Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open Championship (Freeze-Out)
Level 17: 4,000/8,000/1,000 Ante

Here are updated counts for many of the notables who are still in the field after the dinner break. With 100 players remaining, the average chip stack is about 272,000 (34 big blinds).

Marc Macdonnell  –  788,000
Ryan Rivers  –  711,000
James Gilbert  –  702,000
Jeffrey Griffiths  –  560,000
Karen Onheiser  –  552,000
Travell Thomas  –  527,000
Thomas Creel  –  510,000
Michel Bittan  –  483,000
Joseph Couden  –  480,000
Randy Pfeifer  –  480,000
David Diaz  –  480,000
Joe Kuether  –  450,000
Paul Volpe  –  450,000
Luis Santoni  –  440,000
David Paredes  –  425,000
Tom Marchese  –  405,000
Kunal Patel  –  380,000
Rick Alvarado  –  375,000
Joe Cheong  –  365,000
Thayer Rasmussen  –  345,000
Alberto Rodriguez  –  310,000
Michael Laake  –  305,000
Anthony Lombard  –  300,000
Ryan Van Sanford  –  295,000
Jose Gonzalez  –  290,000
Mike Linster  –  275,000
Phil Laak  –  270,000
Stuart Paterson  –  260,000
Anthony Zinno  –  255,000
Daniel Buzgon  –  250,000
Dan Colman  –  240,000
Vlad Mezheritsky  –  240,000
Ari Engel  –  230,000
Neil Blumenfield  –  220,000
Gordon Vayo  –  220,000
Asher Conniff  –  200,000
Eddy Sabat  –  195,000
Nancy Birnbaum  –  175,000
Ronnie Bardah  –  165,000
Ryan Tepen  –  155,000
Jimmy Tran  –  140,000
Dylan Wilkerson  –  140,000
Danny Shiff  –  130,000
Kane Kalas  –  120,000
Xuan Liu  –  120,000
Jeremy Kottler  –  115,000
Jeff Madsen  –  115,000
Andy Philachack  –  100,000
Brian Yoon  –  75,000
Bruce Kramer  –  50,000

Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open Championship (Freeze-Out)
Level 17: 4,000/8,000/1,000 Ante

The players are back from dinner in the Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open Main Event, and they return to blinds of 4,000-8,000 with a 1,000 ante for the start of Level 17.

Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open Championship (Freeze-Out)
Level 17: 4,000/8,000/1,000 Ante

There are exactly 100 players remaining at the dinner break, with an average chip stack around 272,000 (34 big blinds). There are seven players with at least 500,000 in chips:

1.  Marc Macdonnell  –  788,000  (99 bb)
2.  Ryan Rivers  –  711,000  (89 bb)
3.  James Gilbert  –  702,000  (88 bb)
4.  Jeffrey Griffiths  –  560,000  (70 bb)
5.  Karen Onheiser  –  552,000  (69 bb)
6.  Travell Thomas  –  527,000  (66 bb)
7.  Thomas Creel  –  510,000  (64 bb)

Dinner is scheduled to end at 7:30 pm, when the blinds will increase to 4,000-8,000 with a 1,000 ante.

Actress Sasha Baresse has been enjoying both the poker action and fun events running during the Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open this week in South Florida. We caught up with her during the player appreciation party last night and discussed what she enjoys about traveling to different poker events, and what she likes here at the Seminole Hard Rock.

On playing events at the Seminole Hard Rock: “I’m having an absolutely amazing time. This is my favorite venue outside of Vegas. It actually might even be my favorite venue in the country. The food is really good, the pool is really good, and the service is phenomenal. I like all of the people here. I’ve been successful the past times I’ve been here. It’s a great venue and it’s 20 minute away from the beach. The beach is beautiful, it’s close to Miami, everything about it is great.”

On her favorite dining options at the Seminole Hard Rock: “Council Oak is one of the best steakhouses I’ve ever been to and they are really fast, so if you’re playing in the tournament you can go there on your dinner break. If you tell them you’re in the tournament they will get you served and out there with extra time. I love the new restaurant Kuro. I went there tonight and last night and I had the wagyu tacos, which were phenomenal, and the Chilean sea bass, which was also good.”

On her plans for the rest of the SHRPO series: “I’m going to play the freezout tomorrow, the $2,500. Hopefully I won’t have to, but I might play the re-buy the following day. I might just take a pool day too.”

On taking her kids on the road: “If I do final table on Tuesday my family is going to fly out Tuesday morning, so my twins will be here. And the last time I was here they were in my belly. They have already been to Commerce and the WSOP, and they play on my lap when I play online.”

On her increased travel in the poker world: “This is a dream job. I literally wore my bathing suit under my poker clothes today, thinking If I get knocked out I’m going to the pool. I like traveling with all of my buddies.

Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open Championship (Freeze-Out)

The players are now on a 60-minute dinner break , and they will return at 7:30 p.m. There are 108 players remaining from the 907 that entered the Main Event.

Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open Championship (Freeze-Out)
Level 16: 3,000/6,000/1,000 Ante

Mike Linster was all in on the hijack with pocket jacks and his opponent held A-K. The final board read and Linster doubled up to survive with 288,000.