2016 Showdown Live Updates

Event 16: Prizepool and Payouts

$300 Jason Taylor Foundation Charity Event
Level 12: 1,000/2,000 with a 300 ante
Players Remaining: 36 of 124

The 124 entries for this event have raised $17,360 for the Jason Taylor Foundation, putting the same amount for the prizepool, as well. The prizepool will be shared by the final 18 players thusly:

1st: $5,035
2nd: $2,951
3rd: $1,736
4th: $1,389
5th: $1,042
6th: $868
7th: $694
8th: $521
9th: $391
10th-12th: $347
13th-15th: $304
16th-18th: $260

In addition, the following prizes are added for those who make the final table:

1st: $3,500 WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Championship Seat
2nd: Hard Rock Resort Package (Mexico or other destination)
3rd: Party Like a Rock Star Basket – Beach Boys
4th: Party Like a Rock Star Basket – Hendrix Experience
5th: Party Like a Rock Star Basket – War
6th: Party Like a Rock Star Basket – Alonzo Mourning
7th: Hard Rock Goodie Basket & Hotel Experience
8th: Monster Headphones
9th: WPT Chip Set

Event 16: Registration Closed

$300 Jason Taylor Foundation Charity Event
Level 9: 500/1,000 with a 100 ante
Entries: 124

Registration is closed for this charity event with 124 entries on the board. The numbers are still being finalized by the tournament staff, but it looks like more than $17,000 will have been raised for the Jason Taylor Foundation from the prizepool alone.

The prizepool and the list of silent auction winner will be published shortly.

Event 16: WPT Family Playing For Charity

$300 Jason Taylor Foundation Charity Event
Level 8: 400/800 with a 100 ante
Entries: 119

This event is being run cooperatively between the WPT Foundation and the Jason Taylor Foundation, and the WPT family has come out in support this evening.

Matt Savage
Matt Savage – WPT Executive Tour Director
Mike Sexton
Mike Sexton – WPT commentator
Vince Van Patten
Vince Van Patten – WPT commentator

In addition to the staff and talent, there are a couple WPT Champions Club members in the house, as well.

Dylan Wilkerson
Dylan Wilkerson – 2014 WPT Emperors Palace Poker Classic
Amir Babakhani
Amir Babakhani – 2013 WPT Canadian Spring Championship

Event 16: Faces in the Crowd

$300 Jason Taylor Foundation Charity Event
Level 4: 100/200 with a 25 ante
Entries: 95

Jason Taylor
Jason Taylor

Level 4 begins, and the field has grown to nearly 100 entries. Apart from the man of the hour, Jason Taylor, a number of other sports celebrities are in the house this evening.

ESPN personalities Israel Gutierrez and Dan LeBetard both turned up to show their support for Taylor and his cause.

Israel Gutierrez
Israel Gutierrez
Dan LeBatard
Dan LeBatard

As much fun as the celebs are having, the poker pros seem to be enjoying this event as much as anyone.

Matt Stout
Matt Stout
Chance Kornuth
Chance Kornuth

Event 16: Shuffle Up and Deal

$300 Jason Taylor Foundation Charity Event
Level 1: 25/50
Entries: 72

It’s an exciting night at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood. The World Poker Tour and the Jason Taylor Foundation are hosting this $300 charity event, featuring more than $10,000 in added prizes.

According to their website, Taylor’s Foundation was created “to support and create programs that facilitate the personal growth and empowerment of South Florida’s children in need by focusing on improved health care, education and quality of life.”

Taylor, a former NFL player, was given the starting honors, first taking to the mic to thank the players for turning up in support of his foundation. He also thanked Seminole Hard Rock for their help in organizing this, as well as the WPT for sending talent in support of this event.

“Have a good time tonight,” Taylor said. “I don’t know the rules, but I know you can rebuy for a few hours. So, if you get knocked out, rebuy so we can get more money for the foundation. I [don’t][care] if you win or not, but we do want the money,” he laughed.

The beverages and the laughter are flowing in equal measure this evening, and it figures to be a good time in the ballroom.

Here are the vitals for this event:

  • Players begin with 10,000 in tournament chips
  • Levels are 15 minutes apiece
  • Registration and unlimited re-entry are available until the start of Level 9
  • $140 of each buy-in goes directly to the prizepool
  • $140 of each buy-in goes to the charity benefitting the WPT Foundation and the Jason Taylor Foundation

Event 16: Exclusive Player’s Party

$300 Jason Taylor Foundation Charity Event

Before the action was underway in the Jason Taylor Foundation/WPT Foundation Charity Event, Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood Hotel & Casino held an Exclusive Player’s Party in the beautiful L Bar.

The party was attended by top poker players, fans, and those who just wanted to join in the poker fun for a great cause. The event included passed hors-d’oeuvre and free cocktails from the creative minds behind the L Bar drink menu.

In addition to the prizes offered up for the tournament, there was a silent auction with more than $9,000 in items up for bid including a round of golf for three with Jason Taylor.

The party was fun, but it was soon time to move everyone to the ballroom to raise a lot of money for a fantastic cause, troubled youth programs

2016 Showdown Charity event player's party-11
Jason Taylor joins Matt Savage, Mike Sexton, and Vince Van Patten on the red carpet
2016 Showdown Charity event player's party-2
The Exclusive Player’s Party included a silent auction
2016 Showdown Charity event player's party-10
Seminole Hard Rock Poker Team Members Stewart Newmand and Jessica Dawley
2016 Showdown Charity event player's party-9
Seminole Hard Rock Tampa ambassador Wally Maddah and Seminole Immokalee Poker Challenge Champion Herbert Woodbery
2016 Showdown Charity event player's party-8
Tatjana Pasalic with WPT Royal Flush girls Ivy Teves and Raysa Peres
2016 Showdown Charity event player's party-4
The Exclusive Player’s party had great food…
2016 Showdown Charity event player's party-3
…and cocktails
2016 Showdown Charity event player's party-7
Drinks were served by the great L Bar staff

Jason Taylor Foundation/WPT Foundation Charity Event

Charity-Tour-Thumb

Tournament Flyer | Tournament Structure Sheet

The Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood Hotel & Casino is proud to team up with the Jason Taylor Foundation and WPT Foundation to host a charity event to benefit South Florida youth.

The $300 buy-in charity tournament features more than $10,000 in prizes in addition to the cash prize pool including a seat in the $2,000,000 Guarantee WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Championship. The tournament kicks off at 7pm but the fun starts at 5pm with an Exclusive Player party at L Bar with complimentary cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.

Besides the prizes added to the tournament, there will also be a silent auction with items that include a Jason Taylor golf outing for three and a WPT Tournament of Champions VIP Experience.

This is sure to be a fun evening for a great cause.

Added Tournament Prizes:
1st: $3,500 WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Championship Seat*
2nd: Hard Rock Resort Package (Mexico or other destination)*
3rd: Party Like a Rock Star Basket – Beach Boys*
4th: Party Like a Rock Star Basket – Hendrix Experience*
5th: Party Like a Rock Star Basket – War*
6th: Party Like a Rock Star Basket – Alonzo Mourning*
7th: Hard Rock Goodie Basket & Hotel Experience*
8th: Monster Headphones
9th: WPT Chip Set
* – Details below

Silent Auction Items:

  • Jason Taylor golf outing for three
  • Signed Jason Taylor game-worn cleats
  • WPT Tournament of Champions VIP Experience – Prime seats with Royal Flush Girls for WPT TOC filming April 24th / Back Stage Pass
  • Millenium Laser Eye Center gift card for LASIK procedure
  • Hard Rock / WPT Celebrity Experience – Dinner for 2 at Kuro/Council Oak with WPT celebrities Mike Sexton & Vince Van Patten
  • Peyton Manning autographed collectors piece
  • Framed replica scorecard from 1986 Masters Tounament – Autographed by tournament champion Jack Nicklaus
  • Framed jersey for the movie Slapshot – Signed by the Hanson Brothers
  • Kenneth Cole Reaction “Renegade” 20-inc wheeled upright bag
  • Hard Rock Men’s Spa Package – Seminole Hard Rock Bathrobe, Soy Delicious Tobacco Road Candle, Naturopathica Sweet Birch Deep Muscle Rub, Jimmy Choo Man Cologne and $100 Spa Gift Card
  • Hard Rock Women’s Spa Package – Seminole Hard Rock Bathrobe, Soy Delicious Lotus Candle, Naturopathica Sweet Birch Magnesium Bath Flakes and Lemongrass Mimosa Body Scrub, $100 Spa Gift Card
  • Hard Rock Good Basket – Hard Rock Branded: Poker Set, Waterford Crystal Irish Lace Tumblers, Bottle of Jack Daniels, 2 T-Shirts, Hard Rock BLK Leather Travel Bags.
  • Liquor Basket – 1 bottle each; Jack Daniels, Grey Goose, and St. Pete Rum
  • Liquor Basket – 1 bottle each; Jack Daniels, Grey Goose, and St. Pete Rum

Continue reading Jason Taylor Foundation/WPT Foundation Charity Event