All posts by BJ Nemeth

Event 29: Michael Amato Wins in a Heads-Up Deal! ($96,000); Eric Kolodny Finishes as Runner-Up ($78,620)

$800 Platinum Stack No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Prizepool:  $719,100  |  Structure  |  Payouts
Level 35:  600,000/1,200,000 with a 1,200,000 ante
Players Remaining:  2 of 1,020

Event 29 Champion Michael Amato
Event 29 Champion Michael Amato

After the elimination of Leo Taffe in third place, Eric Kolodny asked if Michael Amato was open to a deal.

Amato said that he wasn’t interested in an ICM chop, and Kolodny could make one offer, and if Amato didn’t accept it, they’d just keep playing.

Kolodny made an offer, but Amato rejected it and said “Let’s just play. If you get closer, maybe. Probably not.”

Then Kolodny offered Amato $95,000 for first, and Amato said, “It’s hard to say no to ninty-five.”

Amato countered with an offer of $96,000 for first, and Kolodny quickly accepted. So a deal has been reached!

As chipleader, Amato is awarded the title and the trophy, in addition to $96,000. Eric Kolodny — who started the final table as the short stack — finishes as the runner-up, earning $78,620.

Congratulations to Michael Amato!

1st:  Michael Amato  –  $96,000 + SHRPO Trophy
2nd:  Eric Kolodny  –  $78,620
3rd:  Leo Taffe  –  $52,000
4th:  Ory Hen  –  $39,000
5th:  Alejandro Bristol  –  $29,500
6th:  Kuang Hung Lee  –  $22,600
7th:  Matt Paul  –  $17,400
8th:  Frank Brannan  –  $13,500
9th:  Victoria Livschitz  –  $10,600

Stay tuned for a recap from this event, which will be posted late tonight.

Eric Kolodny
Runner-Up Eric Kolodny

Event 29: Leo Taffe – 3rd Place ($52,000)

$800 Platinum Stack No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Prizepool:  $719,100  |  Structure  |  Payouts
Level 35:  600,000/1,200,000 with a 1,200,000 ante
Players Remaining:  2 of 1,020

Leo Taffe
Leo Taffe

Leo Taffe moved all in from the small blind for 11,600,000, and Michael Amato thought for a while before he called from the big blind with Qd9h.

Taffe turned over Qs10h, and needed it to hold to stay alive.

The board came Kd3c2h10cJc, and Taffe paired his ten on the turn, only to see Amato river a king-high straight to win the pot. Taffe was eliminated in third place.

Leo Taffe  –  Eliminated in 3rd Place  ($52,000)

Here are the updated chip counts for the start of heads-up play, followed by the final table payouts:

Michael Amato  –  81,100,000  (68 bb)
Eric Kolodny  –  21,400,000  (18 bb)

1st:  $103,620 + SHRPO Trophy
2nd:  $71,000

3rd:  Leo Taffe  –  $52,000
4th:  Ory Hen  –  $39,000
5th:  Alejandro Bristol  –  $29,500
6th:  Kuang Hung Lee  –  $22,600
7th:  Matt Paul  –  $17,400
8th:  Frank Brannan  –  $13,500
9th:  Victoria Livschitz  –  $10,600

Event 29: Michael Amato Four-Bet shoves Against Leo Taffe

$800 Platinum Stack No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Prizepool:  $719,100  |  Structure  |  Payouts
Level 34:  500,000/1,000,000 with a 1,000,000 ante
Players Remaining:  3 of 1,020

Michael Amato
Michael Amato

Leo Taffe completed the small blind to 1,000,000, Michael Amato raised from the big blind to 3,000,000, and Taffe limp-reraised to 8,500,000.

Amato thought for a bit before he four-bet all in for 46,100,000, and Taffe quickly folded 10d5d. Amato took the pot with KcQd.

Seat 1.  Leo Taffe  –  22,000,000  (22 bb)
Seat 2.  Michael Amato  –  55,600,000  (56 bb)
Seat 3.  Eric Kolodny  –  24,900,000  (25 bb)

With three players remaining from a field of 1,020, the average chip stack is around 34,000,000 (34 big blinds). The remaining players are guaranteed at least $52,000 each.

Event 29: Ory Hen – 4th Place ($39,000)

$800 Platinum Stack No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Prizepool:  $719,100  |  Structure  |  Payouts
Level 34:  500,000/1,000,000 with a 1,000,000 ante
Players Remaining:  3 of 1,020

Ory Hen
Ory Hen

Leo Taffe raised under the gun to 2,000,000, Ory Hen moved all in from the button for 7,400,000, and Taffe called with Ac10h.

Hen turned over KhQd, and needed to improve to stay alive.

The board came 10d10c6hQh10s, and Taffe flopped trip tens and rivered quads to eliminate Hen in fourth place.

Ory Hen  –  Eliminated in 4th Place  ($39,000)

Seat 1.  Leo Taffe  –  35,000,000  (35 bb)
Seat 2.  Michael Amato  –  47,600,000  (48 bb)
Seat 3.  Eric Kolodny  –  19,900,000  (20 bb)

And here are the final table payouts:

1st:  $103,620 + SHRPO Trophy
2nd:  $71,000
3rd:  $52,000

4th:  Ory Hen  –  $39,000
5th:  Alejandro Bristol  –  $29,500
6th:  Kuang Hung Lee  –  $22,600
7th:  Matt Paul  –  $17,400
8th:  Frank Brannan  –  $13,500
9th:  Victoria Livschitz  –  $10,600

With three players remaining from a field of 1,020, the average chip stack is around 34,000,000 (34 big blinds). The remaining players are guaranteed at least $52,000 each.

Event 29: Alejandro Bristol – 5th Place ($29,500)

$800 Platinum Stack No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Prizepool:  $719,100  |  Structure  |  Payouts
Level 34:  500,000/1,000,000 with a 1,000,000 ante
Players Remaining:  4 of 1,020

Alejandro Bristol
Alejandro Bristol

Alejandro Bristol moved all in under the gun for 6,000,000, and Eric Kolodny moved all in over the top from the cutoff for 13,400,000 with 10s10h.

Bristol turned over Kc4c, and he needed to improve to stay alive.

The board came Qs8d6c4s5c, and Bristol paired his four on the turn, but improved no further. The pocket tens held up for Kolodny to win the pot and eliminate Bristol in fifth place.

Alejandro Bristol  –  Eliminated in 5th Place  ($29,500)

Seat 1.  Leo Taffe  –  25,100,000  (25 bb)
Seat 2.  Ory Hen  –  7,400,000  (7 bb)
Seat 3.  Michael Amato  –  48,100,000  (48 bb)
Seat 4.  Eric Kolodny  –  21,900,000  (22 bb)

And here are the final table payouts:

1st:  $103,620 + SHRPO Trophy
2nd:  $71,000
3rd:  $52,000
4th:  $39,000

5th:  Alejandro Bristol  –  $29,500
6th:  Kuang Hung Lee  –  $22,600
7th:  Matt Paul  –  $17,400
8th:  Frank Brannan  –  $13,500
9th:  Victoria Livschitz  –  $10,600

With four players remaining from a field of 1,020, the average chip stack is around 25,500,000 (26 big blinds). The remaining players are guaranteed at least $39,000 each.

Event 29: Kuang Hung Lee – 6th Place ($22,600)

$800 Platinum Stack No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Prizepool:  $719,100  |  Structure  |  Payouts
Level 34:  500,000/1,000,000 with a 1,000,000 ante
Players Remaining:  5 of 1,020

Kuang Hung Lee
Kuang Hung Lee

Michael Amato moved all in from the small blind, and Kuang Hung Lee called all in from the big blind for 5,200,000 with QsJs.

Amato turned over Ac2s, and Lee needed to improve to stay alive.

The board came 9d8c4s3sKd, and Amato won the pot with his ace to eliminate Lee in sixth place.

Kuang Hung Lee  –  Eliminated in 6th Place  ($22,600)

Seat 1.  Leo Taffe  –  24,600,000  (25 bb)
Seat 2.  Ory Hen  –  9,900,000  (10 bb)
Seat 3.  Michael Amato  –  50,100,000  (50 bb)
Seat 4.  Alejandro Bristol  –  8,500,000  (9 bb)
Seat 5.  Eric Kolodny  –  9,400,000  (9 bb)

And here are the final table payouts:

1st:  $103,620 + SHRPO Trophy
2nd:  $71,000
3rd:  $52,000
4th:  $39,000
5th:  $29,500

6th:  Kuang Hung Lee  –  $22,600
7th:  Matt Paul  –  $17,400
8th:  Frank Brannan  –  $13,500
9th:  Victoria Livschitz  –  $10,600

With five players remaining from a field of 1,020, the average chip stack is around 20,400,000 (20 big blinds).

Event 29: Matt Paul – 7th Place ($17,400)

$800 Platinum Stack No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Prizepool:  $719,100  |  Structure  |  Payouts
Level 33:  400,000/800,000 with an 800,000 ante
Players Remaining:  6 of 1,020

Matt Paul
Matt Paul

Matt Paul moved all in from UTG+1 for 3,200,000, and Alejandro Bristol called from the big blind with Qd10h.

Paul turned over AsJd, and needed it to hold to stay alive.

The board came Qs6c2s4c9c, and Bristol paired his queen on the flop to win the pot and eliminate Paul in seventh place.

Matt Paul  –  Eliminated in 7th Place  ($17,400)

Seat 1.  Leo Taffe  –  25,600,000  (32 bb)
Seat 2.  Ory Hen  –  11,600,000  (15 bb)
Seat 3.  Michael Amato  –  33,000,000  (41 bb)
Seat 4.  Kuang Hung Lee  –  6,800,000  (9 bb)
Seat 5.  Alejandro Bristol  –  14,500,000  (18 bb)
Seat 6.  Eric Kolodny  –  11,000,000  (14 bb)

And here are the final table payouts:

1st:  $103,620 + SHRPO Trophy
2nd:  $71,000
3rd:  $52,000
4th:  $39,000
5th:  $29,500
6th:  $22,600

7th:  Matt Paul  –  $17,400
8th:  Frank Brannan  –  $13,500
9th:  Victoria Livschitz  –  $10,600

With six players remaining from a field of 1,020, the average chip stack is around 17,000,000 (21 big blinds). The remaining players are guaranteed at least $22,600 each.

Event 29: Ory Hen Doubles Thru Matt Paul

$800 Platinum Stack No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Prizepool:  $719,100  |  Structure  |  Payouts
Level 33:  400,000/800,000 with an 800,000 ante
Players Remaining:  7 of 1,020

Ory Hen
Ory Hen

Matt Paul moved all in from the hijack for 8,000,000, and Ory Hen called all in from the button for 4,800,000 with AsKs.

Paul turned over Jh10s, and Hen needed his hand to hold to stay alive.

The board came Jd4d2sQhAc, and Paul paired his jack on the flop, but Hen paired his ace on the river to win the pot and double up in chips.

Seat 1.  Matt Paul  –  3,200,000  (4 bb)
Seat 2.  Leo Taffe  –  25,600,000  (32 bb)
Seat 3.  Ory Hen  –  11,600,000  (15 bb)
Seat 4.  Michael Amato  –  33,000,000  (41 bb)
Seat 5.  Kuang Hung Lee  –  7,200,000  (9 bb)
Seat 6.  Alejandro Bristol  –  10,900,000  (14 bb)
Seat 7.  Eric Kolodny  –  11,000,000  (14 bb)

With seven players remaining from a field of 1,020, the average chip stack is around 14,575,000 (18 big blinds). The remaining players are guaranteed at least $17,400 each.

Event 29: Matt Paul Doubles Thru Leo Taffe

$800 Platinum Stack No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Prizepool:  $719,100  |  Structure  |  Payouts
Level 33:  400,000/800,000 with an 800,000 ante
Players Remaining:  7 of 1,020

Matt Paul
Matt Paul

Matt Paul moved all in from the cutoff for 4,000,000, and Leo Taffe called from the button with AhQc. Paul turned over KsKd, and needed it to hold to stay alive.

The board came 6c4c3c6d9d, and Taffe flops a club flush draw, but improves no further. The pocket kings hold up for Paul to win the pot and double up in chips.

Seat 1.  Matt Paul  –  10,000,000  (13 bb)
Seat 2.  Leo Taffe  –  20,800,000  (26 bb)
Seat 3.  Ory Hen  –  7,800,000  (10 bb)
Seat 4.  Michael Amato  –  32,200,000  (40 bb)
Seat 5.  Kuang Hung Lee  –  8,800,000  (11 bb)
Seat 6.  Alejandro Bristol  –  9,900,000  (12 bb)
Seat 7.  Eric Kolodny  –  13,000,000  (16 bb)

With seven players remaining from a field of 1,020, the average chip stack is around 14,575,000 (18 big blinds). The remaining players are guaranteed at least $17,400 each.

Event 29: Michael Amato Leads the Final Seven Players at the Break

$800 Platinum Stack No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Prizepool:  $719,100  |  Structure  |  Payouts
Level 33:  400,000/800,000 with an 800,000 ante
Players Remaining:  7 of 1,020

Event 29 Final Table

The players return from break to begin Level 33, with increased blinds of 400,000-800,000 with an 800,000 ante. Here are the updated chip counts:

Seat 1.  Matt Paul  –  4,025,000  (5 bb)
Seat 2.  Leo Taffe  –  24,850,000  (31 bb)
Seat 3.  Ory Hen  –  8,150,000  (10 bb)
Seat 4.  Michael Amato  –  33,825,000  (42 bb)
Seat 5.  Kuang Hung Lee  –  8,800,000  (11 bb)
Seat 6.  Alejandro Bristol  –  9,850,000  (12 bb)
Seat 7.  Eric Kolodny  –  12,500,000  (16 bb)

And here are the final table payouts:

1st:  $103,620 + SHRPO Trophy
2nd:  $71,000
3rd:  $52,000
4th:  $39,000
5th:  $29,500
6th:  $22,600
7th:  $17,400

8th:  Frank Brannan  –  $13,500
9th:  Victoria Livschitz  –  $10,600

With seven players remaining from a field of 1,020, the average chip stack is around 14,575,000 (18 big blinds). The remaining players are guaranteed at least $17,400 each.