Event 19: Alex Foxen Seizes Control of Game #1

$1,650 Heads-Up No Limit Hold’em
Players Remaining: 7
Level 5: 200/400

On the turn of a 9d6c3sKd board, Alex Foxen bet 2,550 into a pot of about 3,000, and Corey Dodd called. The river was the 8c, and Foxen moved all in for 5,850. Dodd called, putting his opponent at risk.

Foxen showed 6h3d, winning the pot with two pair. He now has a sizable lead in the first game of the match.

Alex Foxen – 21,400
Corey Dodd – 2,600

Event 19: Jonathan Little Evens the Series

$1,650 Heads-Up No Limit Hold’em
Players Remaining: 7
Level 4: 150/300

Timothy Tenpas was heads up and out of position on a KdKc4c flop, and he led out for 1,000. Jonathan Little called that bet, then another 2,500 after the 8h turn. The river was the 7d, and Tenpas moved all in for about 8,000. Little had him slightly covered, and he quickly called to put Tenpas at risk.

Tenpas didn’t want to, but he was forced to show his 9d6c. Little tabled KsTd, winning the pot and the game with three kings.

That result evens the match 1-1, and the two players are jumping right into the rubber match without a break.

Event 19: Dollinger Eliminated; Engel Advances

$1,650 Heads-Up No Limit Hold’em
Players Remaining: 7

Jake Dollinger (Gulf Breeze, FL)
Jake Dollinger (Gulf Breeze, FL)

Ari Engel was down early in the best-of-three match against Jake Dollinger but evened it up soon after. The two were not deep into the third match when it also came to a quick end.

With the board reading KdJs4d2c, Dollinger put all his chips in the middle with AcAs and was in deep trouble against Engel’s flopped top two KcJc. Dollinger was looking for an ace or a counterfeiting two pair river but it blanked 7d to put an end to the first match of the day.

Ari Engel – Advances to Semifinals
Jake Dollinger – Eliminated in Quarterfinals ($4,800)

Ari Engel (left) cracks Jake Dollinger's aces
Ari Engel (left) cracks Jake Dollinger’s aces

Event 19: Engel Evens it Up

$1,650 Heads-Up No Limit Hold’em
Players Remaining: 8

Ari Engel ties it up
Ari Engel ties it up

The first match between Ari Engel and Jake Dollinger ended with one of them short stack shoving, the second match ended with two big hands.

The board was reading KhQdJc2d when all the chips went in the middle. Engel had a near-lock on the hand with AdTh against Ts9d to leave Dollinger looking for one of three chop outs. The 4s river was not one of them and Engel evened their match up 1-1.

Event 19: Engel Down Early; One Late Arrival

$1,650 Heads-Up No Limit Hold’em
Players Remaining: 8

Ari Engel (left) and Jake Dollinger (right) in the first big hand of the Elite Eight
Ari Engel (left) and Jake Dollinger (right) in the first big hand of the Elite Eight

The Heads-Up matches got underway on time but we were missing one player for the first five minutes. Aaron Mermelstein was enjoying the South Florida weather and gifted a few blinds to Gary Lusby before he took his seat.

Ari Engel is at an early disadvantage after losing his first match against Jake Dollinger. The critical hand saw Dollinger raise Engel all-in with the board reading Jc4h3cAs7s. Engel had 3,125 invested on the river alone and took several minutes before folding.

He was left with 3,000 and put them in the middle pre-flop a few hands later with 5d5s. Dollinger called with Ac6c and he hit the 7s6d3h flop. The board finished with the 6s turn and Qs river to give Dollinger the early 1-0 lead.

Event 19: Heads-Up Elite Eight

$1,650 Heads-Up No Limit Hold’em
Players Remaining: 8

Jonathan Little

The SHRPO Heads-Up event pitted 64 players against each other, one opponent at a time until we now have only eight players remaining.

Jonathan Little perhaps has the biggest résumé of those returning, with better than $6 million earned, but Ari Engel and the others might have something to say about that.

Combined, these eight players have more than $13 million in career tournaments earnings, ten WSOP Circuit rings, and four WPT titles plus Engel’s recent 2016 APPT Aussie Millions Main Event victory.

All eight will start with the same stacks, the same blinds, and the same chance to advance. Whoever can win three straight best-of-three matches today will be our Heads-Up champion at the end of the night. Everyone is in the money, now it’s time to get down to the business of awarding a trophy.

Right Side of the Bracket
Tim Tenpas vs. Jonathan Little
Ari Engel vs. Jake Dollinger

Left Side of the Bracket
Aaron Mermelstein vs. George Lusby
Alex Foxen vs. Corey Dodd

1st: $38,400
2nd: $19,200
3rd: $9,600
4th: $9,600
5th: $4,800
6th: $4,800
7th: $4,800
8th: $4,800

Event 19: Elite Eight Starts at 2 PM

$1,650 Heads-Up No Limit Hold’em
Players Remaining: 8

There were 64 players that started the day in the $1,650 Heads-Up No Limit Hold’em, but after three rounds of play, only eight players remain and they are all in the money.

The final eight will come back at 2 p.m. on Friday to start the second and final day of this event. After another three rounds of play, a winner will be crowned.

Here is a look at the match-ups for Day 2:

Right Side of the Bracket

Tim James vs. Jonathan Little
Ari Engel vs. Jake Dollinger

Left Side of the Bracket

Aaron Mermelstein vs. George Lusby
Alex Foxen vs. Corey Dodd

The final eight players are all guaranteed at least $4,800, but with each match they win, they will make a pay jump. Winning three matches will give them the title and $38,400.

Event 19: Jake Dollinger Defeats Joe McKeehen To Advance

$1,650 Heads-Up No Limit Hold’em
Players Remaining: 8

Jake Dollinger
Jake Dollinger

Jake Dollinger moved all in on the button and Joe McKeehen calls, all in for about 2,500.

Dollinger showed As5c and had McKeehen’s Qd5h dominated. The board ran out Ts6c2d5d7s and Dollinger scooped the pot to win the series 2-1 and advance to the final day.

Jake Dollinger – 24,000
Joe McKeehen – Eliminated 

Event 19: Jake Dollinger On The Verge Of Advancing

$1,650 Heads-Up No Limit Hold’em
Players Remaining: 9

Joe McKeehen raised to 900 on the button and Jake Dollinger called. The flop was 4d4s3c and Dollinger checked.

McKeehen bet 800 and Dollinger called. Both players checked the 2c turn card and the 2s came on the river. Dollinger bet 1,000 and McKeehen called.

Dollinger showed Ah4s, good for a full house and McKeehen mucked his hand. Dollinger won the pot and left McKeehen with just a few big blinds.

Jake Dollinger – 21,500
Joe McKeehen – 2,500

Event 19: Jake Dollinger Pulling Away

$1,650 Heads-Up No Limit Hold’em
Players Remaining: 9

With blinds of 200/400, Joe McKeehen raised to 900 on the button and Jake Dollinger called out of the big blind. Both players check a flop of AdJh9c and the 2c comes on the turn.

Dollinger bet 925 and McKeehen called. The river was the 8s and Dollinger checked. McKeehen checked behind and Dollinger showed As5h.

McKeehen mucked his hand and Dollinger dragged the pot. He is beginning to open up a sizable chip lead over McKeehen.

Jake Dollinger – 17,500
Joe McKeehen – 6,500