$3,500 WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Championship
Level 5: 150/250/50 Ante

DJ MacKinnon was not having much luck today but found a spot to get over a starting stack in front. He was in a three-way pot with the board reading and led out for 4,500 with ~7,500 in the pot.

The first opponent let his hand go but the 1-seat eventually put MacKinnon to an all-in test after asking how much he was playing behind. MacKinnon considered his two options and before calling for his stack.

It was the correct decision when his was outkicking and he dodged the three bad beat outs on the river to move up near 40,000 midway through Level 5.

The WSOP Circuit grinder has not had much luck on property but he has seven WSOP-C final table on his résumé. A final table run in the $5,000,000 guaranteed Championship would be a good way to change his fortunes here.

$3,500 WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Championship
Level 5: 150/300/50 Ante

We did a quick scan of the room and found four stacks sitting above the 100,000 chip mark with Oliver Gergely looking to hold the lead with 126,000 in chips. He’s followed closely by Zo Karim who has 120,000. Oleg Gaidouk rounds out the top three with 115,000 and Jeffrey Griffiths also has six figures with 105,000.

$3,500 WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Championship
Level 5: 150/300/50 Ante

Players are back in their seats and play is back underway. We are closing in a 500 entrants for the flight with two more levels and the 90-minute dinner break left to get in the game.

Didn’t realize I was playing the WPT championship here @shrpo #EmptyingTheClip #6Shooter

— matt berkey (@berkey11) April 18, 2015

30Kss…….14k…..26k……10k………35k……….9k…..just a little swingy today..@shrpo — ChristopherUnderwood (@cbunderwood) April 18, 2015

77 <AA in 3 bet pot on A73 vs ..bullet 4 now @shrpo @WPT #4thenati

— Bazeman (@JakeBazeley) April 18, 2015

$3,500 WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Championship
Level 4: 100/200/25 Ante

Players are on their second break of the day. They’ll be back in action in approximately 15 minutes.

$3,500 WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Championship
Level 4: 100/200/25 Ante

Players use different options to pass the time during the long grind of a poker tournament. A lot listen to music, some watch shows or movies on their mobile devices, and there are a few playing video games.

Mario Sanchez has decided to go “old school” and opted to use an actual book to fill the time.  Note for the younger generation, books are physical objects with paper pages containing the printed word.

Poker pro Ryan D’Angelo is sitting to his left using his brain to play chess on his device when he’s not in action at the table.

$3,500 WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Championship
Level 3: 75/150/25 Ante

Tyler Stafman was indeed the leader at the first break with Christopher Pierro not far behind. Local pro Tristan Wade is also among the leaders along with Seminole Hard Rock Poker ambassador “Sheddy” Siddiqui.

Notable counts:

Tyler Stafman – 92,125 (614 bb)
Christopher Pierro – 90,025 (600 bb)
Oliver Gergely – 83,175 (555 bb)
Devis Multa – 69,075 (461 bb)
Arthur Peacock – 68,475 (457 bb)
Tristan Wade – 65,775 (439 bb)
David Shmuel – 64,325 (429 bb)
“Sheddy” Siddiqui – 63,125 (421 bb)
Todd Whitaker – 62,500 (417 bb)
Scott Lushing – 61,475 (410 bb)
Ory Hen – 51,075 (341 bb)
Erik Cajelais – 45,575 (304 bb)
Ryan Riess – 37,000 (247 bb)
Matt Brady – 35,375 (236 bb)
Corey Burbick – 35,000 (233 bb)
Marsha Wolak – 34,825 (232 bb)
DJ MacKinnon – 28,800 (192 bb)
Aaron Massey – 26,000 (173 bb)
Abbey Daniels – 25,725 (172 bb)
Hans Winzeler – 23,950 (160 bb)
Jesse Martin – 23,875 (159 bb)
Paul Magriel – 23,650 (158 bb)
Loni Harwood – 23,550 (157 bb)
Nenad Medic – 23,275 (155 bb)
TK Miles – 20,200 (135 bb)
Micha Raskin – 16,775 (112 bb)

$3,500 WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Championship
Level 2: 75/150/25 Ante

Players are back in their seats and it looks like Tyler Stafman is our early front-runner. He’s more than tripled his stack to 92,125 at the break but plenty of time to catch him.

More counts coming shortly.

$3,500 WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Championship
Level 2: 75/150

Players are on their first break of the day as the field crosses over 400 entrants. Late registration ends at 8pm along with the last chance to get a piece of the $5,000,000 guaranteed prize pool.

$3,500 WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Championship
Level 2: 75/150

The number of entrants continues to climb for Day 1C and should hit 400 before the first break.

Loni Harwood, Tristan Wade, and TJ Shulman are a few new faces along with Matt Brady back for another shot after falling short during 1A. Esther Taylor-Brady, his better half, played yesterday and bagged chips to return tomorrow.

$3,500 WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Championship
Level 2: 75/150

Mike Sexton changed hats today after doing the “shuffle up and deal” honors once again. The WSOP bracelet winner plays in most of the WPT events before taking his seat in the commentary booth for the final table.

The WPT had to adjust their procedures twice in the past when the Hall of Famer went on to make the final table, taking a much bigger position in the spotlight for those events. He is looking to make it a third time this week.