$3,500 WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Championship
Level 33: 100,000/200,000/25,000 Ante

Griffin Paul opened to 400,000 and Shawn Nguyen  called out of the blinds. The flop came and Nguyen check-called a bet of 425,000 from Paul.

The turn was the and Nguyen again check-called a bet from Paul, this time for 975,000. The dealer put out the on the river and Nguyen checked a third time. Paul moved all in for an effective 4.15 million and Nguyen would tank for two minutes before letting his hand go.

$3,500 WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Championship
Level 32: 75,000/150,000/25,000 Ante

With three players light on chips, it was a matter of time before someone finally was dropped from this final table and Ryan Rivers was the first to fall.

Rivers fired out his stack of 1,525,000 and was called by Joe Ebanks. And when the cards were turned over, Rivers was in dominated and in big trouble.

Rivers:
Ebanks:

After a flop of , the crowd sensed the first elimination of the day could be coming. And when the cards ran out , Ryan Rivers dream of a WPT Championship had gone up in the red glow of the WPT set.

Rivers finishes our championship event in 6th place for $217,500.

Seat 1: Griffin Paul 12,900,000 (86 bb)
Seat 2: Joe Ebanks 13,350,000 (89 bb)
Seat 4: Shawn Nguyen 4,975,000 (33 bb)
Seat 5: Brian Green 2,500,000 (33 bb)
Seat 6: Andre Crooks 10,500,000 (17 bb)

$3,500 WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Championship
Level 32: 75,000/150,000/25,000 Ante

It’s been a quiet level thus far but we finally had a hand worthy of talking about. Joe Ebanks opened to 300,000 and Shawn Nguyen moved all in for 2.025 million. Ebanks thought for a moment and then made the call with . Nguyen was in the lead with his and his contingent of fans, easily the largest and most vocal in the room all rose to their feet in anticipation.

The flop kept their hero in the lead as it came but he wasn’t safe yet. The turn would change that as it was the to give him trip threes and a lock on the hand. His rail roared, whooping it up, hands in the air, excited to know that their friend was safe and very much alive.

The river was meaningless but the dealer put it out anyway… the . Chip counts after the double up by Nguyen:

Seat 1: Griffin Paul 13,550,000 (90 bb)
Seat 2: Joe Ebanks 10,175,000 (68 bb)
Seat 3: Ryan Rivers 1,775,000 ((12 bb)
Seat 4: Shawn Nguyen 4,425,000 (30 bb)
Seat 5: Brian Green 2,500,000 (17 bb)
Seat 6: Andre Crooks 11,800,000 (79 bb)

$3,500 WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Championship
Level 32: 75,000/150,000/25,000 Ante

Hard Rock Live is used to hosting concerts, comedians, and shows of all kinds but today is hosting our series showcase final table. It’s a large building which also provides some unique photo angles not available at other WPT stops.

Here’s a view from the rafters.

$3,500 WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Championship
Level 32: 75,000/150,000/25,000 Ante

Players are back from break.

$3,500 WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Championship
Level 31: 60,000/120,000/20,000 Ante

Andre Crooks opened pre-flop for 250,000 and Joe Ebanks called from the small blind. The flop was and both players checked.

The turn was the and Ebanks checked again. Crooks bet 475,000 and Ebanks made a quick call.

The river was the and Ebanks checked with no hesitation. Crooks made a large bet of 1,450,000. Ebanks shifted uncomfortably in chair and then tanked for several minutes, often with a perplexed look on his face. Eventually he made the call, tabling for a pair of aces. That was good enough as Crooks mucked his hand.

$3,500 WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Championship
Level 31: 60,000/120,000/20,000 Ante

Early in Level 31, Andre Crooks and Joe Ebanks have locked horns.

Pre-flop, Crooks raised 260,000 and Joe made the call.  After a flop of  Joe checked and Andre fired out 380,00 with Joe making the check-call.

Then the chips started flying on the turn.  Joe checked again and Crooks put in 705,000.  The time, Ebanks put Crooks to the test re-raising to 1,7000,000.  Crooks did not hesitate and made the call.

The action slowed after the showing up on the river as both players check.  Andre turned over for top pair and Ebanks mucked his hand.

With that hand, Andre Crooks took over the chip lead going to 13,275,000 and will lead the race for the WPT Champions Cup.

Seat 1: Griffin Paul 12,875,000 (107 bb)
Seat 2: Joe Ebanks 7,930,000 (66 bb)
Seat 3: Ryan Rivers 2,775,000 (23 bb)
Seat 4: Shawn Nguyen 2,560,000 (21 bb)
Seat 5: Brian Green 4,780,000 (40 bb)
Seat 6: Andre Crooks 13,275,000 (111 bb)

$3,500 WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Championship
Level 31: 60,000/120,000/20,000 Ante

Griffin Paul opened to 240,000 and one spot to his left, Joe Ebanks made it 625,000 to go. It was folded back around to Paul whose mouth was covered by his shirt as his hand held it tightly to his face. He peeked back at his cards and then removed his mouth long enough to verbalize another raise to 1.5 million total.

Ebanks thought for about thirty seconds before announcing that he was all in. Paul quickly folded to give Ebanks the pot.

$3,500 WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Championship
Level 30: 50,000/100,000/15,000 Ante

Player introductions are complete and cards are in the air.