2015 RRPO Live Updates

Event 7: John Holley Wins!

$350 No Limit Hold’em 6-Max (Single Re-Entry)
Level 21:  5,000/10,000/1,000 Ante

John Holley
Event 7 Champion John Holley

Shortly after the blinds increased to 5,000-10,000 with a 1,000 ante, John Holley and Engelberth Varela got it all in after a flop of 10c7d2h.

Holley was the shorter stack, all in for 148,000 with 8s7s for a pair of sevens. Varela had 8c2c for a pair of deuces, and Holley needed his hand to hold to stay alive.

The turn was the 4d, the river was the 10s, and Holley won the pot with his pair of sevens to double back into the chip lead.

John Holley  –  351,000  (44 bb)
Engelberth Varela  –  169,000  (21 bb)

It was only a few minutes later that Holley limped from the button for 10,000, Varela moved all in, and Holley snap-called with 10h10d. Varela turned over AdQs, and he needed to improve to stay alive.

The board came Jh10s9h3cQd — Varela flopped an open-ended straight draw, but never caught up to Holley’s flopped set of tens. Varela was eliminated, finishing as the runner-up in second place.

Engelberth Varela  –  Eliminated in 2nd Place  ($3,588)

With that pot, John Holley won the title, the Seminole Hard Rock “Rock ‘n’ Roll Poker Open” trophy, and a custom-framed winner’s photo courtesy of Image Masters.

Congratulations to John Holley!

1st:  John Holley  –  $5,304
2nd:  Engelberth Varela  –  $3,588
3rd:  Sean Siegenthaler  –  $2,340
4th:  Lou Stadler  –  $1,872
5th:  Alain Rodriguez  –  $1,404
6th:  Brandon Berkenfeld  –  $1,092

Event 7: Four Back-and-Forth Chip Leads

$350 No Limit Hold’em 6-Max (Single Re-Entry)
Level 20:  4,000/8,000/1,000 Ante

John Holley
John Holley stares down Engelberth Varela.

After the blinds increased to 4,000-8,000 with a 1,000 ante. John Holley raised from the button to 20,000, Engelberth Varela moved all in for 198,000, and Holley called with Qh9h. Varela turned over AhJh, and he needed his hand to hold to stay alive.

The board came AsKh2d6d8c, and Varela paired his ace on the flop to win the pot and double up in chips.

Engelberth Varela  –  398,000  (50 bb)
John Holley  –  122,000  (15 bb)

A short while later, Varela moved all in from the button, and Holley called all in for 114,000 with Kh8h. Varela turned over 3h3d, and Holley needed to improve to stay alive.

The board came 10s8d4dKdKs, and Holley paired his eight on the flop, turned two pair, and rivered a full house to win the pot and double up in chips.

Engelberth Varela  –  290,000  (36 bb)
John Holley  –  230,000  (29 bb)

The next big hand had Holley all in for 175,000 with QsQd, and he needed his hand to hold to stay alive against Varela’s 9s9c.

The board came 10c6h4dJs3c, and the pocket queens held up for Holley to win the pot and double back into the chip lead.

Engelberth Varela  –  168,000  (21 bb)
John Holley  –  352,000  (44 bb)

Varela dropped a bit from there before getting it all in for 136,000 with AsKs, and he was a dominating favorite against Holley’s Ad10d.

The board came 10c9c7cKdQs — Holley paired his ten on the flop, but Varela paired his king on the turn to stay alive and double up in chips.

Engelberth Varela  –  274,000  (34 bb)
John Holley  –  246,000  (31 bb)

With that, the two players were nearly even in chips.

Event 7: Sean Siegenthaler Out in 3rd ($2,340)

$350 No Limit Hold’em 6-Max (Single Re-Entry)
Level 19:  3,000/6,000/1,000 Ante

Sean Siegenthaler
3rd-Place Finisher Sean Siegenthaler

John Holley raised from the button to 16,000, Sean Siegenthaler moved all in from the small bind for 63,000, and Holley called with Kd8d. Siegenthaler turned over 2s2h, and needed his hand to hold to stay alive.

The board came 10s10h3d8c9h, and Holley paired his eight on the turn to win the pot and eliminate Siegenthaler in third place.

Sean Siegenthaler  –  Eliminated in 3rd Place  ($2,340)

And these were the chip counts at the start of heads-up play, along with the prizepool:

Engelberth Varela  –  195,000  (33 bb)
John Holley  –  325,000  (54 bb)

1st:  $5,304
2nd:  $3,588

3rd:  Sean Siegenthaler  –  $2,340
4th:  Lou Stadler  –  $1,872
5th:  Alain Rodriguez  –  $1,404
6th:  Brandon Berkenfeld  –  $1,092

Event 7: Two Double-Ups for Engelberth Valera

$350 No Limit Hold’em 6-Max (Single Re-Entry)
Level 19: 3,000/6,000/1,000 Ante

Engelberth Varela
Engelberth Varela

When Level 18 came to an end, there was a short break to color up the 500 chips, and these were the official chip counts:

Seat 2.  Engelberth Varela  –  61,000  (10 bb)
Seat 3.  John Holley  –  335,000  (56 bb)
Seat 4.  Sean Siegenthaler  –  124,000  (21 bb)

Shortly after play resumed, Sean Siegenthaler raised form the small blind to 13,000, Engelberth Valera moved all in from the big blind for 45,000, and Siegenthaler called with 5s5c. Valera turned over Ah7d, and he needed to improve to stay alive.

The board came Ad8s3cQh10h, and Valera paired his ace on the flop to win the pot and double up in chips.

Seat 2.  Engelberth Varela  –  93,000  (16 bb)
Seat 3.  John Holley  –  320,000  (53 bb)
Seat 4.  Sean Siegenthaler  –  105,000  (18 bb)

Not long after that, Valera moved all in from the small blind for 98,000, and John Holley called from the big blind with 7d7c. Valera turned over QdJs, and needed to improve to stay alive.

The board came 8s3h2cJhAd, and Valera paired his jack on the turn to win the pot and double up in chips.

Seat 2.  Engelberth Varela  –  199,000  (33 bb)
Seat 3.  John Holley  –  255,000  (43 bb)
Seat 4.  Sean Siegenthaler  –  65,000  (11 bb)

Event 7: Lou Stadler Out in 4th Place ($1,872)

$350 No Limit Hold’em 6-Max (Single Re-Entry)
Level 18:  2,500/5,000/500 Ante

Lou Stadler
4th-Place Finisher Lou Stadler

John Holley raised from the button to 12,500, Sean Siegenthaler called from the small blind, and Lou Stadler moved all in from the big blind for about 125,000. Holley moved all in over the top, and Siegenthaler folded.

Stadler turned over AsKd, and he’d need to improve to stay alive against Holley’s KhKc.

The board came JsJh2c6d9h, and the pocket kings held up for Holley to win the pot and eliminate Stadler from the tournament.

Lou Stadler  –  Eliminated in 4th Place  ($1,872)

Here are the approximate chip counts at the start of three-handed play:

Seat 2.  Engelberth Varela  –  65,000  (13 bb)
Seat 3.  John Holley  –  315,000  (63 bb)
Seat 4.  Sean Siegenthaler  –  145,000  (29 bb)

Event 7: Alain Rodriguez Out in 5th ($1,404)

$350 No Limit Hold’em 6-Max (Single Re-Entry)
Level 18:  2,500/5,000/500 Ante

Alain Rodriguez
5th-Place Finisher Alain Rodriguez

The next hand after the elimination of Brandon Berkenfeld, Alain Rodriguez moved his short stack all in from the small blind with Ac9d, and he needed his hand to hold to stay alive against the 5h2h or Engelberth Valera in the big blind.

The board came Ah5s5c4c8s — Rodriguez paired his ace on the flop, but it was overshadowed by Valera’s trip fives. Valera won the pot to eliminate Rodriguez in fifth place.

Alain Rodriguez  –  Eliminated in 5th Place  ($1,404)

Here are the approximate chip counts for the final four players, along with the remaining prizepool.

Seat 2.  Engelberth Varela  –  82,000  (16 bb)
Seat 3.  John Holley  –  210,000  (42 bb)
Seat 4.  Sean Siegenthaler  –  120,000  (24 bb)
Seat 5.  Lou Stadler  –  108,000  (22 bb)

1st:  $5,304
2nd:  $3,588
3rd:  $2,340
4th:  $1,872

Event 7: Brandon Berkenfeld Out in 6th ($1,092)

$350 No Limit Hold’em 6-Max (Single Re-Entry)
Level 18:  2,500/5,000/500 Ante

Brandon Berkenfeld
6th-Place Finisher Brandon Berkenfeld

At the last break, Brandon Berkenfeld was the chipleader, but his momentum shifted and he found himself as one of the short stacks.

Berkenfeld got it all in under the gun for 23,000 against Engelberth Valera (cutoff) and John Holley (button). Valera and Holley checked the dry side pot down to the river on a board of KhQh3dJd5c. Valera checked, Holley bet 10,000, and Valera folded.

Berkenfeld showed Jh7h — he flopped a flush draw and turned a pair of jacks. But Holley turned over Ad10d to win the pot with an ace-high straight, eliminating Berkenfeld in sixth place.

Brandon Berkenfeld  –  Eliminated in 6th Place  ($1,092)

With five players remaining, the average chip stack is about 104,000 (21 big blinds), and the players are all guaranteed at least $1,872 each.

Event 7: Engelberth Varela Doubles Thru Sean Siegenthaler

$350 No Limit Hold’em 6-Max (Single Re-Entry)
Level 16:  1,500/3,000/500 Ante

Engelberth Varela
Engelberth Varela

Engelberth Valera got it all in preflop for 54,000 with QhQc, and he needs his hand to hold to stay alive against the JsJc of Sean Siegenthaler.

The board came 9c8c8d7cQd — Siegenthaler turned a gutshot straight draw, but improved no further. Valera doubled up in chips.

Engelberth Valera  –  114,000  (38 bb)
Sean Siegenthler  –  74,000  (25 bb)

With six players remaining, the average chip stack is about 87,000 (29 big blinds).

Event 7: Final Six Chip Counts

$350 No Limit Hold’em 6-Max (Single Re-Entry)
Level 16:  1,500/3,000/500 Ante

Brandon Berkenfeld
Chipleader Brandon Berkenfeld

When Level 15 comes to an end, there is a color-up as the players take a 10-minute break. Here are the official chip counts, followed by the prizepool:

Seat 1.  Alain Rodriguez  –  30,000  (10 bb)
Seat 2.  Engelberth Varela  –  72,500  (24 bb)
Seat 3.  John Holley  –  106,000  (35 bb)
Seat 4.  Sean Siegenthaler  –  118,500  (40 bb)
Seat 5.  Lou Stadler  –  67,500  (23 bb)
Seat 6.  Brandon Berkenfeld  –  128,500  (43 bb)

1st:  $5,304
2nd:  $3,588
3rd:  $2,340
4th:  $1,872
5th:  $1,404
6th:  $1,092

Event 7: Kyle Taddei Bubbles in 7th Place

$350 No Limit Hold’em 6-Max (Single Re-Entry)
Level 15: 1,200/2,400/400 Ante

Kyle Taddei
Kyle Taddei was the unfortunate bubble finisher.

After a flop of 9d4d2h, Brandon Berkenfeld bets under the gun, Kyle Taddei moves all in from the button for about 50,000, and Berkenfeld calls with a similar stack with KsKd. Taddei turns over 8-8, and he needs to improve to stay alive.

The turn is the Js, the river is the 10h, and Berkenfeld wins the pot with his pocket kings. When the chip stacks are counted down, Taddei has Berkenfeld covered by just 3,900 in chips.

Kyle Taddei  –  3,900  (1.6 bb)

The next hand, Taddei moves all in from the cutoff for 3,500, Lou Stadler calls from the small blind, and Berkenfeld calls from the big blind. Both players check the dry side pot down all the way on a board of Ks9c2c7s6s, and Taddei turns over a surprisingly strong hand — 2s2d for a set of deuces.

Berkenfeld shows Jc2h for a pair of deuces, but Stadler turns over 10c8c for a rivered ten-high straight to win the pot. Taddei is eliminated on the Money Bubble in seventh place, and he collects a small consolation prize that the final seven players had collected for whoever finished on the bubble.

Kyle Taddei  –  Eliminated

The remaining six players have an average chip stack of nearly 87,000 (36 big blinds), and they are all guaranteed at least $1,092 each.