Ryan Galpern Earns Six-Max Crown With First Tournament Win

2017 Rock ‘N’ Roll Poker Open 
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino 
Hollywood, Florida 
Event 8
$360 Six-Max No Limit Hold’em 
Entries: 60 
Prize Pool: $18,000 
November 21, 2017 

$360 Six-Max No Limit Hold’em Champion Ryan Galpern

When Ryan Galpern made unofficial final table of the $360 six-max no limit hold’em on Tuesday evening, he was telling other players at the table that this was his first final table and he had no interest of making any deals.

Galpern wanted to play to win and that’s what he did. He defeated the 60-entry field to take down his first-ever live tournament and won a Hard Rock trophy along with $6,480.

“I wanted to play for the win,” said Galpern. “I didn’t mind splitting the prize pool.”

Galpern doesn’t have an extensive tournament resume, but grinds $2/$5 no limit hold’em cash games fairly regularly. He works in real estate and dabbles in some other business development projects, but when he’s not there, you can usually find him at a poker table.

Playing this event was a spur of the moment decision for the Cooper City, Florida native. With a relatively small field, he decided it was worth it to take a shot.

“I just saw there were only going to be like 60 people in it, so I decided to take a shot,” said Galpern. “This was kind of a random thing. I mean, I’ve played it before, but I usually don’t run deep. I don’t want to say I never run deep, but I usually get right to the bubble and then bust.”

Unlike the other events, Galpern ran as deep as he possibly could on Tuesday. He came into the final table with the chip lead and never seemed to be in danger of busting.

The chip lead changed hands several times, but he was never the short stack until heads-up play with Thiago Costa. Costa started with the chip lead, but Galpern took it away from him on the third hand of heads-up play.

With his girlfriend on the rail supporting him the whole final table, Galpern finished off Thiago Costa and won his first title.

Final results:

1st: Ryan Galpern – $6,480
2nd: Thiago Costa – $3,807
3rd: Alexander Orlov – $2,385
4th: Miguel Marinez – $1,620
5th: Ron Ramacci – $1,260
6th: Timothy Cavallin – $990
7th: Gabriel Comeau – $810
8th: James Salmon III – $648

Event 8: Ryan Galpern Wins $360 Six-Max ($6,480), Thiago Costa Eliminated in 2nd ($3,807)

$360 Six-Max No Limit Hold’em (Single Re-Entry)
Six-Max Payouts
Level 21: 5,000/10,000 with a 1,000 ante
Players Remaining: 1 of 60

Ryan Galpern

Thiago Costa moved all in blind for about 110,000 and Galpern called blind out of the big blind. Costa showed 8c6d and was behind Galpern’s 9s2h.

The flop was 9h5c2d, giving Galpern two pair, but Costa had outs with a gutshot straight draw.

The turn is the Kc and the river is the Qd. Galpern’s two pair held up and Costa was eliminated in second place. Galpern netted $6,480 for the win and Costa took home $3,807 for his runner-up finish.

Ryan Galpern – $360 Six-Max No Limit Hold’em Champion
Thiago Costa – Eliminated 

Thiago Costa

Event 8: Thiago Costa Doubles Up

$360 Six-Max No Limit Hold’em (Single Re-Entry)
Six-Max Payouts
Level 21: 5,000/10,000 with a 1,000 ante
Players Remaining: 2 of 60

Thiago Costa moved all in blind out of turn for 55,000. Ryan Galpern called without looking at his cards.

Costa was in the lead with his JdTh against Galpern’s 5c2s.

The board ran out 8d7d7h7c6c and Costa doubled up with jack-high.

Thiago Costa – 112,000
Ryan Galpern – 488,000

Event 2: Ryan Galpern Doubles Up

$360 Six-Max No Limit Hold’em (Single Re-Entry)
Six-Max Payouts
Level 21: 5,000/10,000 with a 1,000 ante
Players Remaining: 2 of 60

After a couple hands of heads-up play, it was evident that Thiago Costa was going to shove every hand blind.

On the third hand of heads-up play, Costa moved all in blind and Galpern called out of the big blind. He was all in and the player at risk for his last 271,000.

Costa showed Js6h and was dominated by Galpern’s QcJc.

The board ran out Td9c2h3d3c and Galpern won doubled up with queen-high. He took the chip lead and left Costa with about five big blinds.

Ryan Galpern – 544,000
Thiago Costa – 56,000

Event 8: Alexander Orlov – 3rd Place ($2,385)

$360 Six-Max No Limit Hold’em (Single Re-Entry)
Six-Max Payouts
Level 21: 5,000/10,000 with a 1,000 ante
Players Remaining: 2 of 60

Alexander Orlov

Ryan Galpern raised on the button and Alexander Orlov moved all in for 94,000 out of the small blind. Thiago Costa folded his big blind and Galpern thought for a few moments.

“I’m feeling lucky,” said Galpern, who pushed forward the call.

Galpern showed Qd3d and was behind Orlov’s Ac4d.

The flop was Qs9s6d, which gave Galpern the best hand with a pair of queens. Orlov needed to hit an ace to stay in the tournament, but the Kd on the turn and the Jc on the river eliminated Orlov in third place.

He took home $2,2385 in his second third place finish of the series.

Ryan Galpern – 270,000
Alexander Orlov – Eliminated 

Event 8: Alexander Orlov Doubles For a Third Time

$360 Six-Max No Limit Hold’em (Single Re-Entry)
Six-Max Payouts
Level 21: 5,000/10,000 with a 1,000 ante
Players Remaining: 3 of 60

Alexander Orlov moved all in from the small blind for 64,000 and Thiago Costa called out of the big blind.

Costa showed Js3s and was behind Orlov’s Kc8c.

The flop of Kh6s5d left little help for Costa after Orlov flopped two pair.

The turn was the 6c, leaving Costa drawing dead to the 7s river.

Alexander Orlov – 131,000
Thiago Costa – 310,000

Event 8: It’s Only the Beginning for Alexander Orlov

$360 Six-Max No Limit Hold’em (Single Re-Entry)
Six-Max Payouts
Level 21: 5,000/10,000 with a 1,000 ante
Players Remaining: 3 of 60

Alexander Orlov moved all in on the button for 33,000 and Ryan Galpern called out of the big blind.

Orlov showed Js2s and was in bad shape against Galpern’s 3s3c.

The flop was Kc6s4s, giving Orlov lots of outs with a flush draw. The turn was the Ks and Orlov made his flush, but needed to dodge a full house on the river.

The river was the 4h and Orlov doubled up again.

“This is just the beginning,” said Orlov after the hand, predicting his comeback through the chip counts.

Alexander Orlov – 74,000
Ryan Galpern – 170,000

Event 8: Alexander Orlov Doubles Through Thiago Costa

$360 Six-Max No Limit Hold’em (Single Re-Entry)
Six-Max Payouts
Level 21: 5,000/10,000 with a 1,000 ante
Players Remaining: 3 of 60

Alexander Orlov moved all in for about 15,000 from the small blind and Thiago Costa called out of the big blind.

Orlov showed Qd4s and was up against Costa’s Js7c.

The board ran out Ah6h6d4sTd and Orlov doubled up.

Alexander Orlov – 33,000
Thiago Costa – 360,000

Event 8: Miguel Martinez – 4th Place ($1,620)

$360 Six-Max No Limit Hold’em (Single Re-Entry)
Six-Max Payouts
Level 21: 5,000/10,000 with a 1,000 ante
Players Remaining: 3 of 60

Miguel Martinez

Miguel Martinez moves all in on the button for his last 6,000, which can’t cover the big blind. Ryan Galpern completes the small blind and Alexander Orlov checks his option in the big blind.

Action is checked to the river as the board runs out 6c5s5d8h7c. Galpern bets 20,000 and Orlov folds. Orlov shows Jc9s, good for a nine-high straight and wins the pot to eliminate Martinez, who showed 7h4d, giving him an eight-high straight.

Martinez earned $1,620 for his fourth place finish and Galpern dragged the pot.

Ryan Galpern – 170,000
Miguel Martinez – Eliminated 

Event 8: Thiago Costa Doubles Through Miguel Martinez

$360 Six-Max No Limit Hold’em (Single Re-Entry)
Six-Max Payouts
Level 21: 5,000/10,000 with a 1,000 ante
Players Remaining: 4 of 60

Thiago Costa raised to 20,000 on the button and Miguel Martinez called out of the small blind.

The flop was KcTc9c and Martinez led out for 30,000. Costa moved all in for 163,000 and Martinez thought for a few moments.

“This is one of those interesting spots,” said Martinez while he mulled over his decision.

Eventually, Martinez called and showed QhJd. Martinez flopped a king-high straight and needed to fade a club against Costa’s Ac7d.

The turn was the 4c, however, and Costa let out a celebratory shout as he made the nuts and left Martinez drawing dead to the 7h river.

Costa takes over the chip lead and Martinez is left with less than a big blind.

Thiago Costa – 380,000
Miguel Martinez – 6,000