanks opened to 300,000 and Shawn Nguyen moved all in for 2.025 million. Ebanks thought for a moment and then made the call with 
. Nguyen was in the lead with his and his contingent of fans, easily the largest and most vocal in the room all rose to their feet in anticipation.
The flop kept their hero in the lead as it came 
but he wasn’t safe yet. The turn would change that as it was the 
to give him trip threes and a lock on the hand. His rail roared, whooping it up, hands in the air, excited to know that their friend was safe and very much alive.
The river was meaningless but the dealer put it out anyway… the 
. Chip counts after the double up by Nguyen:
Seat 1: Griffin Paul 13,550,000 (90 bb)
Seat 2: Joe Ebanks 10,175,000 (68 bb)
Seat 3: Ryan Rivers 1,775,000 ((12 bb)
Seat 4: Shawn Nguyen 4,425,000 (30 bb)
Seat 5: Brian Green 2,500,000 (17 bb)
Seat 6: Andre Crooks 11,800,000 (79 bb)
Championship: Back From Break
$3,500 WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Championship
Level 32: 75,000/150,000/25,000 Ante
Players are back from break.
Championship: Ebanks Makes The Tough Call
$3,500 WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Championship
Level 31: 60,000/120,000/20,000 Ante
Andre Crooks opened pre-flop for 250,000 and Joe Ebanks called from the small blind. The flop was 
and both players checked.
The turn was the 
and Ebanks checked again. Crooks bet 475,000 and Ebanks made a quick call.
The river was the and Ebanks checked with no hesitation. Crooks made a large bet of 1,450,000. Ebanks shifted uncomfortably in chair and then tanked for several minutes, often with a perplexed look on his face. Eventually he made the call, tabling for a pair of aces. That was good enough as Crooks mucked his hand.
Championship: Ebanks Draws First Blood
$3,500 WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Championship
Level 31: 60,000/120,000/20,000 Ante
Griffin Paul opened to 240,000 and one spot to his left, Joe Ebanks made it 625,000 to go. It was folded back around to Paul whose mouth was covered by his shirt as his hand held it tightly to his face. He peeked back at his cards and then removed his mouth long enough to verbalize another raise to 1.5 million total.
Ebanks thought for about thirty seconds before announcing that he was all in. Paul quickly folded to give Ebanks the pot.