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.