Recreational Player Joseph Rossi Goes the Distance to Outlast a Field of 3,730 to Win $138,887

2021 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Hollywood, Florida
Event 1
$400 Deep Stack No Limit Hold’em
$500,000 Guaranteed
Entries:  3,730
Prize Pool:  $1,249,550
July 22-25, 2021

Joseph Rossi
Event 1 Champion Joseph Rossi

The opening event of the 2021 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open attracted 3,730 entries across six starting flights, and the large field meant the event didn’t even reach the final table by the time Day 2 hit the hard stop at 3:00 am late Sunday night.

So the final 12 players returned on Monday afternoon, and played nearly three hours before Joseph Rossi was declared the winner in a four-way deal.

“I jumped out fast with 12 players left,” said Rossi, “and when I got to the final table, I started out okay. I lost one or two hands, but I regrouped, and I won a monster at the end by eliminating two people by flopping the nuts.”

The key hand that Rossi referred to came with six players left, and Allan Maloney was all in preflop with a short stack against Rossi and Patrick Capozziello.

The flop came KdQc10c, Rossi shoved, and Capozziello snap-called with KhKc for a set of kings. But Rossi flipped over AsJs for an ace-high straight, and it held up to eliminate both players.

The final four players quickly agreed to an ICM deal at that point, and as chipleader, Rossi was awarded the title, the trophy, and the most money — $138,887.

“I hear people say all the time that it’s not about the money, it’s about winning,” said Rossi. “That really is the case.”

Rossi doesn’t actually play poker that often, saying he plays when he has time, between work and family.

“I come to the Seminole Hard Rock for the big series,” said Rossi. “I normally play one or two of the bigger events, to just take my few shots a year.”

So will he return to play in the $5,250 SHRPO Championship that begins on Friday, August 6th? “I’m supposed to be on vacation,” said Rossi, “but I’m really going to try to be here.”

PlaceFirst NameLast NamePrize Amount
1JosephRossi$138,887*
2RobertGregory$123,193*
3PabloOrtiz$122,222*
4DonFlynn$111,641*
5PatrickCapozziello$56,270
6AllanMaloney$41,295
7JerryRobinson$29,925
8YaroslavNakonechnyy$23,765
9JosephLachkovich$17,845
10CurtisKing$17,845
11BradSpeight$12,585
12ScottJordan$12,585
13GloriaJackson  $9,345
14BrandonNoe$9,345
15LouOjeda$9,345
16SteveRosen$7,740
17JorgeRibeiro$7,740
18JeffRolland$7,740
19MichaelSchwartz  $6,470
20WillyStadele$6,470
21DylanMalcomson$6,470
22NigelMurray$5,400
23LexyGavin  $5,400
24HaiboChen$5,400
25JamesCalderaro$4,430
26 DavidNathaniel Jr$4,430
27 RamseyJones  $4,330
28 RossJohnson  $3,560
29 GiliPrizament  $3,560
30 GregoryMcNealy  $3,560
31 TuanPham  $3,560
32 AlanMunoz  $3,560
33 JamesGavin  $3,560
34 JoshuaPhillips  $3,560
35 AlexAdelman  $3,560
36 AveryBloom  $3,560
37 GeddesCooper  $2,890
38 FrancisMohan  $2,890
39 JorgeRamirez Chacin  $2,890
40 CarlosVelasco Araujo  $2,890
41 DavidThurston  $2,890
42 JohnBilas  $2,890
43 SultanKarabekov  $2,890
44 LakishiaJefferson  $2,890
45 IgorRosenblit  $2,890
46 JaimeWiegrefe  $2,420
47 AaronRosenthal  $2,420
48 GarySilverman  $2,420
49 AdrielRimola Cullen  $2,420
50 MichaelJagroo  $2,420
51 VictorNassif  $2,420
52 CoryPetruny  $2,420
53 ChristopherZito  $2,420
54 PaulPrager  $2,420
55 DavidWilliams  $2,150
56 StevenCohen  $2,150
57 JulianBabineaux  $2,150
58 JamesLadeira  $2,150
59 JimmyCorrales  $2,150
60 NoamBen-Arie  $2,150
61 RobertoAlberro  $2,150
62 MichaelHallen  $2,150
63 RolandoRodriguez Vazquez  $2,150
64 QuanPhui  $1,950
65 AdamCoplan  $1,950
66 MichaelClements  $1,950
67 ShawnLucas  $1,950
68 SaharKhajavi  $1,950
69 KennethBruno  $1,950
70 MichaelGraffeo  $1,950
71 ReneNoriega  $1,950
72 RondalGivens  $1,950
73 CaryAlter  $1,800
74 AmitSavani  $1,800
75 NathanWillis  $1,800
76 TanupatPunjarojanakul  $1,800
77 TarunpreetSingh  $1,800
78 JamshidbekBegmatov  $1,800
79 OmarSader  $1,800
80 RaymondWilliams  $1,800
81 TrungPham  $1,800
82 LuckensonPericles  $1,670
83 EricSilverberg  $1,670
84 OscarMendoza Palacios  $1,670
85 LyleDiamond  $1,670
86 KevinBlewitt  $1,670
87 ScottBaumstein  $1,670
88 KevinBrammer  $1,670
89 GregoryAbell  $1,670
90 FredericoDabus  $1,670
91 ErnestBrun  $1,550
92 VictorHaynes  $1,550
93 DavidPoces  $1,550
94 PeterHorenstein  $1,550
95 RafaelFernandes Junio  $1,550
96 AlfredoVaz Reed  $1,550
97 SamSadov  $1,550
98 FrancoisZayas  $1,550
99 RichardLeger  $1,550
100 RamonChavez  $1,440
101 RaymondMillard  $1,440
102 TerricitaMilgrom  $1,440
103 BrandonNavarrete  $1,440
104 MichaelWilklow  $1,440
105 JacobRistich  $1,440
106 IrogTretyakov  $1,440
107 HarjinderChawla  $1,440
108 SandipGuha  $1,440
109 MichaelCasson  $1,340
110 MichaelGoldfarb  $1,340
111 LuniquePetiote  $1,340
112 KeithJohnson  $1,340
113 LuisBarredo  $1,340
114 ChristopherFunari  $1,340
115 ChristopherPerry  $1,340
116 FedericoHerrera  $1,340
117 StevenCohen  $1,340
118 ChristopherNelson  $1,250
119 MarcoAmaral  $1,250
120 BrianMoody  $1,250
121 JorgeGomez  $1,250
122 ChristopherLaieta  $1,250
123 SergioGiha  $1,250
124 JamesSebastian  $1,250
125 BrandonBerkenfeld  $1,250
126 JustinZagar  $1,250
127 HaydenLiotta  $1,170
128 AlainCandales Falcon  $1,170
129 DannyChang  $1,170
130 MichaelJohnally  $1,170
131 BrandonSchaefer  $1,170
132 SelmaSayin  $1,170
133 DevondMarshall  $1,170
134 MauricioAmeller  $1,170
135 BrandonMiller  $1,170
136 SergioAlvez Sandoval  $1,100
137 BorjaIglesias Jato  $1,100
138 BillyMichel  $1,100
139 MaheshwarManthani  $1,100
140 ChristianRodriguez  $1,100
141 GaryPhillips  $1,100
142 ShamicaLamar  $1,100
143 DavidCastranova  $1,100
144 IraSchwartz  $1,100
145 PerryShiao  $1,035
146 RobertTannenbaum  $1,035
147 BrianKinder  $1,035
148 BrandonManer  $1,035
149 JorgeSoto  $1,035
150 DomenicoLangone  $1,035
151 ShivonYeoman  $1,035
152 WilliamPappas  $1,035
153 PhilipWhitaker  $1,035
154 GabrielRamos  $975
155 KareemMarshall  $975
156 ManuelJo  $975
157 ThomasDicicco  $975
158 MichaelGarcia  $975
159 TianranDengyang  $975
160 AndrewSiebert  $975
161 SheldonGross  $975
162 NathanLee  $975
163 HenryBillete  $920
164 EduardoArechaga  $920
165 MichaelAmato  $920
166 GregorySpinder  $920
167 WilforMarentes Pinto  $920
168 ChristopherMull  $920
169 JoseRosenkrantz Maryl  $920
170 TrentonMarbut  $920
171 MatthewSesso  $920
172 TrevorCollins  $870
173 DavidSweeley  $870
174 AldringGomez Torres  $870
175 MatthewBurnitz  $870
176 ChrisTryba  $870
177 BlakeBurke  $870
178 JoelVelez  $870
179 IanSiegel  $870
180 MichaelEddy  $870
181 GerardoFlores  $825
182 SteveQueen  $825
183 EthanBlauner  $825
184 HenryHearns  $825
185 ChadGallimore  $825
186 VitorCoelho  $825
187 MichaelHuguenot  $825
188 JoseRamos  $825
189 RobertWilliams  $825
190 JessFujarczyk  $825
191 CameronStorto  $825
192 NicholasCarter  $825
193 RonaldRentz  $825
194 JoseRomero III  $825
195 ZackFish  $825
196 BrianDenight  $825
197 WilliamUnderdown  $825
198 ErikNomberg  $825
199 JorgeCuesta  $785
200 ThomasElder  $785
201 MarkDube  $785
202 CarlosYepez  $785
203 ArielRosello Quintana  $785
204 GregoryJoslyn  $785
205 MichaelSalzano  $785
206 JoseSued  $785
207 HarrySilver  $785
208 JohnMalczan  $785
209 RodneyMoret-Rojas$785
210 RobertCapote  $785
211 CyleHill  $785
212 ChadShreve  $785
213 JosephMogul  $785
214MitchellSmith  $785
215 RafaelPerez Guerrero  $785
216 MarkWeyman  $785
217 TimothyGilliam  $750
218 SherriManassa  $750
219 JonathanMarcu  $750
220 MircoScharen  $750
221 JanZiegler  $750
222 MahmutUrkun  $750
223 AlanGaarder  $750
224 FanilkumarPatel  $750
225 ChristopherHancock  $750
226 QuentinJones  $750
227 EricValerio  $750
228 MauricoDuarte  $750
229 JermainGerlin  $750
230 ScottBlackman  $750
231 LiamHagens  $750
232 RaminderSingh  $750
233 PeterFellows  $750
234 MarkCannon  $750
235 NaguiYassa  $720
236 DanielPearlman  $720
237 RobertoBendeck  $720
238 JosueDiaz Delgado  $720
239 EliGonzalez  $720
240 AlexanderPerez  $720
241 AdnanKazim  $720
242 WilliamBeasley  $720
243 LawrenceWhyte  $720
244 MatthewReed  $720
245 YvonneMcQuillan  $720
246 JeffreySlayton Jr  $720
247 GeorgeHortelano  $720
248 RichardMotz  $720
249 DavidNowling  $720
250 IvanSaul  $720
251 AlexanderMorgovsky  $720
252 ChadVarnas  $720
253 StevenFlacco  $695
254 AvivEl Baz  $695
255 ChristopherPerkins  $695
256 BrianGoodman  $695
257 PhillipNapoli  $695
258 NatachaGoureau  $695
259 StephenJohnston Sr  $695
260 GeraldCavicchi Jr  $695
261 MichaelTait  $695
262 PatrickLacy  $695
263 DavidMeagher  $695
264 AllanBieler  $695
265 CourtneyRowe  $695
266 ElissaHalbreich  $695
267 JoshuaFrazer James  $695
268 JonHughes  $695
269 KennethFagioli  $695
270 JohnUltey  $695
271 MannyTarich  $675
272 EricMiller  $675
273 CarlosBezara Vivas  $675
274 MillerRictich  $675
275 DavidSeager  $675
276 NoahCurhan  $675
277 SantanaNoronha  $675
278 CarlosCastro  $675
279 JacosZherzhi  $675
280 GilYosefi  $675
281 AndrewZhu  $675
282 MurrayGreene  $675
283 DanielBarnes  $675
284 MarkNimirovsky  $675
285 KennyNguyen  $675
286 EmersonWard  $675
287 EdgarVaras  $675
288 JuanCaputo Ferreira  $675
289 IgorEvseev  $660
290 MichaelMestey  $660
291 GabrielSalvador Lo Valvo  $660
292 PauliusBikus  $660
293 MichaelDecesare  $660
294 PabloMedeiros  $660
295 AaronMahlfeldt  $660
296 FrankDyska  $660
297 PaulJohnson  $660
298 HenryFermin  $660
299 JakeSchwartz  $660
300 StevenDockswell  $660
301 StevenGreenberg  $660
302 GavinGowie  $660
303 TrentSmith  $660
304 ErrolMassey  $660
305 JeffreyBohanek  $660
306 AlexanderWiggins  $660
307 SolangeLucas  $645
308 AntuanBunkley  $645
309 JasonUnger  $645
310 AlejandroAlbarran Avila  $645
311 HarryThomas  $645
312 AustinRiley  $645
313 MarcoRodriguez  $645
314 BobMather  $645
315 DanielMcGrath  $645
316 MichaelWadlow  $645
317 BrettBader  $645
318 NicolasNoguera  $645
319 BrianGelrod  $645
320 RoyYoung Jr  $645
321 JamesJones  $645
322 DamienWiesenfeld  $645
323 StevenKarp  $645
324 JacobBard  $645
325 PaulaAlibrandi  $630
326 ChristopherMo  $630
327 JanisKrumins  $630
328 TavarisJackson  $630
329 JasoHolzberg  $630
330 YobrahinLarez Sanchez  $630
331 CesarFuentes  $630
332 DavidSathue  $630
333 ScottWyler  $630
334 GustavoZorilla  $630
335 MiltonMiranda Jr  $630
336 GregoryBarba  $630
337MatthewSonzogni$630
338 DesmondMacauley  $630
339 AnttiHalme  $630
340 SheLok Wong  $630
341 MarkGaudino  $630
342 AdamTravis  $630
343 DucarmelFils Beaubien  $615
344 MichaelScheinberg  $615
345 GeremyLabrador  $615
346 EricPiderit  $615
347 IftikharMemon  $615
348 RaulPaez Corral  $615
349 DavidMaslowski  $615
350 RileyFuller  $615
351 LucasJulian  $615
352 YaymelBodes  $615
353 ButchieMitchell  $615
354 ManishChaddha  $615
355 JaimeCampos  $615
356 GilfredBertin Jr  $615
357 MikeSharvit  $615
358 CarlosDorca  $615
359 MohammadSiddiqui  $615
360 ChadHamilton  $615
361 GaryGelman  $605
362 ErnestoRencurrell  $605
363 CrystalUtley  $605
364 RonaldJohnston  $605
365 SamyAzzam  $605
366 NicholasMarsico  $605
367 GarialMarsh  $605
368 StevenMcKoy  $605
369 ClaytonSaliba  $605
370 JosephVillacci  $605
371 PaulChacin  $605
372 MichaelFalanga  $605
373 SongO  $605
374 PaulinoDiaz  $605
375 PavlosKasselouris  $605
376 RadhiElbusafi  $605
377 ThomasLancaster  $605
378 RonnieBensimon  $605
379 MatthewZarcadoolas  $595
380 AftabShakoor  $595
381 LaurenceGoldstein  $595
382 ScottMiles  $595
383 LukeBrereton  $595
384 RomanKornev  $595
385 ConstantineApergis  $595
386 AngeloMiele  $595
387 DavidEsquijarosa  $595
388 AndrewGordon  $595
389 RodionSumenkov  $595
390 KevinKernan  $595
391 CarloBuzzetta  $595
392 AlexTorres  $595
393 CarlosTorres Vazquez  $595
394 MohamedMusa  $595
395 RossCorless  $595
396 RichardRicardo  $595
397 RaulJimenez-Diaz$585
398 AlexanderKartveli  $585
399 BarryRoth  $585
400 JosephLevitt  $585
401 RobertDiAntonio  $585
402 JasonWandling  $585
403 BenjaminBoston  $585
404CraigBatement  $585
405 LawrenceRubenstein  $585
406 JosephNaso  $585
407 StevenMiller  $585
408 ReinaldoTroconis Trutschel  $585
409SeanMartin$585
410 ThomasCefaloni  $585
411 CoreyMajor  $585
412 KahlilFrancis  $585
413 NealCorcoran  $585
414 JeanGraterol Vilo  $585
415 NolanWilson  $585
416 RobertoSchmeda  $585
417 JuanEndara  $585
418 EricTuan  $585
419 KrystalHarris  $585
420 MarkAlcivar  $585
421 NathanGeier  $585
422 TerryGrimes  $585
423 SteveCabas  $585
424 AdamMammon  $575
425 GeraldScott  $575
426 ScottZakheim  $575
427 BruceWarren  $575
428 YulienAlvarez Gutierrez  $575
429 GalenSylvester  $575
430 JoseSilva  $575
431 BryanHunter  $575
432 FabianForero  $575
433 RobertSeaton  $575
434 LateshiaMullings  $575
435 MylesHolton  $575
436 JamesReynolds  $575
437 CarlosRodriguez Rojas  $575
438 HarveyAyers  $575
439 DavidShmuel  $575
440 ArieBen-Mayor$575
441 JoseArdila  $575
442 BenjaminKeathley  $575
443 JamesSullivan  $575
444 StevenMiller  $575
445 MichaelAttonito  $575
446 DavidKlingelsmith Jr  $575
447 AlbertCanler  $575
448 CandiceRoig  $575
449 MichaelIngber  $575
450 MichaelRosen  $575
451 JoshuaBeckley  $565
452 SamuelSimon  $565
453 ScottLeventhal  $565
454 BradleyYoung  $565
455 AlexanderRosenblatt  $565
456 RobertTransue  $565
457 TrayBarnard  $565
458 MichaelChiappetta  $565
459 MatthewYorra  $565
460 FranciscoDe La Rosa  $565
461 DanielQuesada  $565
462 BradleyCoultas  $565
463 JustinHall  $565
464 RogrigoSardi  $565
465 JosephTeixeira  $565
466 CharlesOdenz  $565
467 AaronValencia  $565

* Indicates results of a four-way deal.

Event 1: Joseph Rossi Wins in a Four-Way ICM Deal ($138,887)

$400 Deep Stack No Limit Hold’em
$500,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 35:  200,000/400,000 with a 400,000 ante
Players Remaining:  4 of 3,730

Joseph Rossi
Joseph Rossi, Event 1 Champion

After the double-elimination of Allan Maloney in sixth place and Patrick Capozziello in fifth place, the final four players counted up their chip stacks to discuss a possible ICM deal.

These were the official chip counts:

Seat 1.  Don Flynn  –  12,650,000  (32 bb)
Seat 2.  Robert Gregory  –  17,775,000  (44 bb)
Seat 3.  Pablo Ortiz  –  17,300,000  (43 bb)
Seat 4.  Joseph Rossi  –  26,875,000  (67 bb)

After running the numbers, they quickly agreed to an ICM deal. As chipleader, Rossi wins the title, the trophy, and the most money.

Joseph Rossi  –  $138,887
Robert Gregory  –  $123,193
Pablo Ortiz  –  $122,222
Don Flynn  –  $111,641

Stay tuned for a recap of this final table to come later tonight.

Event 1: Patrick Capozziello – 5th Place ($56,270); Allan Maloney – 6th Place ($41,295)

$400 Deep Stack No Limit Hold’em
$500,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 35:  200,000/400,000 with a 400,000 ante
Players Remaining:  4 of 3,730

Patrick Capozziello
Patrick Capozziello

Patrick Capozziello was all in from the cutoff for 4,750,000 with AcJs, and he needed his hand to hold to stay alive against the KcQs of Allan Maloney in the small blind with 5,750,000.

The board came Jd5d2cJh5s, and Capozziello paired his jack on the flop, turned trips, and rivered a full house to win the pot and double up in chips.

Patrick Capozziello  –  10,300,000  (26 bb)
Allan Maloney  –  1,000,000  (3 bb)

A short while later, Capozziello raised from the cutoff to 1,200,000, and Maloney called all in from the small blind for 1,000,000. Joseph Rossi called the 1,200,000, creating a side pot of 400,000.

The flop came KdQc10c, and Rossi thought for a while before moving all in. Capozziello snap-called, and all three players turned over their cards.

Joseph Rossi:  AsJs  (ace-high straight)
Patrick Capozziello:  KhKc  (set of kings)
Allan Maloney:  7s5s  (seven high)

Maloney was nearly drawing dead (unless the board brought an ace-high straight for a three-way chop), while Capozziello needed the board to pair to stay alive.

The turn card was the 7h, the river card was the 6s, and the ace-high straight held up for Rossi to win the entire pot, eliminating both Maloney and Capozziello from the tournament.

Joseph Rossi  –  26,875,000
Patrick Capozziello  –  Eliminated in 5th Place  ($56,270)
Allan Maloney  –  Eliminated in 6th Place  ($41,295)

With four players remaining from a field of 3,730, the average chip stack is about 18,650,000 (47 big blinds). The remaining players are all guaranteed at least $74,845.

Allan Maloney
Allan Maloney

Event 1: Jerry Robinson – 7th Place ($29,925)

$400 Deep Stack No Limit Hold’em
$500,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 35:  200,000/400,000 with a 400,000 ante
Players Remaining:  6 of 3,730

Jerry Robinson
Jerry Robinson

Jerry Robinson moved all in from the button for about 2.1 million, and Joseph Rossi called from the big blind with AhQs.

Robinson turned over Ac9h, and needed to improve to stay alive.

The board came KhJc2cKsAs, and Rossi won the pot with two pair, aces and kings, with his queen kicker to eliminate Robinson in seventh place.

Joseph Rossi  –  21,300,000  (53 bb)
Jerry Robinson  –  Eliminated in 7th Place  ($29,925)

With six players remaining from a field of 3,730, the average chip stack is about 12,425,000 (31 big blinds). The remaining players are all guaranteed at least $41,295.

Poker Cards

Event 1: Pablo Ortiz Leads the Final Seven at the Break with 18.1 Million

$400 Deep Stack No Limit Hold’em
$500,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 35:  200,000/400,000 with a 400,000 ante
Players Remaining:  7 of 3,730

Pablo Ortiz
Pablo Ortiz

The final seven players return from break to begin Level 35, with increased blinds of 200,000-400,000 and a big blind ante of 400,000. With seven players remaining from a field of 3,730, the average chip stack is about 10,650,000 (27 big blinds).

Here are the official chip counts from the break:

Seat 1.  Don Flynn  –  11,450,000  (29 bb)
Seat 2.  Robert Gregory  –  12,375,000  (31 bb)
Seat 3.  Patrick Capozziello  –  4,950,000  (12 bb)
Seat 4.  Pablo Ortiz  –  18,100,000  (45 bb)
Seat 5.  Jerry Robinson  –  2,100,000  (5 bb)
Seat 6.  Allan Maloney  –  3,750,000  (9 bb)
Seat 7.  Joseph Rossi  –  17,750,000  (44 bb)

And here are the remaining payouts:

1st:  $192,850 + SHRPO Trophy
2nd:  $131,630
3rd:  $96,620
4th:  $74,845
5th:  $56,270
6th:  $41,295
7th:  $29,925

Event 1: Yaroslav Nakonechnyy – 8th Place ($23,765)

$400 Deep Stack No Limit Hold’em
$500,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 34:  150,000/300,000 with a 300,000 ante
Players Remaining:  7 of 3,730

Yaroslav Nakonechnyy
Yaroslav Nakonechnyy

Patrick Capozziello raised from middle position to 900,000, Yaroslav Nakonechnyy moved all in from the cutoff for 2,600,000, and Capozziello called with 8h8d.

Nakonechnyy turned over QsQd, and need his hand to hold to stay alive.

But there was an eight in the window as the board came JhJd8c10c5d, and Capozziello flopped a full house, eights full of jacks, to win the pot and eliminate Nakonechnyy in eighth place.

Patrick Capozziello  –  6,600,000  (22 bb)
Yaroslav Nakonechnyy  –  Eliminated in 8th Place  ($23,765)

With seven players remaining from a field of 3,730, the average chip stack is about 10,650,000 (36 big blinds). The remaining players are all guaranteed at least $29,925.

Event 1: Joseph Lachkovich – 9th Place ($17,845)

$400 Deep Stack No Limit Hold’em
$500,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 34:  150,000/300,000 with a 300,000 ante
Players Remaining:  8 of 3,730

Joseph Lachkovich
Joseph Lachkovich

Joseph Lachkovich moved all in from the button for 1,975,000, and Robert Gregory called from the big blind with 5s5h.

Lachkovich turned over QsJs, and needed to improve to stay alive.

The board came 10d9h7hAdAh — Lachkovich flopped an open-ended straight draw, but improved no further. Gregory won the pot with his pocket fives to eliminate Lachkovich in ninth place.

Robert Gregory  –  14,100,000  (47 bb)
Joseph Lachkovich  –  Eliminated in 9th Place  ($17,845)

With eight players remaining from a field of 3,730, the average chip stack is about 9,325,000 (31 big blinds). The remaining players are all guaranteed at least $23,765.

Event 1: Final Table Begins with Joseph Rossi in the Lead

$400 Deep Stack No Limit Hold’em
$500,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 33:  125,000/250,000 with a 250,000 ante
Players Remaining:  9 of 3,730

After the elimination of Curtis King in 10th place, the final nine players redraw for random seats at the final table. Here is the lineup, along with their approximate chip counts.

Seat 1.  Joseph Lachkovich  –  3,250,000  (13 bb)
Seat 2.  Don Flynn  –  8,200,000  (33 bb)
Seat 3.  Robert Gregory  –  17,000,000  (68 bb)
Seat 4.  Patrick Capozziello  –  4,200,000  (17 bb)
Seat 5.  Pablo Ortiz  –  9,200,000  (37 bb)
Seat 6.  Yaroslav Nakonechnyy  –  4,200,000  (17 bb)
Seat 7.  Jerry Robinson  –  5,900,000  (24 bb)
Seat 8.  Allan Maloney  –  3,200,000  (13 bb)
Seat 9.  Joseph Rossi  –  20,600,000  (82 bb)

With nine players remaining from a field of 3,730, the average chip stack is about 8,300,000 (33 big blinds). The remaining players are all guaranteed at least $17,845.

Event 1: Curtis King Eliminated in 10th Place by Joseph Rossi

$400 Deep Stack No Limit Hold’em
$500,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 33:  125,000/250,000 with a 250,000 ante
Players Remaining:  9 of 3,730

Curtis King

Curtis King was all in from the hijack for 2,625,000 with As9s, and he needed to improve to stay alive against the AdAc of Joseph Rossi in the small blind.

The board came Ah10s8c10hQc, and Rossi flopped a set of aces and turned a full house to win the pot and eliminate King in 10th place.

Joseph Rossi  –  20,600,000  (82 bb)
Curtis King  –  Eliminated in 10th Place  ($17,845)

With nine players remaining from a field of 3,730, the average chip stack is about 8,300,000 (33 big blinds). The remaining players are all guaranteed at least $17,845.

Event 1: Brad Speight Flirts with a Big Comeback Before Busting in 11th Place

$400 Deep Stack No Limit Hold’em
$500,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 33:  125,000/250,000 with a 250,000 ante
Players Remaining:  10 of 3,730

Brad Speight
Brad Speight

Patrick Capozziello was all in from the button for 2,600,000 with KsKh, and he needed his hand to hold to stay alive against the Jh10h of Brad Speight, who had 2,675,000 in the cutoff.

The board came Ad8d7d4s7c — Speight flopped a gutshot straight draw, but improved no further. Capozziello won the pot with his pocket kings to double up in chips, knocking Speight down to just 75K.

Patrick Capozziello  –  5,825,000  (23 bb)
Brad Speight  –  75,000  (1/3 bb)

The next hand, Speight called all in under the gun for 75,000, and everyone folded to Yaroslav Nakonechnyy in the big blind, who already had the bet covered with his blind.

Speight turned over KdQd, and he needed it to hold to stay alive against the Nakonechnyy’s 9d3s.

The board came 8c6d5sAc4h, and Speight won the pot with his king to more than sextuple up in chips.

Brad Speight  –  475,000  (2 bb)

The next hand, Speight was forced all in from the big blind (250K to the ante, and 225K to the big blind), and Nakonechnyy called from the small blind with Qs3d. Speight turned over 6c5h, and needed to improve to stay alive.

The board came As6s2h9d9s, and Speight won the pot with two pair, nines and sixes, to double up yet again.

Brad Speight  –  700,000  (3 bb)

A short while later, Yaroslav Nakonechnyy raised under the gun to 650,000, and Speight called all in from the cutoff for 575,000 with 10h8h. Nakonechnyy turned over QcJd, and once again, Speight needed to improve to stay alive.

The board came Kd5d4c9d8c, and Speight spiked an eight on the river to win the pot and double up once more.

Brad Speight  –  1,775,000  (7 bb)

The next hand, Speight moved all in under the gun for 1,775,000, and Robert Gregory moved all in over the top from the small blind with QdQh. Speight turned over 7s7d, and he needed to improve to stay alive.

The board came 9s5s2d2s4h, and the potential comeback of Speight came to an end as Gregory’s pocket queens held up to win the pot. Speight was eliminated in 11th place.

Robert Gregory  –  15,000,000  (60 bb)
Brad Speight  –  Eliminated in 11th Place  ($12,585)

With 10 players remaining from a field of 3,730, the average chip stack is about 7,450,000 (30 big blinds). The remaining players are all guaranteed at least $17,845.