All posts by BJ Nemeth

Event 2: Eric Von Guttenberg – 10th Place ($702)

$360 Limit Omaha 8 (Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 17: 3,000/6,000
Players Remaining: 9 of 78

Eric Von Guttenberg
Eric Von Guttenberg

With the final board showing Ac7s6h5h9h, Eric Von Gutternberg was all in with AxKx10x4x for a pair of aces with a 7-6-5-4-A low.

But Bruce Freedman turned over 7d6d5c2c to scoop the entire pot with two pair for the high end (sevens and sixes), and a 7-6-5-2-A for a better low hand.

Bruce Freedman  –  125,000  (21 bb)
Eric Von Guttenberg  –  Eliminated in 10th Place  ($702)

Event 1 Flight B: Constantinos Liapis Leads at the Break

$360 Ultimate Re-Entry
$500,000 Guaranteed | Structure
Level 9: 400/800 with an 800 ante
Flight B Entries: 388

Constantinos Liapis
Chipleader Constantinos Liapis

A scan of the field during the break turned up three players with at least 100K in chips, creating an unofficial leaderboard:

1.  Constantinos Liapis  –  118,500  (148 bb)
2.  Mihaly Luckas  –  106,500  (133 bb)
3.  George Hortelano  –  102,000  (128 bb)

Event 1 Flight A: Bret Grebow Bags Up 557,500 to Lead 48 Survivors

$360 Ultimate Re-Entry
$500,000 Guaranteed | Structure
Level 17: 4,000/8,000 with a 8,000 ante
Flight A Players Remaining: 48 of 483

Bret Grebow
Flight A Chipleader Bret Grebow

Flight A came to an end with 48 players advancing to Day 2, and 9:31 remaining in Level 17. The surviving players are all guaranteed at least $700 for a min-cash on Day 2, though the full prizepool won’t be available until registration has closed in all eight flights. Players who survive multiple flights, will play their largest stack on Day 2, and receive $2,500 for each of their smaller stacks.

Here are the six players from Flight A who bagged up at least 300K:

1.  Bret Grebow  –  557,500
2.  James Salmon  –  429,500
3.  Dejan Petkovic  –  388,500
4.  Jason Young  –  361,000
5.  Frankie Flowers  –  356,000
6.  David Bradshaw, Jr.  –  317,000

Flight B is currently underway, with registration open (unlimited re-entries) until 11:45 pm.

There will be two more flights tomorrow (Friday), with Flight C beginning at 11:00 am (registration open until 5:45 pm), and Flight D beginning at 5:00 pm (registration open until 11:45 pm).

Event 1 Flight A: Paul Pantoja Knocks Out the Last Player to Burst the Bubble and End Flight A

$360 Ultimate Re-Entry
$500,000 Guaranteed | Structure
Level 17: 4,000/8,000 with a 8,000 ante
Flight A Players Remaining: 48 of 483

With 49 players remaining, and only 48 advancing to Day 2 to reach the money, a player got it all in with AcKh, and needed his hand to hold to stay alive against Paul Pantoja’s AdQd.

But the board came Jd7c5d9h2d, and Pantoja rivered a diamond flush to win the pot and eliminate his opponent to burst the Money Bubble and end Flight A.

Event 1 Flight B: Chipleaders at the Break

$360 Ultimate Re-Entry
$500,000 Guaranteed | Structure
Level 5: 200/300 with a 300 ante
Flight B Entries: 284

Aaron Mastny
Chipleader Aaron Mastny

The players in Flight B return from their first break to begin Level 5, with increased blinds of 200/300 and a big-blind ante of 300.

There are currently 284 entries and counting, with unlimited re-entries until registration closes at the start of Level 13 (11:45 pm). The field will play down to the final 10% of the field before stopping for the night.

A scan of the field turned up three players with at least 50K in chips, creating an unofficial leaderboard:

1.  Aaron Mastny  –  62,000  (207 bb)
2.  Michael Turcol  –  54,000  (180 bb)
3.  Jack Shea  –  51,500  (172 bb)

Championship: Brandon Eisen Outlasts a Tough Final Table to Win the 2018 SHRPO Championship

2018 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open 
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino 
Hollywood, Florida
SHRPO Championship
$5,250 No Limit Hold’em (Single Re-Entry)
$3,000,000 Guaranteed

Entries:  914
Prize Pool:  $4,432,900
August 10-14, 2018

Brandon Eisen
Brandon Eisen

Brandon Eisen came into the final table of the $5,250 SHRPO Championship with the chip lead, and while he didn’t lead wire-to-wire, he comfortably cruised to heads-up play against Jeremy Ausmus.

Even though Eisen entered heads-up play with a big lead, both players had more than 100 big blinds, and Ausmus put up a strong fight that lasted more hands (84 hands) than it took to reach heads-up play (61 hands). But Eisen came out on top to win the top prize of $771,444.

These were the official chip counts at the start of the final table:

Seat 1.  Joseph Cheong  –  1,265,000  (16 bb)
Seat 2.  Marcos Exterkotter  –  4,370,000  (55 bb)
Seat 3.  Adam Adler  –  3,745,000  (47 bb)
Seat 4.  Ryan D’Angelo  –  3,810,000  (48 bb)
Seat 5.  Stoyan Obreshkov  –  6,540,000  (82 bb)
Seat 6.  Jeremy Ausmus  –  4,090,000  (51 bb)
Seat 7.  Ido Ashkenazi  –  1,470,000  (18 bb)
Seat 8.  Jared Griener  –  3,975,000  (50 bb)
Seat 9.  Brandon Eisen  –  7,330,000  (92 bb)

In Hand #8, Stoyan Obreshkov and Marcos Exterkotter built up a pot of 3.2 million on a board of 6s6d2h4d7s. Obreshkov moved all in, and Exterkotter called with JhJc. But Obreshkov turned over 5d3h for a seven-high straight to send Exterkotter home in ninth place.

Marcos Exterkotter  –  Eliminated in 9th Place  ($77,132)

In Hand #17, Joseph Cheong shoved for 13 big blinds with Ad10h, but it failed to hold up against the KdJc of Jeremy Ausmus, and Cheong busted in eighth place.

Joseph Cheong  –  Eliminated in 8th Place  ($102,843)

In Hand #26, Jared Griener check-raised all in after a flop of Jc8c8d. Obreshkov called with QsQd, and Griener was on a draw with Kc3c. The 9c on the turn completed Griener’s flush, but the 8h on the river gave Obreshkov a full house to eliminate Griener in seventh place.

Jared Griener  –  Eliminated in 7th Place  ($129,308)

Ido Ashkenazi had been the short stack ever since Cheong busted, and he had slowly dwindled down to just five big blinds by the time he shoved with Qc4c in Hand #54. Unfortunately, he ran into Eisen’s KsKc, and the best hand held up to bust Ashkenazi in sixth place.

Ido Ashkenazi  –  Eliminated in 6th Place  ($156,215)

Three hands later, in Hand #57, Adam Adler three-bet all in with AcKc, and Ausmus called with AdKh. Usually this would be a chop, with Adler the favorite to make a flush. But the board came 8h6h2dQh10h, sending Adler home in fifth place on one of the most annoying beats in hold’em.

Adam Adler  –  Eliminated in 5th Place  ($195,491)

The players were still talking about that hand when another all-in situation developed in Hand #58. Eisen four-bet all in, and D’Angelo called with AcKc — the same hand that sent Adler home a few minutes earlier. Eisen turned over 6s6h, and it was a race situation.

The board came 10h9c3h2d7c, and the pocket sixes held for Eisen to win the pot and eliminate D’Angelo in fourth place.

Ryan D’Angelo  –  Eliminated in 4th Place  ($258,615)

Stoyan Obreshkov was the short stack at that point, but he still had more than 50 big blinds, and with 90-minute levels, there should have been no sense of urgency.

But three hands later, in Hand #61, Obreshkov raised, Ausmus called, and Eisen three-bet it from the big blind. Obreshkov called, and Ausmus folded. There was already more than 2.8 million in the pot as the flop came 7d6c4h. Eisen bet 900K, and Obreshkov called, building the pot to 4.6 million.

The turn card was the Qh, Eisen check-raised all in, and Obreshkov called with AdQc and a freshly-turned pair of queens. But Eisen turned over KhKd, and when the 6d hit the river, Obreshkov was out in third place.

Stoyan Obreshkov  –  Eliminated in 3rd Place  ($349,889)

Unbelievably, it took only 61 hands to shrink the field down from nine to two, but that meant the final two were deep, with more than 100 big blinds each. These were the approximate chip counts at the start of heads-up play:

Brandon Eisen  –  23,000,000  (184 bb)
Jeremy Ausmus  –  13,000,000  (104 bb)

The situation didn’t change much over the next 23 hands. Then, in Hand #84, Eisen and Ausmus saw a flop of 8c4c4d. Ausmus bet 300,000, and Eisen called. the turn was the 9h, Ausmus bet 800,000, and Eisen called.

The river card was the 5s, Ausmus checked, Eisen bet 2.1 million, and Ausmus check-raised to 8 million. Eisen eventually called with 7c6d for a rivered nine-high straight, but Ausmus turned over 8h4h to win a pot worth 18.9 million with a flopped full house.

That pot pretty much reversed the chip counts:

Jeremy Ausmus  –  23,550,000  (188 bb)
Brandon Eisen  –  13,050,000  (104 bb)

Jeremy Ausmus
Jeremy Ausmus

The chip stacks didn’t change too much over the next 22 hands, until the next big pot in Hand #107. Eisen three-bet it before a flop of Kc10h9h, and then check-called a 1 million bet from Ausmus. The turn was the 8h, and again Eisen checked, Ausmus bet 2.5 million, and Eisen called.

With 9.95 million in the pot, the river card was the 5s. Eisen checked for the third street in a row, and Ausmus moved all in.

Eisen tanked for a long time before he called, and Ausmus showed Ks10c for a flopped two pair. But Eisen turned over Js7c to win the pot with a jack-high straight and double up into a massive 30 million-to-6 million chip lead.

Ausmus was knocked down, but not out, and he fought hard for more than an hour on the short stack, making great folds and unwilling to give up.

But as the blinds got larger and his stack got smaller, he would have to make a stand, and when Eisen shoved the button in Hand #144 with QdJd, Ausmus eventually called all in for 19 big blinds with Ks5h.

The board came QsJc6sKc9d — Eisen flopped two pair and Ausmus turned a king, but the river card was a blank. Eisen won the pot — and the SHRPO Championship — with two pair, queens and jacks.

And with that, the $5,250 SHRPO Championship was the third of the Big 4 tournaments to come to an end. Here are the final table results:

1st:  Brandon Eisen  –  $771,444
2nd:  Jeremy Ausmus  –  $540,459
3rd:  Stoyan Obreshkov  –  $349,889
4th:  Ryan D’Angelo  –  $258,615
5th:  Adam Adler  –  $195,491
6th:  Ido Ashkenazi  –  $156,215
7th:  Jared Griener  –  $129,308
8th:  Joseph Cheong  –  $102,843
9th:  Marcos Exterkotter  –  $77,132

Championship: Brandon Eisen Wins the SHRPO Championship ($771,444)! Jeremy Ausmus Finishes 2nd ($540,459)

$5,250 SHRPO Championship
$3,000,000 Guaranteed | Payouts | Live Stream
Level 31: 100,000/200,000 with a 200,000 ante
Players Remaining: 1 of 914

Brandon Eisen

Hand #144  –  Brandon Eisen moved all in from the small blind/button, and Jeremy Ausmus tanked for a long time before he called all in from the big blind for 3,825,000 with Ks5h.

Eisen turned over QdJd, and Ausmus needed his king-high hand to hold to stay alive.

The flop came QsJc6s, and Eisen flopped two pair to take a big lead.

The turn card was the Kc, and Ausmus turned a pair of kings to pick up some outs to survive. Ausmus needed a king or a five to stay alive.

The river card was the 9d, and Brandon Eisen won the pot — and the SHRPO Championship — with two pair, queens and jacks.

Jeremy Ausmus finished as the runner-up, earning $540,459.

Brandon Eisen won the 2018 SHRPO Championship, earning $771,444 and a SHRPO trophy.

Congratulations to Brandon Eisen!

1st:  Brandon Eisen  –  $771,444
2nd:  Jeremy Ausmus  –  $540,459
3rd:  Stoyan Obreshkov  –  $349,889
4th:  Ryan D’Angelo  –  $258,615
5th:  Adam Adler  –  $195,491
6th:  Ido Ashkenazi  –  $156,215
7th:  Jared Griener  –  $129,308
8th:  Joseph Cheong  –  $102,843
9th:  Marcos Exterkotter  –  $77,132

Jeremy Ausmus

Championship: Jeremy Ausmus Still Hovering Around 20 Big Blinds

$5,250 SHRPO Championship
$3,000,000 Guaranteed | Payouts | Live Stream
Level 31: 100,000/200,000 with a 200,000 ante
Players Remaining: 2 of 914

Hand #138  –  Brandon Eisen limped for 200,000, Jeremy Ausmus moved all in, and Eisen folded. Ausmus took the pot.

Hand #139  –  Jeremy Ausmus limped for 200,000, Brandon Eisen moved all in, and Ausmus folded. Eisen took the pot.

Hand #140  –  Brandon Eisen limped for 200,000, and Jeremy Ausmus checked his option. Both players checked to the river on a board of 7d5d2d10d4d. Ausmus checked, Eisen bet 600,000, and Ausmus folded. Eisen took the pot.

Hand #141  –  Jeremy Ausmus limped for 200,000, and Brandon Eisen checked his option. Both players checked to the turn on a board of QcJcJh2h, Eisen bet 300,000, and Ausmus called.

The river card was the 9s, and both players checked. Eisen showed 10c6c, but Ausmus turned over 10d2c to win the pot with two pair, jacks and deuces. 

Hand #142  –  Brandon Eisen folded, giving Jeremy Ausmus a walk.

Hand #143  –  Jeremy Ausmus raised to 400,000, and Brandon Eisen called. Both players checked to the turn on a board of Jc7h6h6c, Eisen bet 400,000, and Ausmus folded. Eisen took the pot.

Seat 6.  Jeremy Ausmus  –  3,825,000  (19 bb)
Seat 9.  Brandon Eisen  –  32,775,000  (164 bb)

Championship: Jeremy Ausmus Treading Water with His Short Stack

$5,250 SHRPO Championship
$3,000,000 Guaranteed | Payouts | Live Stream
Level 31: 100,000/200,000 with a 200,000 ante
Players Remaining: 2 of 914

Jeremy Ausmus

Hand #132  –  Brandon Eisen raised to an unknown amount, and Jeremy Ausmus quickly folded.

Hand #133  –  Jeremy Ausmus limped for 200,000, and Brandon Eisen checked his option. The flop came Kh8c2c, Eisen checked, Ausmus bet 200,000, and Eisen called. The turn card was the Js, and both players checked.

The river card was the 10s, Eisen checked, Ausmus bet 500,000, and Eisen tanked for a while before he called. Ausmus showed Jc3h to win the pot with a pair of jacks, and Eisen mucked.

Hand #134  –  Brandon Eisen limped for 200,000, and Jeremy Ausmus checked his option. The flop came Ad3h2c, Ausmus checked, Eisen bet 200,000, and Ausmus called. The turn card was the 7d, Ausmus checked, Eisen bet 600,000, and Ausmus folded. Eisen took the pot.

Hand #135  –  Jeremy Ausmus limped for 200,000, Brandon Eisen moved all in, and Ausmus quickly folded. Eisen took the pot.

Hand #136  –  Brandon Eisen moved all in, and Jeremy Ausmus folded.

Hand #137  –  Jeremy Ausmus moved all in for about 2.8 million, and Brandon Eisen folded. Ausmus took the pot.

Seat 6.  Jeremy Ausmus  –  3,225,000  (16 bb)
Seat 9.  Brandon Eisen  –  33,375,000  (167 bb)