2013 SHRPO Live Updates

WPT Alpha8: Level One Report

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JC Tran stares down Jason Mercier early in the Alpha8.
JC Tran stares down Jason Mercier early in the Alpha8.

Blinds: 200-400Players: 11

The first level has come to a close over in Hard Rock Live and there are currently 11 players in the World Poker Tour Alpha8 Super High Roller event at the Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open. As you might expect, this $100,000 buy-in super high roller event has attracted some of the top poker players in the world. Here is what the tournament floor currently looks like:

Table 89

Seat 1: JC Tran
Seat 2: Jason Koon
Seat 3: Jeff Gross
Seat 5: Daniel Perper
Seat 7: Jason Mercier
Seat 8: Andrew Lichtenberger

Table 90

Seat 1: Tom Hall
Seat 2: Brandon Stevens
Seat 3: Isaac Haxton
Seat 5: Daniel Alaei
Seat 8: Steve Silverman

Registration is currently open and players can enter or re-enter as many times as they like before 4:30 p.m. ET. There are 20 players confirmed for the event, but it looks like some of them have planned a late arrival on the first day of this brand new event.

2013 SHRPO Live Updates

A Few Chip Counts From Around the Room

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Blinds: 10,000/20,000
Ante: 3,000

Justin Bonomo – 2,840,000 (142 bb)
Mukul Pahjua – 1,600,000 (80 bb)
Ravi Raghavan – 1,480,000 (74 bb)
Griffin Benger – 1,300,000 (65 bb)
Philipp Gruissem – 1,200,000 (60 bb)
Bryn Kenney – 960,000 (48 bb)
Mike Matusow – 750,000 (37 bb)
David Sands – 720,000 (36 bb)
Allen Bari – 616,000 (30 bb)
Matt Giannetti – 600,000 (30 bb)
Aaron Massey – 520,000 (26 bb)
Mark Radoja – 415,000 (20 bb)
Noah Schwartz – 340,000 (17 bb)
Joe Serock – Eliminated

2013 SHRPO Live Updates

Derrick Simon Eliminated by New Chipleader Blair Hinkle

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Venkatesh Gupta raises under the gun to 45,000, Derrick Simon calls from middle position, Blair Hinkle calls from the small blind, and John Miller calls from the big blind.

The flop comes Qc 7d 2s, and both blinds check. Gupta bets 90,000, and Simon raises to 200,000. Hinkle calls, and Miller and Gupta both fold.

The turn card pairs the board with the 7c, Simon bets 300,000, and Hinkle moves all in. Simon goes into the tank with about 700,000 left behind, and he eventually calls with Ac Qh (two pair, queens and sevens). But Hinkle turns over 7h 7s for quad sevens, and Simon is drawing dead.

The meaningless river card is the Qd, which gives Simon top full house in a losing effort, as he is eliminated from the tournament in 83rd place. Blair Hinkle is the new chipleader.

Blair Hinkle  –  2,900,000  (145 bb)
Derrick Simon  –  Out in 83rd Place  ($17,453)

2013 SHRPO Live Updates

Failla Triples Through Schwartz and Mau

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Blinds: 10,000/20,000
Ante: 3,000

Thomas Mou opens to 43,000 from UTG+2 and Will Failla three-bet shoves for 200,000 from hijack. Ylon Schwartz four-bet shoves for 209,000 from the cutoff and when action gets back to Mau, he calls.

Mou: As 3h
Failla: Ts Td
Schwartz: Ad Qs

The board falls 6h 5s 4h Jd 9c, giving Failla the triple up. Schwartz was eliminated shortly thereafter.

Will Failla – 657,000 (32 bb)
Thomas Mou – 820,000 (41 bb)
Ylon Schwartz – Eliminated in about 90th place ($17,453)

2013 SHRPO Live Updates

Zaffos Takes Out Gnidash and Pilossoph

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Blinds: 10,000/20,000
Ante: 3,000

Billy Pilossoph shoves from UTG+1 for about 320,000 and Denis Gnidash three-bets all in for about 460,000 from the hijack. Zach Zaffos four-bets all in from the button and the blinds fold.

Pilossoph: Ah Qd
Gnidash: Ts Td
Zaffos: Kd Kc

The board runs out 8h 8s 6c 5c Ks and Zaffos scores the double elimination.

Zach Zaffos – 1,910,000 (95 bb)
Denis Gnidash – Eliminated
Billy Pilossoph – Eliminated

2013 SHRPO Live Updates

WPT Alpha8: Begins at Noon at Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open

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The Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open is hosting the inaugural World Poker Tour Alpha8 super high roller event on Monday at Hard Rock Live. The top professionals in poker will be participating in this $100,000 buy-in event starting today at noon ET. We will bring you all of the action from this prestigious event in addition to the Live Updates from the $10 Million Guaranteed SHRPO Main Event. Just check back at the end of every level for a summary report, chip counts, and photos from the WPT Alpha8 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida.

Players will begin with 100,000 in chips and the blinds start at 200-400 for the first 60-minute level. Tables will be seated eight-handed throughout the tournament. Play will continue on Day 1 until the final table is set or 1 a.m. which ever comes first. The final day will start at noon ET on Tuesday. Registration will be open through four levels today and players can re-enter as many times as they want.

Cards will be in the air shortly.

2013 SHRPO Live Updates

Justin Bonomo Leads as Day 2 Ends with 100 Players Remaining

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Day 2 comes to an end with exactly 100 players, and Justin Bonomo is the clear chipleader with a million more in chips than anyone else in the field. Here’s the top ten:

1.  Justin Bonomo  –  2,722,000  (136 bb)
2.  Derrick Cutler  –  1,669,000  (83 bb)
3.  Ravi Raghavan  –  1,652,000  (82 bb)
4.  Neri Sanchez  –  1,449,000  (72 bb)
5.  Derrick Simon  –  1,300,000  (65 bb)
6.  Matt Giannetti  –  1,264,000  (63 bb)
7.  Darlene Lee  –  1,235,000  (61 bb)
8.  Bryan Morton  –  1,222,000  (61 bb)
9.  William Sharkey  –  1,193,000  (59 bb)
10.  Amir Lehavot  –  1,171,000  (58 bb)

Click here for the full list of official chip counts, along with the prizepool and all the players who have finished in the money so far.

The schedule for Day 3 (Monday) is to play five 90-minute levels, with action starting at noon and ending around 8:30 pm — with no dinner break.