Week 2: Michael Harley Victorious in $1M Escalator Series

2016 $1M Escalator Series
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino
Hollywood, Fla.
$250 No Limit Hold’em ($200,000 Guaranteed)
Entries: 1,036
Prize Pool: $217,560
February 10-13, 2016

Michael Harley, Escalator Event #2 Winner
Michael Harley, Escalator Event #2 Winner

Hollywood, Fla. (February 14, 2016) — The second of four $1M Escalator Series events concluded late Saturday night at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Fla. Part two of the four-tournament series was a $250 buy-in, $200,000 guaranteed no limit hold’em event. The field topped out at 1,036 entries easily eclipsing the guarantee before rounding the prize pool out at $217,560. Following four days of play, Michael Harley of Miami Gardens claimed the title and $30,395 in a six-way chop.

Harley stayed under the radar for most of Day 2. He started play in the top half of the chip counts, but by the time action narrowed to the 10-handed final table, he was second from the bottom. In an unexpected turn of events, Edgar Varas bowed out 9th, Josue Garcia 8th and final table chip leader Zachary Mullennix 7th. With some of the previous biggest stacks on the rail, the final six players chopped. The deal saw Harley, who held the chip lead at the time, earn the lion’s share of the prize pool as well as a $3,500 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Championship seat.

The victory marks Harley’s first tournament win and is by far his largest score. He is 63 years old and was born in Somerville, N.J.

Joining him in the money were reigning Seminole Hard Rock Poker Player of the Year Ory Hen (29th), Joshua Palmer (31st) and $1M Escalator Series Event 1 winner Eric Rivkin (53rd).

Final table results:

1st: Michael Harley – $30,395 + $3,500 SHRP Showdown Championship seat
2nd: Jorge Gomez – $28,067 + $3,500 SHRP Showdown Championship seat
3rd: Marcos Garcia – $20,903
4th: Ariel Quintana – $18,795
5th: Al Gomez – $15,000
6th: Cangir Elcin – $15,000
7th: Zachary Mullennix – $7,600
8th: Josue Garcia – $5,780
9th: Edgar Varas – $3,960

In addition, each of the atop 10 finishers earned a $350 seat in next week’s Escalator event.

Full Results

The $1M Escalator Series is a four-tournament series that runs each weekend throughout the month of February. The Week 1 event, won by Rivkin, was a $150 buy-in, $100,000 guaranteed tournament. Week 2 was $250, $200,000, Week 3 is $350, $300,000. Week 4 is $560, $400,000. In addition to increasing buy-ins, the tournaments feature increasing guarantees whose sums total $1,000,000.

Here’s a look at the remaining $1M Escalator Series events:

  • February 18-21: $350 Buy-In, $300,000 Guaranteed
  • February 25-28: $560 Buy-In, $400,000 Guaranteed

Additional information on the series is available by clicking the “Download Tournament Schedule (PDF)” menu tab.