2017 April Big Slick
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino
Hollywood, FL
$1,100 No Limit Hold’em
Entries: 148
Prize Pool: $143,560
April 28-30, 2017

Plantation pros nabs first major victory, punches his ticket into August’s Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open Championship.

(Hollywood, FL) — AJ Gambino won the April Big Slick at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sunday night scoring $39,632 along with a $5,250 seat in August’s Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open Championship. The $1,100 buy-in event featured two starting flights each allowing a single re-entry. In all, the tournament drew a field of 148 entries amassing a total prize pool of $143,560. Gambino beat out a tough Day 2 field that included Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi, Seminole Hard Rock regulars Paul Balzano and Michael Newman and chip leader Kevin Chan.

Gambino is a 28-year-old professional poker player who resides in Plantation. He moved to the States about a year ago after spending some time in Canada making his living playing online. The Big Slick victory marks his first major win, but simply complements a tournament resume that now boasts over $450,000 in earnings including a $119,000 score in a $1,600 buy-in event in Las Vegas this summer.

Joining Gambino as Big Slick cashers were Chan (third, $14,787), Newman (4th, $8,977), Chad Eveslage (13th, $2,943) and David Shmuel (19th, $2,153). Mizrachi, who was coming off a win in last week’s $130 Big Stack Special, headlined the action before bowing just shy of the final table in 10th.

Proving to be his toughest opponent, South Florida standout TK Miles dueled Gambino heads up. Miles began play with an advantage of roughly two-to-one over the eventual champ, but the duo played a significant pot early on that marked the beginning of the end for Miles.

At the 10,000/20,000 level and on a flop of , Gambino checked and Miles bet 50,000. Gambino raised to 150,000 only to see Miles three-bet to 375,000. Gambino flatted putting a huge chunk of his stack at risk. The turn was the and Gambino checked. Miles shoved and Gambino snapped turning over for a straight. Miles owned for two pair. The river was a blank and Gambino raked a huge pot. Miles busted second a few hands later earning $25,123.

Gambino’s $5,250 SHRPO seat was added to the prize pool courtesy of the Seminole Hard Rock. The event features two starting flights beginning August 11 and 12 and permits a total of two one re-entry. More details on the tournament will be released in the coming days.

Full Big Slick results:

1st: AJ Gambino – $39,632 + $5,250 SHRPO Seat
2nd: TK Miles – $25,123
3rd: Kevin Chan – $14,787
4th: Michael Newman – $8,977
5th: Eric Beller – $6,963
6th: Oleksiy Lyashenko – $5,750
7th: Bryan Rosen – $5,025
8th: Ran Shahar – $4,486
9th: John Valevich – $3,964
10th: Michael Mizrachi – $3,445
11th: Michael Tait – $3,445
12th: Joel Lumpkins – $3,445
13th: Chad Eveslage – $2,943
14th: Dolphus Powers – $2,943
15th: Frank Silverstein – $2,943
16th: Ronald Spooner – $2,512
17th: Jake Schwartz – $2,512
18th: Andrew Thompson – $2,512
19th: David Shmuel – $2,153

Next up for the Seminole Hard Rock is the May Big Stack Special running the 4th-7th.

$1,100 Big Slick
$100,000 Guaranteed, $5,250 Seat Added
Level 22: 10,000/20,000/3,000
Players Remaining: 1/148

On the final hand of the tournament, TK Miles shoved roughly 600,000 from the button.

“Show me two fours one time,” Gambino said as he called and turned over .

Miles couldn’t come up with two fours, but Gambino was in good shape against the .

Runout:

Gambino’s fives held and he won the Big Slick good for $39,632 along with a $5,250 seat in this August’s Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open Championship. Miles, meanwhile, earned $25,123 for the runner-up finish.

A more in depth report will be posted Monday. Until then, here’s a look at the tournament’s final results:

1st: AJ Gambino – $39,632 + $5,250 SHRPO Seat
2nd: TK Miles – $25,123
3rd: Kevin Chan – $14,787
4th: Michael Newman – $8,977
5th: Eric Beller – $6,963
6th: Oleksiy Lyashenko – $5,750
7th: Bryan Rosen – $5,025
8th: Ran Shahar – $4,486
9th: John Valevich – $3,964
10th: Michael Mizrachi – $3,445
11th: Michael Tait – $3,445
12th: Joel Lumpkins – $3,445
13th: Chad Eveslage – $2,943
14th: Dolphus Powers – $2,943
15th: Frank Silverstein – $2,943
16th: Ronald Spooner – $2,512
17th: Jake Schwartz – $2,512
18th: Andrew Thompson – $2,512
19th: David Shmuel – $2,153

$1,100 Big Slick
$100,000 Guaranteed, $5,250 Seat Added
Level 22: 10,000/20,000/3,000
Players Remaining: 2/148

The flop was and AJ Gambino checked. TK Miles bet 50,000 from the button before Gambino raised to 150,000. It was back on Miles and he three-bet to 375,000. Gambino flatted.

The turn came the . Gambino checked. Miles shoved and Gambino snapped.

Gambino: for a straight
Miles: for top two

River:

Gambino’s straight held. Tournament Director Tony Burns counted down the all-in bet to 862,000 and Miles shipped a massive pot the way of his heads-up adversary.

AJ Gambino – 2,595,000 (129 bb)
TK Miles – 365,000 (18 bb)

$1,100 Big Slick
$100,000 Guaranteed, $5,250 Seat Added
Level 22: 10,000/20,000/3,000
Players Remaining: 2/148

Per the event’s structure sheet, heads-up levels are now 30 minutes in length. TK Miles holds a chip advantage of just under two-to-one over AJ Gambino.

1st – $39,632 + $5,250 SHRPO Seat
2nd – $25,123

$1,100 Big Slick
$100,000 Guaranteed, $5,250 Seat Added
Level 21: 8,000/16,000/2,000
Players Remaining: 2/148

Kevin Chan got about 10 big blinds in preflop and was at risk against TK Miles.

Chan:
Miles:

Chan faded a flop, but the turn improved Miles. The river fell the officially sealing Chan’s fate. He busted third earning $14,787 while Miles took the chip lead into heads-up play against AJ Gambino.

TK Miles – 1,935,000 (120 bb)
AJ Gambino – 1,025,000 (64 bb)
Kevin Chan – Eliminated 3rd ($14,787)

$1,100 Big Slick
$100,000 Guaranteed, $5,250 Seat Added
Level 21: 8,000/16,000/2,000
Players Remaining: 3/148

AJ Gambino was under the gun and opened to 35,000. It was on TK Miles in the small blind and he three-bet to 118,000 sending the action to Michael Newman in the big blind. Newman four-bet jammed 442,000. It was back to Gambino who started it all. He flatted Newman’s shove and Miles had a decision on his hands.

Gambino claimed a little over 500,000 behind. Miles took a couple minutes to think, then shoved. Gambino flashed and folded leaving Miles and Newman to fight it out for the huge pot.

Miles:
Newman:

Runout:

Miles’ queens held and he scooped a massive pot while Newman was eliminated in fourth place.

TK Miles – 2,050,000 (128 bb)
Michael Newman – Eliminated 4th ($8,977)

$1,100 Big Slick
$100,000 Guaranteed, $5,250 Seat Added
Heading to Level 21: 8,000/16,000/2,000
Players Remaining: 4/148

Level 21 has expired and players are on a 30-minute dinner break. Cards go back in the air at roughly 8:25pm ET.

Here’s where the event stands:

TK Miles – 1,154,000 (72 bb)
AJ Gambino – 675,000 (42 bb)
Michael Newman – 591,000 (36 bb)
Kevin Chan – 541,000 (33 bb)

1st – $39,632 + $5,250 SHRPO Seat
2nd – $25,123
3rd – $14,787
4th – $8,977

5th: Eric Beller – $6,963
6th: Oleksiy Lyashenko – $5,750
7th: Bryan Rosen – $5,025
8th: Ran Shahar – $4,486
9th: John Valevich – $3,964
10th: Michael Mizrachi – $3,445
11th: Michael Tait – $3,445
12th: Joel Lumpkins – $3,445
13th: Chad Eveslage – $2,943
14th: Dolphus Powers – $2,943
15th: Frank Silverstein – $2,943
16th: Ronald Spooner – $2,512
17th: Jake Schwartz – $2,512
18th: Andrew Thompson – $2,512
19th: David Shmuel – $2,153

$1,100 Big Slick
$100,000 Guaranteed, $5,250 Seat Added
Level 20: 6,000/12,000/2,000
Players Remaining: 4/148

AJ Gambino raised to 26,000 and Eric Beller called from the big blind. The flop was and Beller, who was the short stack, shoved. Gambino called and had a shot at busting Beller.

Beller: for top pair
Gambino: for bottom pair and an open-ended straight draw

Turn and River:

Gambino improved to two pair and won the pot while Beller was eliminated in fifth place for $6,963.

AJ Gambino – 580,000 (48 bb)
Eric Beller – Eliminated 5th ($6,963)

$1,100 Big Slick
$100,000 Guaranteed, $5,250 Seat Added
Level 20: 6,000/12,000/2,000
Players Remaining: 5/148

Michael Newman started it from under the gun by raising to 27,000. It folded to TK Miles in the small blind and he three-bet to 76,000. Newman called and the pair saw a flop of . They both checked.

The turn was the and Miles lead for 105,000. Newman called.

The river was the and Miles lead for 175,000. Newman called.

Miles:
Newman:

Both players had a boat, but Miles’ was best. He took the pot and the chip lead.

TK Miles – 905,000 (75 bb)
Michael Newman – 315,000 (26 bb)

$1,100 Big Slick
$100,000 Guaranteed, $5,250 Seat Added
Level 19: 5,000/10,000/1,000
Players Remaining: 5/148

A shortstacked Oleksiy Lyashenko was in middle position and got the last of his chips at risk preflop holding against the of Michael Newman in the small blind.

Runout:

Newman improved to aces up and busted Lyashenko sixth.

Michael Newman – 624,000 (62 bb)
Oleksiy Lyashenko – Eliminated 6th ($5,750)

$1,100 Big Slick
$100,000 Guaranteed, $5,250 Seat Added
Level 19: 5,000/10,000/1,000
Players Remaining: 6/148

Kevin Chan raised to 27,000 from the cutoff and Eric Beller called from the small blind. It was on Michael Newman in the big blind and he shoved for 194,000. Chan called and Beller got out of the way. Newman’s tournament life was at risk.

Newman:
Chan:

Runout:

Chan flopped outs but couldn’t catch any of them. Newman’s pair was good and he doubled through Chan.

Michael Newman – 390,000 (39 bb)
Kevin Chan – 565,000 (56 bb)

$1,100 Big Slick
$100,000 Guaranteed, $5,250 Seat Added
Level 19: 5,000/10,000/1,000
Players Remaining: 6/148

Players just returned from the first break of final table play and cards are in the air to start Level 19. Here’s where play is at:

Seat 1: — empty —
Seat 2: Oleksiy Lyashenko – 281,000
Seat 3: — empty —
Seat 4: Kevin Chan – 658,000
Seat 5: TK “Tim” Miles – 196,000
Seat 6: Eric Beller – 812,000
Seat 7: — empty —
Seat 8: Michael Newman – 320,000
Seat 9: AJ Gambino – 694,000

1st – $39,632 + $5,250 SHRPO Seat
2nd – $25,123
3rd – $14,787
4th – $8,977
5th – $6,963
6th – $5,750

7th: Bryan Rosen – $5,025
8th: Ran Shahar – $4,486
9th: John Valevich – $3,964
10th: Michael Mizrachi – $3,445
11th: Michael Tait – $3,445
12th: Joel Lumpkins – $3,445
13th: Chad Eveslage – $2,943
14th: Dolphus Powers – $2,943
15th: Frank Silverstein – $2,943
16th: Ronald Spooner – $2,512
17th: Jake Schwartz – $2,512
18th: Andrew Thompson – $2,512
19th: David Shmuel – $2,153

$1,100 Big Slick
$100,000 Guaranteed, $5,250 Seat Added
Level 18: 4,000/8,000/1,000
Players Remaining: 6/148

Bryan Rosen picked up pocket queens and was at risk preflop versus Kevin Chan’s pocket eights. Rosen was in good shape to double up, but took a crushing blow when an eight came on the flop. He never caught back up to Chan’s set and was eliminated seventh earning $5,025.

Bryan Rosen – Eliminated 7th ($5,025)

$1,100 Big Slick
$100,000 Guaranteed, $5,250 Seat Added
Level 18: 4,000/8,000/1,000
Players Remaining: 7/148

Ran Shahar, who had doubled up a handful of times during final table play, got his last 42,000 in from middle position and start-of-day chip leader Kevin Chan called from the button.

Chan:
Shahar:

The runout came blanks and Chan’s ace-jack high held to bust Shahar in eighth place. Shahar earned $4,486.

Kevin Chan – 440,000 (55 bb)
Ran Shahar – Eliminated 8th ($4,486)

$1,100 Big Slick
$100,000 Guaranteed, $5,250 Seat Added
Level 18: 4,000/8,000/1,000
Players Remaining: 8/148

John Valevich was in late position and raised to 18,000. It folded to Eric Beller in the small blind and he called as did Bryan Rosen in the big blind. They were three-handed.

Flop:

Action checked to Valevich. He bet 42,000. Beller called and Rosen got out of the way.

Turn:

Beller open-shoved having Valevich covered. Valevich called off and the hands were tabled.

Beller: for open-ended straight and flush draws
Valevich: for an overpair

River:

The river complete Beller’s flush draw and Valevich was eliminated in ninth place for $3,964.

Eric Beller – 607,000 (75 bb)
John Valevich – Eliminated 9th ($3,964)

$1,100 Big Slick
$100,000 Guaranteed, $5,250 Seat Added
Level 18: 4,000/8,000/1,000
Players Remaining: 9/148

Per the event’s structure sheet, levels jumped from 40 minutes to 60 minutes at the final table. Play began midway through Level 17, so that level expired before Level 18 marked the beginning of the one-hour sessions.

At present, the big blind sits at 8,000 good for an average stack of 41 big blinds.