Event 10: Travis Hart Takes Home First Six-Figure Score, Wins $570 No Limit Hold’em Re-Entry In Nine-Way Chop

2016 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Hollywood

Event #10
$570 No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry) 
Total Entries: 2,724
Total Prizepool: $1,362,000 

Travis Hart wins $XXX for his title in the $570 No Limit Hold'em Re-Entry
Travis Hart wins $159,708 for his title in the $570 No Limit Hold’em Re-Entry

In the early hours of Monday monring, Travis Hart took home the biggest score of the 2016 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open thus far. Hart came out on top of a nine-way deal to best a field of 2,724 players and take home $159,708 in the $570 No Limit Hold’em Re-Entry event.

“It’s been a long time coming, you know,” said Hart after his win with a big smile on his face. “I’ve been in poker for about 12 years now since I was 20. I just feel like taking down a big win like this has been a long time coming.”

Hart doesn’t play poker professionally, but spends most of his time around the game. The 32-year-old Atlanta native runs the Atlanta Poker Club and spends most of his time running poker tournaments.

“I’ve been running that for about 10 years,” said Hart. “I’m around the game every day.”

Spending that much time around the game paid off for Hart in a big way. He was able to consistently chip up throughout the day and eventually make his way to the final table as one of the biggest stacks.

He started the unofficial final table second in chips, but he was able to pick up aces and eliminate Timothy Myers in 10th place with about a minute left in the night. That pot was enough to just barely edge out Ido Ashkenazi for the chip lead when play was scheduled to stop.

The final nine players were scheduled to come back on Monday afternoon to play down to a winner. But at the end of the night, they decided to take a look at the numbers for a chip chop. They all agreed upon a chop and thanks to the last minute elimination of Myers, Hart took credit for the win and gets the trophy.

Hart credited his simple style of play for his ability to accumulate chips and ultimately, his win.

“I basically just simplified the game,” said Hart. “I tried to make every decision as easy as possible and put the other person to the test. That’s kind of how I like to play. Don’t get myself in trouble and don’t make the mistake.”

Hart and a few of his friends came down to South Florida from the Atlanta area with the intention of playing a few tournaments. They were scheduled to leave on Wednesday, but they are thinking about changing their plans after taking down his first title.

For most players, a change of plans after this score would mean they are going to stay longer and take a shot some of the bigger buy-in events that kick off later in the series. Hart and his buddies might just head off to a different country for a visit.

“We might go to Cuba,” said Hart with a laugh. “Me and my buddies, we love Cuba. We might try and buy an island.”

Here is a look at the final table results:

1st: Travis Hart – $159,708
2nd: Ido Ashkenazi – $158,304
3rd: Butch Mitchell – $89,788
4th: Paul Balzano – $83,330
5th: Marty Robbins – $79,960
6th: Thien Doan – $68,728
7th: Eon Grant – $56,654
8th: Andi Chang Huang – $56,373
9th: John Miller – $42,613

Download Final Results (PDF)

Event 10: Travis Hart Wins $570 No Limit Hold’em Re-Entry in Nine-Way Chop

$570 Deep Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry) 
End of Level 32: 75,000/150,000 with a 25,000 ante
Players Remaining: 9 of 2,724

Travis Hart Wins in Nine-Way Chop
Travis Hart Wins in Nine-Way Chop

As time expired on the clock and play was officially over for the day, the final nine players began discussing a chip chop. After running the numbers and a little discussion, the final nine players agreed to the deal.

Travis Hart overtook Ido Ashkenazi for the chip lead at the end of the day and will get credit for the win, the lion’s share of the prizepool, and the trophy.

Here is a breakdown of the final table chop:

1st: Travis Hart – $159,708
2nd: Ido Ashkenazi – $158,304
3rd: Butch Mitchell – $89,788
4th: Paul Balzano – $83,330
5th: Marty Robbins – $79,960
6th: Thien Doan – $68,728
7th: Eon Grant – $56,654
8th: Andi Chang Huang – $56,373
9th: John Miller – $42,613

Event 10: Timothy Myers Eliminated in 10th Place ($13,620)

$570 Deep Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry) 
Level 32: 75,000/150,000 with a 25,000 ante
Players Remaining: 9 of 2,724

Timothy Myers moved all in from the hijack for 2,100,000 and Travis Hart called out of the small blind.

Myers showed AdJs and was in trouble against Hart’s AcAh. The flop was 7s5d2h, leaving Myers drawing to running jacks to stay alive. The turn was the Jh, giving Myers some hope, but the river was the 6c and Hart wins the pot to eliminate Myers in 10th place.

The final nine players are all credited with making a final table and are guaranteed a payday of more than $20,000.

Travis Hart – 12,900,000 (86 bb)
Timothy Myers – Eliminated 

Event 10: Aryeh Cohen Eliminated in 11th Place ($13,620)

$570 Deep Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry) 
Level 32: 75,000/150,000 with a 25,000 ante
Players Remaining: 10 of 2,724

Simultaneously with Tom Pham’s elimination in 12th place, Aryeh Cohen moved all in from the small blind and Paul Balzano called from the big blind.

Cohen showed 7x2x and needed to improve against Balzano’s AcQd.

Cohen flopped a deuce, but Balzano hit a queen to win the pot and eliminate Cohen. There is a short pause in the action while the players redraw for seats at the final table.

Paul Balzano – 4,200,000 (35 bb)
Aryeh Cohen – Eliminated 

Event 10: Tom Pham Eliminated in 12th Place ($13,620)

$570 Deep Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry) 
Level 32: 75,000/150,000 with a 25,000 ante
Players Remaining: 11 of 2,724

Tom Pham moved all in from the cutoff and Ido Ashkenazi called on the button.

Pham showed 5s5c and was flipping with Ashkenazi’s AhTd.

The board ran out KcQhTh4h8s and Ashkenazi won the flip to eliminate Pham. Pham took home $13,620 for his deep run and Ashkenazi extends his chip lead.

Ido Ashkenazi – 13,000,000 (86 bb)
Tom Pham – Eliminated 

Event 10: Matthew Yorra Eliminated in 13th Place ($9,194)

$570 Deep Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry) 
Level 32: 75,000/150,000 with a 25,000 ante
Players Remaining: 12 of 2,724

Butch Mithcell raised to 300,000 under the gun and Matthew Yorra moved all in for 1,925,000 out of the big blind. Mitchell, thought for a few moments before calling.

Yorra showed 8s8d and was in the lead against Mitchell’s Ac7s.

The board ran out Jc7h6h5cAd and Mitchell rivered an ace to make two pair and eliminate Yorra. Yorra finished in 13th place and took home $9,194.

Butch Mitchell – 5,000,000 (33 bb)
Matthew Yorra – Eliminated 

Event 10: Paul Balzano Doubles Through Aryeh Cohen

$570 Deep Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry) 
Level 32: 75,000/150,000 with a 25,000 ante
Players Remaining: 14 of 2,724

Paul Balzano
Paul Balzano

Aryeh Cohen raised on the button and Paul Balzano moved all in out of the small blind. After Cohen had the dead money pulled in, it was an additional 1,350,000 for Cohen to call.

Cohen took a few moments and then committed the additional chips. He showed Ah8c and was in the lead against Balzano’s QdTs.

The flop was Td6h4c and Balzano took the lead. The turn was the 8h, giving Cohen a few more outs, but the river was the Kc and Balzano doubled up.

Paul Balzano – 3,650,000 (24 bb)
Aryeh Cohen – 3,850,000 (25 bb)

Event 10: Paul Balzano Doubles Through Eon Grant

$570 Deep Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry) 
Level 31: 60,000/120,000 with a 20,000 ante
Players Remaining: 15 of 2,724

Eon Grant raised from under the gun and Paul Balzano moved all in from the hijack for 925,000.

Grant called and showed AdJd. He was flipping with Balzano’s 5h5d.

The board ran out clean for Balzano as it came Qc9c6hKc5c. Balzano’s set of fives took the pot and gave him a double up as the level neared an end.

Paul Balzano – 2,170,000 (18 bb)
Eon Grant – 2,000,000 (16 bb)

Event 10: Rob Michener Doubles Through Nick Palma

$570 Deep Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry) 
Level 31: 60,000/120,000 with a 20,000 ante
Players Remaining: 15 of 2,724

On a flop of QhJd2d, Nick Palma bets from the cutoff and Rob Michener moved all in for 1,020,000 on the button. Palma quickly called and showed AdTd.

Palma had a big draw, but needed to improve against Michener’s KsKd.

The turn was the Ks, giving Michener a set, but Palma made the nut straight. The river was the Qd, however, and Michener regained the lead on the river with a full house to double up.

Rob Michener – 2,600,000 (21 bb)
Nick Palma – 2,900,000 (24 bb)