$570 No Limit Hold’em Deep Stack Re-Entry
Level 5: 150/300 with a 50 ante
Flight 1D Entries: 373

The players from Day 1D have returned from break and level 5 has begun.

At the outset of the level, it is the 2007 World Series of Poker Main Event winner Jerry Yang who is leading the field of 373. Yang starts the level with 65,800 and has more than triple his original starting stack.

Yang won $8.25 million for his momentous victory nine years ago, but has been largely absent from the tournament trail over the last several years due to business ventures. He made his first appearance in the South Florida poker scene for this series and is off to a good start.

Here is a look at the top five chip counts:

1. Jerry Yang – 65,800
2. Daniel Ramirez – 64,624
3. Alejandro Duque – 63,050
4. Stewart Newman – 56,300
5. Brandon Byars – 52,450

2016 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Hollywood
Event #10
$250 Seniors No Limit Hold’em
Total Entries: 161
Prizepool: $33,810

Federico Castaing already has a long list of accomplishments in the sport of equestrian and is on the right track to putting together a successful poker career as well.

Castaing took down the $250 Seniors No Limit Hold’em event in the early hours of Friday morning. He bested a field of 161 players to earn the trophy and $9,804.

“It’s my first tournament in America,” said the 55-year-old Argentina native after his win. “I play all the tournaments in South America. There are good players down there and I am learning.”

Castaing’s win in the Seniors event nearly doubles his career tournament earnings, but he already has put together quite a career in the equestrian world.

He was a professional rider for most of his adult life and was on Argentina’s national team in the 1996 Olympic games in Atlanta and earned a silver medal in the Pan-Am games.

Once his riding career was over, Castaing stayed in the equestrian world as a trainer. His nickname on the South American tournament circuit is “The Rider.”

“I’m a trainer of horse jumpers,” said Castaing. “I train horses and people. I used to be a rider and then I got old.”

Castaing flew to Florida as his first stop on an American poker vacation. He left his hometown of Buenos Aires to come to South Florida and play a few tournaments before heading to Las Vegas for the first time.

After playing poker for 30 years and Texas Hold’em for the last seven, Castaing decided it was time to make a trip to the center of the poker world.

“I go to Vegas and play some tournaments and just to vacation. I heard Vegas is a good place,” said Castaing. “I’m going to try it.”

Castaing came into the final table as one of the shorter stacks, but was able to skillfully maneuver his chips and run it up to one of the bigger stacks. With four players left, Castaing almost had half of the chips in play.

There was some talk about a four-handed chop, but it was Castaing who put a stop to those talks and forced the tournament to play out. It worked out for him, earning his first career tournament win and putting some extra cash in his pocket before heading to Vegas.

Here is a look at the final table results:

1st: Federico Castaing – $9,804
2nd: David Hixson – $5,784
3rd: Jay Klitzner – $3,381
4th: Robert Transue – $2,705
5th: Martin Robbins – $2,029
6th: Lisa Teebagy – $1,691
7th: Joe Trudden – $1,352
8th: Mike Parekh – $1,014
9th: Glenn Menne – $761

Seniors Event Final Results

$570 No Limit Hold’em Deep Stack Re-Entry
Level 14: 1,200/2,400 with a 400 ante
Flight 1B Entrants: 334
Players Remaining: 58

After 14 levels of play, Day 1B of the $570 No Limit Hold’em Deep Stack Re-Entry event is in the books and Joshua Hood leads the field.

Hood bagged a massive chip lead to lead the remaining 58 players after finishing the day with 389,500 in chips. Joining Hood at the top of the 1B counts are Joe Marchese, Derek Encenarro and Raminder Singh with 225,500, 210,000 and 203,500 in chip, respectively.

Other notables to make it through the day include Mukul Pahuja, David Diaz, Wendy Freedman, Erik Christensen, Ryan Dunn, John Dolan and Hans Winzeler.

By the time late registration closed, there were 334 entries in the field. Combined with the 379 in Day 1A, there are currently 713 entrants with another four starting flights left to be played. The survivors of both flights today will come back on Sunday at 1 p.m. to play Day 2 of this event.

Day 1C and 1D get underway on Friday. SHRPO.com will have coverage of the action.

$250 Seniors No Limit Hold’em
Level:23: 8,000/16,000 with a 2,000 ante
Players Remaining: 1/161

Federico Castaing moved all in on the button and David Hixson called out of the big blind. Hixson is all in for about 150,000 and shows , up against Castaing’s .

The flop was and Castaing took the lead. The turn was the and the river was the to give Castaing trips, the title and the first place prize money of $9,804.

Hixson finished in second place and takes home $5,784 for his runner-up finish in the seniors event.

Federico Castaing – Seniors Event Champion
David Hixson – Eliminated

$250 Seniors No Limit Hold’em
Level:23: 8,000/16,000 with a 2,000 ante
Players Remaining: 2/161
Average Stack: 805,000

Federico Castaing raised to 55,000 on the button and David Hixson defended his big blind. The flop was and both players checked to see the fall on the turn.

Hixson checked and Castaing bet 35,000. Hixson called and the river was the . Hixson checked and Castaing bet 111,000. Hixson called.

Castaing showed and won the pot against Hixson’s . Castaing takes the pot and leaves Hixson very short.

Federico Castaing – 1,670,000
David Hixson – 140,000

$250 Seniors No Limit Hold’em
Level:24: 10,000/20,000 with a 3,000 ante
Players Remaining: 2/161
Average Stack: 805,000

David Hixson moved all in for 236,000 and Federico Castaing called. Hixson showed and was in the lead against Castaing’s .

The board ran out and Hixson made quads to double up.

David Hixson – 476,000
Federico Castaing – 1,350,000

$250 Seniors No Limit Hold’em
Level:23: 8,000/16,000 with a 2,000 ante
Players Remaining: 2/161
Average Stack: 805,000

Federico Castaing limped in from the small blind and Jay Klitzner checked his option from the big blind. The flop was and Castaing checked. Klitzner moved all in for about 100,000 and Castaing snap-called.

Klitzner showed , good for top pair, but was drawing to runners against Castaing’s , giving him the nut straight.

The turn was the and the river was the to send Klitzner home in third. He earned $3,381 for his run and leaves Castaing heads-up with David Hixson for the title.

Federico Castaing – 1,350,000
Jay Klitzner – Eliminated

$250 Seniors No Limit Hold’em
Level:23: 8,000/16,000 with a 2,000 ante
Players Remaining: 3/161
Average Stack: 536,667

David Hixson raised to 50,000 on the button and Federico Castaing moved all in from the small blind. Hixson called and the cards were tabled.

Hixson showed and was dominated by Castaing’s . The flop was , keeping Castaing in the lead, but the came on the turn, giving Hixson the best hand and the nut flush draw.

The river was the and Hixson doubled up with the nut flush. The dealer broke down Hixson’s stack and verified that he was all in for 141,000.

David Hixson – 298,000
Federico Castaing – 1,090,000