2015 RRPO Live Updates

Event 2: Recap

2015 Seminole Hard Rock “Rock ‘N’ Roll Poker Open”
$250 Limit Omaha/8 (Re-Entry)

November 19, 2015

Total Entries:  72
Total Prize Pool: $15,120

Mitchell Smith, Event 2 Champion
Mitchell Smith, Event 2 Champion

Recap:

It wasn’t the first tournament of the Seminole Hard Rock “Rock ‘N’ Roll Poker Open” series but Event 2 crowned the first champ. It was an Omaha/8 tournament which played out in one-day with Mitchell Smith as the last player standing for the title and $3,251.

The tournament 72 entrants to the $250 buy-in event, a nice improvement over the same tournament last year. Several former champions were in the game, including Robert Campbell, but none were able to stick around until the final table.

They were never deep at the final table but the limit betting aspect and split pot possibilities kept them grinding away until every player was in the danger zone. Judith Green made the final table ten but fell short of making the money with nine getting paid.

There was some brief discussion about a nine-way deal but it was only talk. Three-time WSOP Circuit champ John Holley dropped out in 9th place for a min-cash and he was followed by Marc Levy, someone who really wanted the trophy.

Played slowed down once again with Jerry Kowalski trying to climb the payout ladder while wielding a micro-stack. He caught a couple small doubles but fell in 6th place. Michael Guardino would have liked to have improved on his runner-up finish in the 2015 Coco Poker Open Omaha/8 tournament but the best he could manage was 5th place.

Scott Sharp fell shortly after Guardino and the last three players chopped up the remaining prize pool evenly. Smith held the chip lead and was awarded the title along with the Seminole Hard Rock “Rock ‘N’ Roll Poker Open” trophy and custom-framed winner’s photo courtesy of Image Masters.

Results:

1st: Mitchell Smith (Palm Beach, FL) $3,251
2nd: Steven Gray (Conway, SC) $3,251
3rd: Joey Prosper (Miami, FL) $3,251
4th: Scott Sharp (Lauderhill, FL) $1,512
5th: Michael Guardino (West Haven, CT) $1,134
6th: Jerry Kowalski (Hollywood, FL) $907
7th: Leonard St. Germain (Southwest Ranches, FL) $756
8th: Marc Levy (Boynton Beach, FL) $605
9th: John Holley (Destin, FL) $454

Event 2: Mitchell Smith Wins Title After Deal

$250 Limit Omaha/8 (Re-Entry)
Level 20: 20,000/40,000 Limits

Mitchell Smith (Palm Beach, FL) is the Event 2 victor
Mitchell Smith (Palm Beach, FL) is the Event 2 victor

The three remaining players quickly made a deal to chop up the remaining prize pool after Scott Sharp was eliminated. They split the money equally three-ways with Mitchell Smith getting the title as the chipleader followed by Steven Gray and Joey Prosper.

Smith earned the same amount of money but will take home the sweet Seminole Hard Rock “Rock ‘N’ Roll Poker Open” trophy plus a framed winner’s print courtesy of Image Masters.

1st: Mitchell Smith (Palm Beach, FL) $3,251
2nd: Steven Gray (Conway, SC) $3,251
3rd: Joey Prosper (Miami, FL) $3,251
4th: Scott Sharp (Lauderhill, FL) $1,512
5th: Michael Guardino (West Haven, CT) $1,134
6th: Jerry Kowalski (Hollywood, FL) $907
7th: Leonard St. Germain (Southwest Ranches, FL) $756
8th: Marc Levy (Boynton Beach, FL) $605
9th: John Holley (Destin, FL) $454

Steven Gray (Conway, SC)
Steven Gray (Conway, SC)
Joey Prosper (Miami, FL)
Joey Prosper (Miami, FL)

Event 2: Scott Sharp – 4th Place ($1,512)

$250 Limit Omaha/8 (Re-Entry)
Level 20: 20,000/40,000 Limits

Scott Sharp (Lauderhill, FL)
Scott Sharp (Lauderhill, FL)

Scott Sharp’s survival hand against Michael Guardino and Joey Prosper only delayed his pain. He was still short and all-in soon after against both Brian Prosper and Mitchell Smith. The two bigger stacks checked down the Ah3c2cJdKc board and flipped their hands.

Prosper tabled a flush with QsJcTs7c and Smith showed his low winner As7s6h4d. It was a tough beat for Sharp after flopping a set with 4c3s3h2h and no good against the flush to drop out in 4th place for $1,512.

Event 2: Michael Guardino – 5th Place ($1,134)

$250 Limit Omaha/8 (Re-Entry)
Level 20: 20,000/40,000 Limits

Michael Guardino (West Haven, CT)
Michael Guardino (West Haven, CT)

Kowalski’s elimination was quickly followed by another big hand with a double all-in. Michael Guardino was the shortest player of the three involved with Scott Sharp also all-in. Both were covered by Joey Prosper.

Sharp: Ac9s4c3c
Guardino: KdKcJs9c
Prosper: AdTd6h5c

Guardino had to like his chances with two aces out but the board ran out Th7d4h5dQh to give Prosper the high and Sharp the low to stay alive. Guardino was the only one to miss a piece of the pot and took home $1,134 for 4th place.

Event 2: Jerry Kowalsky – 6th Place ($907)

$250 Limit Omaha/8 (Re-Entry)
Level 20: 20,000/40,000 Limits

Jerry Kowalski (Hollywood, FL)
Jerry Kowalski (Hollywood, FL)

Jerry Kowalski was a survival machine at the final table and he extended play as long as he could. He was under one big bet several times and managed multiple double/triple ups until the limits popped up once again.

They went 30 minutes without an elimination but he was down to 40,000 when put them in the middle with Ad9d7c2s from under the gun. The raise made it around to Steven Gray in the big blind and it was an easy call with Jh6s4h3d for a small bet.

The board ran out KhJs5dJd6h for the full house win and Kowalski was sent out in 6th place for $907.

Event 2: Leonard St. Germain – 7th Place ($756)

$250 Limit Omaha/8 (Re-Entry)
Level 18: 10,000/20,000 Limits

Leonard St. Germain (Southwest Ranches, FL)
Leonard St. Germain (Southwest Ranches, FL)

Michael Guardino raised it up and Leonard St. Germain had exactly enough to call the bet. Mitchell Smith came along in the big blind and the two live hands checked down the AsQd7h9dTs board.

Smith tabled Ac8c6c2c and it was good enough to get a muck from Guardino and St. Germain. Whatever he had, it wasn’t good enough and he was gone in 7th place for $756.

Event 2: Updated Counts

$250 Limit Omaha/8 (Re-Entry)
Level 18: 10,000/20,000 Limits

Players are back in their seats and can really see their status with only 5K chips in action.

Seat 1: Mitchell Smith – 125,000 (6 big bets)
Seat 2: Empty
Seat 3: Scott Sharp – 135,000 (7 big bets)
Seat 4: Empty
Seat 5: Michael Guardino – 65,000 (3 big bets)
Seat 6: Leonard St. Germain – 25,000 (1 big bets)
Seat 7: Joey Prosper – 190,000 (10 big bets)
Seat 8: Steven Gray – 95,000 (5 big bets)
Seat 9: Jerome Kowalsky – 65,000 (3 big bets)

Event 2: No Deal; Color Them Up

$250 Limit Omaha/8 (Re-Entry)
Level 17: 8,000/16,000 Limits

RRPO EV02 FT Seat 4 DSC_9140 John Holley
John Holley (Destin, FL) eliminated in 9th place

Players were unable to come to an agreement and play slowed down further as they continued to negotiate. While that was going down, triple WSOP Circuit winner John Holley went out in ninth and was quickly followed by Marc Levy.

The seven remaining players are on a 15-minute break and the 1K chips are colored off.

Marc Levy (Boynton Beach, FL)
Marc Levy (Boynton Beach, FL) eliminated in 8th place

Event 2: In the Money

$250 Limit Omaha/8 (Re-Entry)
Level 16: 6,000/12,000 Limits

Judith Green (Weston, FL) eliminated on the Event 2 money bubble
Judith Green (Weston, FL) eliminated on the Event 2 money bubble

It didn’t take long to get in the money after the stacks hit shallow status after the drawn out last two tables. John Holley was the first at risk but he doubled before Judith Green was sent out in 10th.

The rest of the players are in the money and they are discussing a deal. It shouldn’t take long to play it out or chop it up with the average stack sitting at 6 big bets and blinds ready to increase.

Event 2: Final Table and Money Bubble

$250 Limit Omaha/8 (Re-Entry)
Level 16: 6,000/12,000 Limits

RRPO EV02 Final Table_9152

The Omaha/8 tournament action slowed down as each table hit short-handed play. They moved into Level 16 as they lost the 11th player to form the final table.

There’s still a little business to settle with nine of them getting paid. Here’s the final table lineup and counts will be updated as they move along.

Seat 1: Mitchell Smith
Seat 2: Marc Levy
Seat 3: Scott Sharp
Seat 4: John Holley
Seat 5: Michael Guardino
Seat 6: Judith Green
Seat 7: Leonard St. Germain
Seat 8: Joey Prosper
Seat 9: Steven Gray
Seat 10: Jerome Kowalsky

1st: $4,536
2nd: $3,175
3rd: $2,041
4th: $1,512
5th: $1,134
6th: $907
7th: $756
8th: $605
9th: $454