Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open Championship (Freeze-Out)
Level 25: 25,000/50,000/5,000 Ante

Tim Seidensticker raised from the cutoff to 110,000, and Brian Phillis called from the big blind. Both players checked to the turn on a board of , Phillis bet 75,000, and Seidensticker called.

The river was the , Phillis checked, Seidensticker bet 75,000, and Phillis check-raised all in. Seidensticker tanked for a long time before he called all in for about 530,000.

Phillis showed for a flopped ace-high straight, and Seidensticker mucked as he was eliminated from the tournament. But tournament rules dictate that all-in hands must be shown, so the dealer flips over Seidensticker’s cards — for a pair of aces.

Brian Phillis  –  Chip Count to come
Tim Seidensticker  –  Eliminated in 11th Place  ($50,000)

This hand extended into the dinner break, so the players will redraw for random seats at the final table when they return. Action will continue tonight until one more player is eliminated.

Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open Championship (Freeze-Out)
Level 25: 25,000/50,000/5,000 Ante

Paul Volpe moved all in under the gun for 500,000, and Omar Zazay thought for a bit before he called from the big blind with . Volpe turned over , and he needed his hand to hold to stay alive.

The board came , and Volpe won the pot with trip kings to double up in chips.

Paul Volpe  –  1,055,000  (21 bb)
Omar Zazay  –  2,420,000  (48 bb)

Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open Championship (Freeze-Out)
Level 25: 25,000/50,000/5,000 Ante

Paul Volpe raised under the gun to 105,000, and Omara Zazay called from the big blind.

The flop came , Zazay checked, Volpe bet 60,000, and Zazay called.

The turn was the , Zazay checked, Volpe bet 140,000, and Zazay called.

The river was the , Zazay checked, and Volpe bet 350,000 — leaving himself 500,000 behind. Zazay moved all in for 1,135,000, and Volpe went into the tank.

After some time in the tank, Volpe said, “Do you really have the nine of spades?” Zazay didn’t move, and he didn’t respond. Volpe thought a little longer and then said, “Crazy. So crazy. I don’t think this has ever happened to me.”

After some more time in the tank, Volpe asked, “Show me if I fold?” As he had the entire time, Zazay didn’t move, and he didn’t respond.

Volpe began talking himself thru the hand. “Once you call the turn, you either have king, queen, or nine of spades.” Volpe talked thru one or two more scenarios before he folded face up (ace-high flush), and Zazay took the pot.

Omar Zazay  –  2,850,000  (57 bb)
Paul Volpe  –  500,000  (10 bb)

As the dealer pushed the pot to Zazay, Volpe offered to pay to see Zazay’s cards. Volpe pulled out his wallet and offered $40. Zazay countered with $100, and Volpe offered $60. Zazay asked for $80, and Volpe agreed to the deal.

Zazay showed for the rivered jack-high straight flush, and Volpe paid him $80.

Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open Championship (Freeze-Out)
Level 25: 25,000/50,000/5,000 Ante

Dan Colman raised under the gun to 115,000, Marc Macdonnell moved all in from the button for 605,000, and Brian Phillis thought for a while before calling from the small blind. Colman folded.

Macdonnell turned over , and he needed to improve to stay alive against the of Phillis.

The board came , and the pocket jacks held up for Phillis to win the pot and eliminate Macdonnell from the tournament.

Brian Phillis  –  2,835,000  (57 bb)
Marc Macdonnell  –  Eliminated in 12th Place  ($50,000)

Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open Championship (Freeze-Out)
Level 25: 25,000/50,000/5,000 Ante

John Spadavecchia was all in from the cutoff for 375,000 with , and he needed his hand to hold to stay alive against the of defending SHRPO Champion Dan Colman (UTG+1).

The board came , and Colman paired his ten on the river to win the pot and eliminate Spadavecchia from the tournament.

Dan Colman  –  3,550,000  (71 bb)
John Spadavecchia  –  Eliminated in 13th Place  ($40,000)

Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open Championship (Freeze-Out)
Level 25: 25,000/50,000/5,000 Ante

Tim Seidensticker moved all in UTG+1 for 305,000, and Randy Pfeifer called from the big blind with . Seidensticker turned over , and he needed to improve to stay alive.

The board came , and Seidensticker paired his ten on the turn to win the pot and double up in chips.

Tim Seidensticker  –  670,000  (13 bb)
Randy Pfeifer  –  7,575,000  (152 bb)

After the hand, Pfeifer said, “I don’t mind you doubling up, but could you please pick on somebody besides me for a change?”

A couple minutes later, Dan Colman raised UTG+1 to 105,000, Tim Seidensticker moved all in from the hijack for 565,000, and Colman called with . Seidensticker turned over , and he needed to improve to stay alive.

The board came , and Seidensticker paired his king on the flop to win the pot and double up in chips — again.

Tim Seidensticker  –  1,240,000  (25 bb)
Dan Colman  –  2,930,000  (59 bb)

Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open Championship (Freeze-Out)
Level 25: 25,000/50,000/5,000 Ante

Paul Volpe raised UTG+1 to 110,000, Gordon Vayo reraised from the hijack to 250,000, and Larry Moccia moved all in from the cutoff for a little less than 1.2 million. It was the third straight hand where Moccia had moved all in preflop.

Volpe folded, and Vayo tanked for a while before he folded as well. Moccia took the pot.

Larry Moccia  –  1,645,000  (33 bb)

Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open Championship (Freeze-Out)
Level 25: 25,000/50,000/5,000 Ante

David Jackson min-raised from the button to 100,000, chipleader Randy Pfeifer reraised from the small blind to 375,000, and Jackson moved all in for about 1.1 or 1.2 million.

Pfeifer snap-called with , and Jackson turned over . Jackson needed to improve to stay alive.

The board came , and the pocket jacks held up for Pfeifer to win the pot and eliminate Jackson from the tournament.

Randy Pfeifer  –  6,650,000  (133 bb)
David Jackson  –  Eliminated in 15th Place  ($40,000)

With 14 players remaining, the average chip stack is about 1.94 million (39 big blinds).

Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open Championship (Freeze-Out)
Level 25: 25,000/50,000/5,000 Ante

Randy Pfeifer raised UTG+1, John Spadavecchia moved all in from the cutoff for 435,000, and Pfeifer called with . Spadavecchia turned over , and he needed to improve to stay alive.

The board came , and Spadavecchia paired his queen on the flop to win the pot and double up in chips.

John Spadavecchia  –  985,000  (20 bb)
Randy Pfeifer  –  5,425,000  (109 bb)

Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open Championship (Freeze-Out)
Level 25: 25,000/50,000/5,000 Ante

Michel Bittan came back from the break with just three big blinds, and he was just eliminated in 16th place.

Michel Bittan  –  Eliminated in 16th Place  ($35,000)

With 15 players remaining, the average chip stack is about 1.8 million (36 big blinds).