Event 12: Big 4 Freeze-Out Final Table Ready

$2,650 No Limit Hold’em (Freeze-Out)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Payouts | Live Stream
Level 24: 12,000/24,000 with a 4,000 ante
Players Remaining: 9 of 395

Jack Duong begins the final table with a big lead

The Big 4 final tables are about to get underway in the Hard Rock Live Arena with all four tables playing their way down to a champion. Event 12 was unique with its freeze-out format that limited players to a single entry, they had to preserve their stack while also trying to run it up.

The tournament drew 395 players with 69 making it through to Day 2 and now we have only nine players with a chance to take home the trophy.

The table is a nice mix of big name pros and our local regulars. WPT Champions Club member Jack Duong returns with a huge lead at the final table. His 2.3 million is more than one million better than second place Charles Gomez.

Seminole Hard Rock Poker team member Faraz Jaka is among those nine and we also have reigning SHRPO Champion, Jason Koon. He’ll only hold that designation for a few more hours but he has a chance to add another Big 4 title today. Former WSOP Ladies Champ Jacquelyn Scott is still in the hunt along with SHRP regular Paul Balzano.

Five of the nine have earned at least $1 million in their career, it’s a talented final table that should produce some entertaining poker.

There are 36 minutes remaining in the Level 24 and they will switch to 90-minute levels in Level 25, going back to hour-long when two players remain.

More than $200,000 is up for grabs for the top spot and everyone is still in the running when they kick things off this afternoon.

Seat 1: Tom Thomas  –  476,000  (20 bb)
Seat 2: Jason Koon  –  720,000  (30 bb)
Seat 3: Jacquelyn Scott  –  612,000  (26 bb)
Seat 4: Alex Foxen  –  935,000  (39 bb)
Seat 5: Faraz Jaka  –  580,000  (17 bb)
Seat 6: Charles Gomez  –  997,000  (24 bb)
Seat 7: Paul Balzano  –  684,000  (29 bb)
Seat 8: Jack Duong  –  2,317,000  (95 bb)
Seat 9:  Darryl Ronconi  –  573,000  (24 bb)

Chip counts:

  1. Jack Duong – 2,317,000 (97 bb)
  2. Charles Gomez – 997,000 (42 bb)
  3. Alex Foxen – 935,000 (39 bb)
  4. Jason Koon – 720,000 (30 bb)
  5. Paul Balzano – 684,000 (29 bb)
  6. Jacquelyn Scott – 612,000 (26 bb)
  7. Faraz Jaka – 580,000 (24 bb)
  8. Darryl Ronconi – 573,000 (24 bb)
  9. Tom Thomas – 476,000 (20 bb)

Remaining payouts:
1st: $204,600
2nd: $143,340
3rd: $92,150
4th: $61,550
5th: $47,350
6th: $39,250
7th: $32,950
8th: $26,700
9th: $20,460

Event 12: Meet the Final Table

The $2,650 buy-in Big 4 event had a special twist to separate it from the other three. This one was a freeze-out with no re-entries allowed.

One player, one bullet.

That meant it would create a special final table because each had to be careful with their one entry.

The nine final table members have combined to earn $20.8 million with $9.5 of that courtesy of Jason Koon. Five of the remaining players have earned at least $1 million in their career with Alex Foxen’s $792,000 close enough when you include his online winnings. Koon is making his second consecutive SHRPO Big 4 final table and is the reigning SHRPO Champion for one more day.


Seat 1: Tom Thomas
Chip Count: 476,000

59-year-old, married with two children, from Floral Park, NY. He cashed the WSOP Main Event in 3 consecutive years 2014, 2015, and 2016. He has over half a million in tournament earnings. He was runner up at Foxwoods $2,700 Main Event for $120,000 and his biggest score.


Seat 2: Jason Koon
Chip Count: 720,000

32-year-old from Weston, West Virginia. He’s the number 1 player in WV on their all time money list with almost $9.5 million in earnings. This is his second consecutive Big 4 final table as he’s our SHRPO Championship reigning champion. He made this final table on his 32nd birthday. He is a regular on the high roller circuit. Just recently taking down the $25,000 Aria High Roller for $324,000.


Seat 3: Jacquelyn Scott
Chip Count: 612,000

68 years old from Detroit Michigan but currently residing in Fort Lauderdale. She’s a real estate broker, part time poker player. She won the 2015 WSOP Ladies Event for $153,876. She’s spunky and giving the boys a run for their money.


Seat 4: Alex Foxen
Chip Count: 935,000

This New York native 26-year-old has been taking the poker world by storm lately, making a strong showing at this year’s WSOP including three final tables. Foxen final tabled Event 5, the $360 Black Chip Bounty this series. Looking to crack $1 million in earnings.


Seat 5: Faraz Jaka
Chip Count: 580,000

This 31-year-old San Jose, CA native is moving to Brasil shortly to launch an online poker site, says this is his last event as a poker pro, and his new job starts on Thursday. Faraz is a Seminole Hard Rock Poker team member with over $5.5 million in earnings. He was also the 2010 World Poker Tour Player of the year.


Seat 6: Charles Gomez
Chip Count: 997,000

24-year-old from Miami, FL. This is by far his biggest cash, his lifetime earnings are $8,154 with his biggest score coming from finishing 94th at Venetian 2.5 GTD this summer. Gomez hosts a poker youtube vlog under the name “Charlie Gomez”


Seat 7: Paul Balzano
Chip Count: 684,000

52 years old from the Bronx, now living in Sunrise FL and he lists himself as a professional poker player. Balzano made last year’s SHRPO Main event Big 4 final table finishing 7th place for $125,000. He has $1 million in earnings and his biggest score was $180,000 in 2014 when he won a WYNN event.


Seat 8: Jack Duong
Chip Count: 2,317,000

Our chip leader, 28 years old from South Plainfield NJ. $1.7 million in earnings and made two WSOP final tables this summer. He final tabled Event 16 last SHRPO series, finishing in 6th place. He final tabled WPT Choctaw in 2016 finishing in 5th place for $175,122. His biggest score came when he won his WSOP bracelet in 2015 $1,500 No Limit Hold’em Bounty.


Seat 9: Darryl Ronconi
Chip Count: 573,000

Ronconi lives in Naperville, IL he is a chief operating officer at Brookstone Capital Management. He made three WSOP Final tables finishing 2nd, 6th, and 9th. He finished 3rd in this event in 2015 for $84,800 and has $1.4 Million in earnings.

SHRPO Day 13 Schedule

Main Event Schedule

11AM: Event 16 – $360 HORSE (Re-Entry)

  • Players begin with 10,000 in chips and 30-minute levels
  • Late registration/re-entry available until start of Level 8
  • This is a one-day event set to play out in completion
  • Event 16 Structure Sheet

12PM: $5,250 SHRPO Championship

12PM: $25,500 Big 4 High Roller

12PM: $2,650 No Limit Hold’em (Freeze-Out)

12PM: $1,100 No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)

12PM: Event 17 – $10,000 No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)

  • $500,000 guaranteed prize pool
  • Players begin with 15,000 in chips
  • Levels 1-8 are 30 minutes, Levels 9+ are 40 minutes
  • Final table levels 60 minutes, heads-up levels 30 minutes
  • Late registration/re-entry available until start of Level 12
  • This is a one-day event set to play out in completion
  • Event 17 Structure Sheet

12PM: Event 18 – $250 Deep Stack Turbo (Re-Entry)

  • $25,000 guaranteed prize pool
  • Players begin with 20,000 in chips and 15-minute levels
  • Late registration/re-entry available until start of Level 15
  • This is a one-day event set to play out in completion
  • Event 18 Structure Sheet

3PM: Event 15 – $2,650 Pot Limit Omaha (Re-Entry)

5PM: Event 14 Day 1B – $150 No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)

  • $50,000 Guaranteed Prize Pool
  • Players begin with 10,000 in chips and 30-minute levels
  • Late registration/re-entry available until start of Level 9
  • Day 1 will end after Level 14 or Tournament Director discretion
  • Event 14 Structure Sheet

Satellite Schedule

10AM: Event 53 – $1,030 Super Turbo Mega Satellite into Event 17 (1-in-10)

  • 1 seat guaranteed into $10,000/$500K GTD Event 17
  • Players begin with 8,000 in chips and 10-minute levels
  • Late registration/re-entry available until start of Level 7
  • This is a one-day tournament and plays until completion
  • Event 53 Structure Sheet

10AM: Event 54 – $1,030 Super Turbo Mega Satellite into Event 17 (1-in-10)

  • 1 seat guaranteed into $10,000/$500K GTD Event 17
  • Players begin with 8,000 in chips and 10-minute levels
  • Late registration/re-entry available until start of Level 7
  • This is a one-day tournament and plays until completion
  • Event 54 Structure Sheet

Event 12: The Big 4 Final Table is Set

$2,650 No Limit Hold’em (Freeze-Out)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Payouts
Level 24: 12,000/24,000 with a 4,000 ante
Players Remaining: 9 of 395

Jack Duong will return as our chip leader

Seat 1: Tom Thomas  –  476,000  (20 bb)
Seat 2: Jason Koon  –  720,000  (30 bb)
Seat 3: Jacquelyn Scott  –  612,000  (26 bb)
Seat 4: Alex Foxen  –  935,000  (39 bb)
Seat 5: Faraz Jaka  –  580,000  (17 bb)
Seat 6: Charles Gomez  –  997,000  (24 bb)
Seat 7: Paul Balzano  –  684,000  (29 bb)
Seat 8: Jack Duong  –  2,317,000  (95 bb)
Seat 9:  Darryl Ronconi  –  573,000  (24 bb)

Jack Duong leads the way with a massive chip lead, more than twice the chips of his closest opponent, Charles Gomez . Jason Koon, who is the reigning Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open champion made his second consecutive SHRPO final table, on his 32nd birthday. Happy Birthday to him!

Alex Foxen, who has been taking the poker world by storm lately final tabled our Event 5 $360 Black Chip Bounty earlier this week. Our leading lady at the table is Jacquelyn Scott, who won her first WSOP bracelet in 2015, when she took down the Ladies Event.

Seminole Hard Rock team member Faraz Jaka is came into the final table as the shortest stack and managed a triple-up when his pocket aces held against pocket jacks and ace king.

The final table contestants will return at noon with 36 minutes left in level 24, which is 12,000/24,000 with a 4,000 ante to try to win their share of the remaining prize pool. The money at the trophy are up for grabs tomorrow when we start this “Big 4” final table in the Hard Rock Live Arena.

1st: $204,600
2nd: $143,340
3rd: $92,150
4th: $61,550
5th: $47,350
6th: $39,250
7th: $32,950
8th: $26,700
9th: $20,460

Event 12: Alberto Rodriguez Eliminated in 10th place ($17,250)

$2,650 No Limit Hold’em (Freeze-Out)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Payouts
Level 24: 12,000/24,000 with a 4,000 ante
Players Remaining: 9 of 395

Alberto Rodriguez

Alberto Rodriguez moved all in for 164,000 with 5d5s and Jason Koon called with Ad9d.

The board came KsJh3hJs9h and Koon’s pair of nines eliminated Rodriguez in 10th place setting our final table.

Alberto Rodriguez  –  Eliminated in 10th place ($17,250)

Event 12: Paul Balzano Doubles Through Alberto Rodriguez

$2,650 No Limit Hold’em (Freeze-Out)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Payouts
Level 24: 12,000/24,000 with a 4,000 ante
Players Remaining: 10 of 395

Paul Balzano (left) Alberto Rodriguez (right)

In a battle of the blinds, Paul Balzano moved all in with Qs10h for his last 360,000 from the small blind and Alberto Rodriguez called from the big blind with JcJs.

The board came AsQh6d8d9d and Balzano hit his pair of queens to stay alive.

Paul Balzano  –  750,000 (31 bb)
Alberto Rodriguez  –  136,000 (6 bb)

Event 12: Jack Duong versus Jason Koon

$2,650 No Limit Hold’em (Freeze-Out)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Payouts
Level 23: 10,000/20,000 with a 3,000 ante
Players Remaining: 10 of 395

Jack Duong opened the cutoff to 50,000 and Jason Koon called form the big blind.

The flop came Qd10d2h, Koon checked, Duong bet 135,000 and Koon called. The 3h came on the turn, Koon checked, Duong bet 135,000 and Koon called.

The 9h hit the river, Koon checked, Duong bet 310,000 and Koon called. Duong turned over KcJh for the rivered straight and Koon flashed Qs10h for the losing two-pair.

Jack Duong  –  2,200,000
Jason Koon  –  600,000

Event 12: Faraz Jaka triples up

$2,650 No Limit Hold’em (Freeze-Out)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Payouts
Level 23: 10,000/20,000 with a 3,000 ante
Players Remaining: 10 of 395

Alex Foxen (left) Faraz Jaka (middle) Charles Gomez (right)

Alex Foxen opened to 50,000 from early position, Seminole Hard Rock Poker team member Faraz Jaka moved all in for 204,000 and Charles Gomez called. Alex Foxen called as well.

Foxen and Gomez checked down the 4h3h2d9hQd board and everyone turned their hands over.

Faraz Jaka:  AdAs
Charles Gomez : JhJs
Alex Foxen AcKc

Jaka’s pocket aces survived scoring him a big triple up to stay alive.

Faraz Jaka  –  695,000  (35 bb)
Charles Gomez – 1,100,000  (55 bb)
Alex Foxen –  660,000 (33 bb)

Event 12: Charles Gomez versus Paul Balzano

$2,650 No Limit Hold’em (Freeze-Out)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Payouts
Level 23: 10,000/20,000 with a 3,000 ante
Players Remaining: 10 of 395

Charles Gomez (left) Paul Balzano (right)

Charles Gomez bet 76,000 from the small blind on a Qc10d6c flop and Paul Balzano called.

The 4d came on the turn, Gomez bet 150,000 and Balzano called. The Jh hit the river and both players checked, Balzano turned over Qs4s but was no good against the two-pair Qd10c of Gomez.

Charles Gomez  –  1,350,000 (68 bb)
Paul Balzano  –  630,000 (32 bb)