$1,100 October Anniversary Special
$100,000 Guarantee | Structure | Payouts
Prize Pool: $251,230
Level 22: 10,000/20,000 with a 20,000 ante
Players Remaining: 6 of 259

Mark Guariglia (pictured) raised all in for 90,000 from the button and Ricardo Eyzaguirre called from the button.

Guariglia:
Eyzaguirre:

The board came down , no help to Guariglia, ending his run in seventh place.

Ricardo Eyzaguirre – 290,000
Mark Guariglia – Eliminated in 7th Place ($7,725)

No matter who you are, and no matter where you play, things are different for poker players today. It used to be said that you needed a great poker face to succeed in poker. Now you can’t even see most of one’s face as many poker rooms have taken the necessary safety measures that need to be taken during a global pandemic.

The Seminole Hard Rock has done exactly this with its Safe+Sound protocols. It takes thorough diligence and effort to create a safe environment for players, while not only maintaining the standard of professionalism that already existed, but being flexible and improving it.

In addition to mandatory mask-wearing, plexiglass has been installed at every table, separating players from each other on both sides while leaving enough room underneath a plexiglass panel in front to allow for normal betting action.

A thorough sanitization process is also in effect for every time a seat is vacated. If a player steps away from his or her seat for even a moment, the dealers have a bottle of hand sanitizer ready to give the player upon returning. If a player is eliminated from a tournament or leaves the seat for good, thorough washing of the glass, rail, and chair is done within minutes.

During this Anniversary weekend, we would like to remind you that keeping you #SafeandSound is our #1 Priority! pic.twitter.com/Fvri7fkRoj

— The Poker Room (@SHRThePokerRoom) October 25, 2020

With it being the one-year anniversary of the Guitar Hotel grand opening, the Seminole Hard Rock Poker Room ran the October Anniversary Special, an $1,100 No-limit Hold’em single re-entry tournament, which boasted a $100,000 guarantee. With two starting days and a player cap of 105 per flight, the guarantee was easily eclipsed as 259 entries generated a prize pool of $251,230.

Among those who participated was Poker Vlogger Brad Owen.

With more than 259,000 YouTube subscribers to his channel and a 2018 GPI People’s Choice Award, Owen’s popularity in the poker community is prevalent. His influence has a far reach, but like everyone else, he has had to adapt to the current times in both the world in general and in poker.

“It’s a big adjustment,” Owen said. “Not just for me, but for everybody. Casinos are trying to do their best to make it a safe environment so they can get people back in the card rooms, and still have it be enjoyable. I think so far most casinos are doing pretty well. The Seminole Hard Rock, in my opinion, is doing the best job out of any property that I’ve been to since the pandemic started.”

Like most people, Owen patiently waited to see what was going to happen specifically with regard to poker during the first few months after Covid-19. Once poker rooms implemented safety procedures, Owen felt comfortable getting back to the tables.

“I’ve probably played about 10 live sessions. The first one was in June, and it was important for me to play a session in order to get content and keep the channel’s momentum going essentially, so I was happy to play and film kind of as soon as we had the green light to do so in Las Vegas, and to show people watching what live poker looks like today.”

Does he feel safe with what he’s seen so far?

“Absolutely,” Owen said. “I’ve been really impressed with what some poker rooms have done, especially here at the Seminole Hard Rock. They really make the players feel safe. I’ve loved everything about the Seminole Hard Rock. It’s been great to come out here and experience these Florida no-limit cash games and tournaments. I haven’t had too many chances to come out here and this is actually only my third time playing in Florida I believe, but I really enjoy it so far. There’s a lot to do. Cool things not only at the Casino but also just around it in Hollywood, Fort Lauderdale and Miami and everything.”

Owen’s run in the October Anniversary Special ended in the middle of Day 1B when a bluff didn’t get through, but that’s just a part of the game and one he’ll talk about on the Vlog.

“Things were going fine, but after I was moved to a new table my Ace-King lost to King-Jack. Then I tried to push a guy off a hand and it didn’t work out, but that’s just how it goes sometimes. It’s been a great experience here.”

Be sure to subscribe to Brad’s YouTube channel to check out his Seminole Hard Rock feature coming soon!

$1,100 October Anniversary Special
$100,000 Guarantee | Structure | Payouts
Prize Pool: $251,230
Returning to Level 22: 10,000/20,000 with a 20,000 ante
Players Remaining: 7 of 259

Seat 1: Nigel Murray – 1,205,000 (60 bb)
Seat 2: Mark Guariglia – 140,000 (7 bb)
Seat 3: Yang Yeng – 600,000 (30 bb)
Seat 4: Alejandro Gonzalez – 510,000 (25 bb)
Seat 5: A.J. Gambino – 935,000 (47 bb)
Seat 6: Ricardo Eyzaguirre – 165,000 (8 bb)
Seat 7: Alcides Gomez – 1,615,000 (81 bb)

$1,100 October Anniversary Special
$100,000 Guarantee | Structure | Payouts
Prize Pool: $251,230
Level 21: 8,000/16,000 with a 16,000 ante
Players Remaining: 7 of 259

A.J. Gambino raised to 35,000 from the hijack and Mark Guariglia (pictured) called from the big blind.

The flop was and Guariglia check-called all in for 29,000.

Gambino:
Guariglia:

Guariglia trailed with a pair of sevens against Gambino’s pair of aces, but the turn gave Guariglia two pair.

The river was the and Guariglia doubled up.

Mark Guariglia – 152,000 (10 bb)
A.J. Gambino – 990,000 (62 bb)

$1,100 October Anniversary Special
$100,000 Guarantee | Structure | Payouts
Prize Pool: $251,230
Level 21: 8,000/16,000 with a 16,000 ante
Players Remaining: 7 of 259

Seat 1: Nigel Murray – 1,030,000 (64 bb)
Seat 2: Mark Guariglia – 90,000 (6 bb)
Seat 3: Yang Yeng – 660,000 (41 bb)
Seat 4: Alejandro Gonzalez – 1,040,000 (65 bb)
Seat 5: A.J. Gambino – 905,000 (57 bb)
Seat 6: Ricardo Eyzaguirre – 340,000 (21 bb)
Seat 7: Alcides Gomez – 1,115,000 (70 bb)

$1,100 October Anniversary Special
$100,000 Guarantee | Structure | Payouts
Prize Pool: $251,230
Level 21: 8,000/16,000 with a 16,000 ante
Players Remaining: 7 of 259

Alejandro Gonzalez raised to 35,000 from the cutoff, T.K. Miles three-bet all in for 237,000 from the button and Gonzalez thought for a bit before he called.

Gonzalez:
Miles:

The board ran out , no help to Miles, ending his run just shy of the final table in eighth place.

Alejandro Gonzalez – 1,040,000
T.K. Miles – Eliminated in 8th Place ($7,725)

$1,100 October Anniversary Special
$100,000 Guarantee | Structure | Payouts
Prize Pool: $251,230
Level 21: 8,000/16,000 with a 16,000 ante
Players Remaining: 8 of 259

Yang Yeng (pictured) raised to 40,000 from the cutoff, Alejandro Gonzalez three-bet to 100,000 from the button and Yeng called.

The flop was , Yeng checked, Gonzalez bet 60,000, Yeng check-raised all in for 210,000 and Gonzalez called.

Yeng:
Gonzalez:

Yeng was well ahead with a set of jacks and held through the turn and river to double up.

Yang Yeng – 660,000
Alejandro Gonzalez – 750,000

$1,100 October Anniversary Special
$100,000 Guarantee | Structure | Payouts
Prize Pool: $251,230
Level 20: 6,000/12,000 with a 12,000 ante
Players Remaining: 8 of 259

Nigel Murray raised to 30,000 from the button, Dovid Goldfischer three-bet all in for about 270,000 from the big blind and Murray called.

Murray:
Goldfischer:

The board ran out , no help to Goldfischer, securing the pot for Murray and eliminating Goldfischer in ninth place.

Nigel Murray – 1,010,000
Dovid Goldfischer – Eliminated in 9th Place ($5,723)

$1,100 October Anniversary Special
$100,000 Guarantee | Structure | Payouts
Prize Pool: $251,230
Level 20: 6,000/12,000 with a 12,000 ante
Players Remaining: 9 of 259

A.J. Gambino raised from the hijack, Adil Khan three-bet all in for about 150,000 from the small blind and Gambino called.

Gambino:
Khan:

The board ran out , no help to Khan, securing the pot for Gambino and ending Khan’s tournament in 10th place.

A.J. Gambino – 825,000
Adil Khan – Eliminated in 10th Place ($5,723)

$1,100 October Anniversary Special
$100,000 Guarantee | Structure | Payouts
Prize Pool: $251,230
Level 19: 5,000/10,000 with a 10,000 ante
Players Remaining: 10 of 259

David Long raised to 25,000 from the hijack, A.J. Gambino three-bet to 75,000 from the small blind and Long called.

The flop was , Gambino checked, Long bet 125,000 and Gambino called.

The turn was the , Gambino checked, Long shoved for 195,000 and Gambino thought for a bit before he called.

Long:
Gambino:

Long trailed with a pair of tens and straight draw against Gambino’s pair of aces.

The river was the , further improving Gambino’s hand to trip aces to eliminate Long in 11th place.

A.J. Gambino – 710,000
David Long – Eliminated in 11th Place ($4,836)