2020 Lucky Hearts Poker Open
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Hollywood, Florida
Event 28
$5,000 Eight-Handed NLH (Re-Entry)
$200,000 Guaranteed
Entries:  78
Prize Pool:  $370,500
January 21, 2020

One week ago, Jonathan Bussieres defeated Justin Harvell heads-up to win Event #15. Tonight, Bussieres did it again, winning Event #28 ($5,000 Eight-Handed No-Limit Hold’em) after making a heads-up deal with runner-up Faraz Jaka.

There were 78 entries in this one-day tournament, and the final 10 finished in the money. With the Money Bubble (and the tightened play that precedes it) only two spots away from the final table, the final table started with shallow stacks — the average was only 22 big blinds.

After James Calderaro busted in ninth place, the final eight players battle for nearly an hour as the blinds got higher and higher. But once Ray Qartomy busted in eighth place, a figurative dam burst, and they lost three more players in the next 26 minutes.

It was a frenetic final table, with frequent lead changes and lots of ups and downs. Eventually, Bussieres was able to build a lead and hold onto it, and after eliminating Joe McKeehen in third place, Bussieres had a 2-to-1 lead over Faraz Jaka. They quickly agreed to a deal, and as chipleader, Bussieres won the title and the trophy.

It was the second trophy of the series for Bussieres, and they both came in eight-handed events. But with a $5K buy-in, this victory carries more prestige, along with 12 times as much prize money.

Final Results:

1st:  Jonathan Bussieres  –  $100,760* + LHPO Trophy
2nd:  Faraz Jaka  –  $88,470*
3rd:  Joe McKeehen  –  $50,460
4th:  Mark Guariglia  –  $35,065
5th:  Craig Varnell  –  $25,450
6th:  Jim Collopy  –  $19,325
7th:  Greg Baird  –  $15,385
8th:  Ray Qartomy  –  $12,875
9th:  James Calderaro  –  $11,355
10th:  Paul Domb  –  $11,355

* Indicates a heads-up deal.

$5,000 Eight-Handed NLH (Re-Entry)
$200,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 23:  15,000/25,000 with a 25,000 ante
Players Remaining:  1 of 78

After the elimination of Joe McKeehen in third place, Jonathan Bussieres and Faraz Jaka quickly agreed to an ICM deal to split the remaining prizepool.

These were their official chip counts, with the updated payouts listed below:

Jonathan Bussieres  –  1,030,000  (41 bb)
Faraz Jaka  –  525,000  (21 bb)

It’s the second trophy of the series for Bussieres, who won Event #15 ($600 Eight-Handed Turbo NLH) exactly one week ago.

1st:  Jonathan Bussieres  –  $100,760* + LHPO Trophy
2nd:  Faraz Jaka  –  $88,470*
3rd:  Joe McKeehen  –  $50,460
4th:  Mark Guariglia  –  $35,065
5th:  Craig Varnell  –  $25,450
6th:  Jim Collopy  –  $19,325
7th:  Greg Baird  –  $15,385
8th:  Ray Qartomy  –  $12,875
9th:  James Calderaro  –  $11,355
10th:  Paul Domb  –  $11,355

* Indicates a heads-up deal.

$5,000 Eight-Handed NLH (Re-Entry)
$200,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 23:  15,000/25,000 with a 25,000 ante
Players Remaining:  2 of 78

The final three players return from break to begin Level 23, with increased blinds of 15K-25K and a 25K ante. These were the official chip counts from the break:

Seat 1.  Jonathan Bussieres  –  715,000  (29 bb)
Seat 2.  Faraz Jaka  –  525,000  (21 bb)
Seat 3.  Joe McKeehen  –  315,000  (13 bb)

In one of the first hands after the break, Joe McKeehen raised from the small blind, Jonathan Bussieres reraised from the big blind, and McKeehen moved all in for about 345,000.

Bussieres called with , and McKeehen turned over . McKeehen was dominated and facing elimination.

The board came — McKeehen turned a gutshot straight draw, but improved no further. Bussieres won the pot with his king to eliminate McKeehen in third place.

Joe McKeehen  –  Eliminated in 3rd Place  ($50,460)

Here are the official chip counts for the start of heads-up play, along with the remaining payouts:

Jonathan Bussieres  –  1,030,000  (41 bb)
Faraz Jaka  –  525,000  (21 bb)

1st:  $113,535
2nd:  $75,695

$5,000 Eight-Handed NLH (Re-Entry)
$200,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 22:  10,000/20,000 with a 20,000 ante
Players Remaining:  3 of 78

Jonathan Bussieres raised from the small blind to 60,000, Mark Guariglia moved all in from the big blind, and Bussieres called with .

Guariglia turned over , and needed his hand to hold to stay alive.

The board came , and Bussieres paired his king on the flop to win the pot and eliminate Guariglia in fourth place.

Jonathan Bussieres  –  740,000  (49 bb)
Mark Guariglia  –  Eliminated in 4th Place  ($35,065)

With three players remaining, the average chip stack is about 520,000 (35 big blinds), and the next player to bust will earn $50,460.

$5,000 Eight-Handed NLH (Re-Entry)
$200,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 21:  10,000/15,000 with a 15,000 ante
Players Remaining:  4 of 78

Jonathan Bussieres raised from the button to 30,000, Mark Guariglia moved all in from the small blind for 95,000, and Bussieres called with . Guariglia turned over , and needed his hand to hold to stay alive.

The board came — Bussieres paired his jack on the turn, but Guariglia paired his queen on the river to win the pot and double up in chips.

Mark Guariglia  –  220,000  (15 bb)
Jonathan Bussieres  –  300,000  (20 bb)

Level 20 came to an end, and Level 21 began with increased blinds of 10K-15K with a 15K ante.

Craig Varnell moved all in under the gun for 85,000, and Mark Guariglia called from the small blind with .

Varnell turned over , and he needed to improve to stay alive.

The board came — Varnell paired his seven on the flop, but improved no further. Guariglia won the pot with his pocket aces to eliminate Varnell in fifth place.

Mark Guariglia  –  325,000  (22 bb)
Craig Varnell  –  Eliminated in 5th Place  ($25,450)

With four players remaining, the average chip stack is about 390,000 (26 big blinds), and the next player to bust will earn $35,065.

$5,000 Eight-Handed NLH (Re-Entry)
$200,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 20:  5,000/15,000 with a 15,000 ante
Players Remaining:  5 of 78

Craig Varnell moved all in from the cutoff for 55,000, and Jonathan Bussieres called from the big blind with . Varnell turned over , and needed his hand to hold to stay alive.

The board came , and Varnell paired his eight on the flop and rivered trips to win the pot and double up in chips.

Craig Varnell  –  130,000  (9 bb)
Jonathan Bussieres  –  185,000  (12 bb)

Joe McKeehen moved all in from the button, and Jonathan Bussieres called all in from the small blind for 185,000 with . McKeehen turned over , and Bussieres needed his hand to hold to stay alive.

The board came , and Bussieres won the pot with his ace to double up in chips.

Jonathan Bussieres  –  400,000  (27 bb)
Joe McKeehen  –  525,000  (35 bb)

With five players remaining, the average chip stack is about 310,000 (21 big blinds), and the next player to bust will earn $25,450.

$5,000 Eight-Handed NLH (Re-Entry)
$200,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 20:  5,000/15,000 with a 15,000 ante
Players Remaining:  5 of 78

Jim Collopy was all in from the big blind with , and he needed his hand to hold to stay alive against the of Joe McKeehen in the small blind.

The board came , and McKeehen rivered a heart flush to win the pot and eliminate Collopy in sixth place.

Joe McKeehen  –  680,000  (45 bb)
Jim Collopy  –  Eliminated in 6th Place  ($19,325)

With five players remaining, the average chip stack is about 310,000 (21 big blinds), and the next player to bust will earn $25,450.

$5,000 Eight-Handed NLH (Re-Entry)
$200,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 20:  5,000/15,000 with a 15,000 ante
Players Remaining:  6 of 78

Jim Collopy raised from the button, Jonathan Bussieres moved all in from the small blind for 60,000, and Collopy called with . Bussieres turned over , and needed to improve to stay alive.

The board came , and Bussieres rivered a five-high straight to win the pot and double up in chips.

Jonathan Bussieres  –  245,000  (16 bb)
Jim Collopy  –  150,000  (10 bb)

About 10 minutes later, Faraz Jaka moved all in from the button for 195,000, and Craig Varnell called from the small blind with . Jaka turned over , and needed his hand to hold to stay alive.

The board came , and Jaka won the pot with his king to double up in chips.

Faraz Jaka  –  420,000  (28 bb)
Craig Varnell  –  55,000  (4 bb)

Greg Baird moved all in from the small blind for 155,000, and Joe McKeehen thought for a bit before calling from the big blind with .

Baird turned over , and he was dominated and facing elimination.

The board came , and McKeehen won the pot with his ten kicker to eliminate Baird in seventh place.

Joe McKeehen  –  465,000  (31 bb)
Greg Baird  –  Eliminated in 7th Place  ($15,385)

With six players remaining, the average chip stack is about 260,000 (17 big blinds), and the next player to bust will earn $19,325.

$5,000 Eight-Handed NLH (Re-Entry)
$200,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 20:  5,000/15,000 with a 15,000 ante
Players Remaining:  7 of 78

Jonathan Bussieres moved all in from middle position for about 165,000, and Faraz Jaka called all in from the button for 80,000 with . Bussieres turned over , and Jaka needed his nines to hold to stay alive.

The board came — Bussieres paired his seven on the flop, but improved no further. Jaka won the pot with his pocket nines to double up in chips.

Faraz Jaka  –  195,000  (13 bb)
Jonathan Bussieres  –  85,000  (6 bb)

Ray Qartomy moved all in under the gun for 115,000, and Joe McKeehen called from the button with .

Qartomy turned over , and he needed to improve to stay alive.

The board came , and McKeehen won the pot with his king to eliminate Qartomy in eighth place.

Joe McKeehen  –  335,000  (22 bb)
Ray Qartomy  –  Eliminated in 8th Place  ($11,355)

With seven players remaining, the average chip stack is about 225,000 (15 big blinds), and the next player to bust will earn $15,385.

$5,000 Eight-Handed NLH (Re-Entry)
$200,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 19:  5,000/10,000 with a 10,000 ante
Players Remaining:  8 of 78

Craig Varnell was all in from the big blind for 130,000 with , and he needed his hand to hold to stay alive against the of Ray Qartomy in the cutoff.

The board came , and Varnell won the pot with two pair, queens and jacks, to double up in chips.

Qartomy looked at Varnell and asked, “Am I the only one doubling you up? Four times I’ve doubled you up today.” Varnell just smiles and nods as he stacks the pot.

Craig Varnell  –  275,000  (28 bb)
Ray Qartomy  –  130,000  (13 bb)

After a flop of with about 65K already in the pot, Mark Guariglia moved all in from the big blind for 135,000, and Craig Varnell went into the tank from UTG+1.

Guariglia said, “You’ll see it either way.” Varnell said, “I just feel like you have tens or something.”

Varnell folded, and Guariglia showed for a pair of sevens as he took the pot. Varnell said he folded pocket sixes.

As he was stacking his chips, Guariglia said, “I’ve got to protect my blinds.”

Mark Guariglia  –  200,000  (20 bb)
Craig Varnell  –  245,000  (25 bb)

With eight players remaining, the average chip stack is about 195,000 (20 big blinds), and the next player to bust will earn $12,875.