Tag Archives: 2016 WPO

Kostas Papastavrou Steamrolls His Way to Victory in WPO $150

2016 Winter Poker Open
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Tampa, FL
Event 4
$150 Deep Stack No Limit Hold’em
Entries: 508
Prize Pool: $59,310
December 5-7, 2016

Kostas Papastavrou pulled off a convincing performance Wednesday night at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa winning Event 4 of the property’s Winter Poker Open. Papastavrou claimed the top spot in the $150 Deep Stack defeating a tough field of 508 entries. For his efforts, he went home with $13,071, a $1,650 seat in the $300,000 guaranteed Championship and a guitar trophy.

With 30-minute levels on Day 1 and 40-minute levels on Day 2, the event moved fast to start but offered plenty of play late. The final table was reached around 6:45pm but play didn’t conclude until nearly 10:45pm. There was some talk of a chop nine-handed, but Papastavrou insisited on playing it out. The one roadblock to an early night went on to take a massive chip lead when he played pot worth nearly 4,000,000 against the start-of-day leader Devaraj Munisekar. With six players left, Munisekar raised and Papastavrou made it 445,000 to go. Munisekar shoved and Papastavrou called off 1,944,000. It turned out to be a race — a race that Papastavrou’s ace-king won.

The hand catapulted Papastavrou into the lead and he bullied his way to a heads-up berth against Kevin Pahl. The pair debated briefly before deciding on a chop that saw Papastavrou take the top spot while Pahl went home with an even $10,000.

With a modest pricepoint and a super-sized field, one might be surprised to see the talent that made Day 2 of Event 4. Five-time WSOP Circuit ring winner John Holley, 2016 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown $350 winner Vitor Coelho, 2016 WPTDeepStacks-Tampe Main Event champion Anthony Astarita and Seminole Hard Rock Tampa ambassador Wally Maddah were among those who returned to compete for the top prize. While they each cashed, it was Papastavrou’s trophy for the taking.

Papastavrou is a 54-year-old professional poker player. He immigrated to the United States from Greece about 38  years ago and has spent much of his time Stateside in Florida. He’s been playing for a living for 21 years and has recorded two major victories prior to this.

Event 4 results:

1st: Kostas Papastavrou – $13,071 + $1,650 Seat
2nd: Kevin Pahl – $10,000
3rd: Mark “Bud” Wiser- $5,338
4th: Brandon Sinawi – $4,241
5th: Kevin Goldstein – $3,321
6th: Devaraj Munisekar – $2,728
7th: Angelo Valdez – $2,165
8th: Tony March – $1,690
9th: Will Dominguez – $1,186
10th: Onder Ekinci – $771
11th: Vitor Coelho – $771
12th: Daniel Ramirez – $771
13th: Mal O’Connor- $593
14th: Antonio Rangel – $593
15th: Jean Zabin – $593
16th: James Gibson – $445
17th: Wally Maddah – $445
18th: Anthony Astarita – $445
19th: Erik Zika – $326
20th: Christina Taylor – $326
21st: Eric Buel – $326
22nd: Sumit Mantaporn – $326
23rd: Michael Henin – $326
24th: Jimmy Davis – $326
25th: Michael Scott – $326
26th: James Smith – $326
27th: Carlos Loving – $326
28th: Jason Hamilton – $297
29th: Oscar Lindo Zeledon – $297
30th: David Hudick – $297
31st: Joao Figueiredo – $297
32nd: Robert Panetta – $297
33rd: Ryan Hughes – $297
34th: John Holley – $297
35th: Hank Zheng – $297
36th: Greg Osborne – $297
37th: John Ambrosi – $267
38th: Ian Pearson – $267
39th: Matthew Mirabella – $267
40th: Rina Coss – $267
41st: Michael Nostrame – $267
42nd: Chase Kinchen – $267
43rd: William Sanford – $267
44th: Brian Dokendorf – $267
45th: Mohammad Affaneh – $267
46th: Chad Kitchen – $237
47th: Vencent White – $237
48th: Vicki Holmes – $237
49th: Kenneth James – $237
50th: Jordan Keller – $237
51st: William McPhillips – $237
52nd: Anthony Thomas – $237
53rd: Jeffrey Kichman – $237
54th: James Wood – $237

Event 4: Kostas Papastavrou Wins in Heads Up Deal ($13,071); Kevin Pahl Runner Up ($10,000)

$150 Big Stack NL Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Level 28: 30,000/60,000 with a 10,000 ante
Players Remaining: 2 of 508

Kostas Papastavrou

Kostas Papastavrou and Kevin Pahl agreed to a heads up deal that saw Pahl pocket an even $10,000. Papastavrou, meanwhile, earned $13,071 along with the guitar trophy and a $1,650 seat in the $300,000 guaranteed Championship.

Kevin Pahl

A full report on the event will be posted later tonight. In the meantime, here’s a look at the tournament’s final results:

1st: Kostas Papastavrou – $13,071 + $1,650 Seat
2nd: Kevin Pahl – $10,000
3rd: Mark “Bud” Wiser- $5,338
4th: Brandon Sinawi – $4,241
5th: Kevin Goldstein – $3,321
6th: Devaraj Munisekar – $2,728
7th: Angelo Valdez – $2,165
8th: Tony March – $1,690
9th: Will Dominguez – $1,186
10th: Onder Ekinci – $771
11th: Vitor Coelho – $771
12th: Daniel Ramirez – $771
13th: Mal O’Connor- $593
14th: Antonio Rangel – $593
15th: Jean Zabin – $593
16th: James Gibson – $445
17th: Wally Maddah – $445
18th: Anthony Astarita – $445
19th: Erik Zika – $326
20th: Christina Taylor – $326
21st: Eric Buel – $326
22nd: Sumit Mantaporn – $326
23rd: Michael Henin – $326
24th: Jimmy Davis – $326
25th: Michael Scott – $326
26th: James Smith – $326
27th: Carlos Loving – $326
28th: Jason Hamilton – $297
29th: Oscar Lindo Zeledon – $297
30th: David Hudick – $297
31st: Joao Figueiredo – $297
32nd: Robert Panetta – $297
33rd: Ryan Hughes – $297
34th: John Holley – $297
35th: Hank Zheng – $297
36th: Greg Osborne – $297
37th: John Ambrosi – $267
38th: Ian Pearson – $267
39th: Matthew Mirabella – $267
40th: Rina Coss – $267
41st: Michael Nostrame – $267
42nd: Chase Kinchen – $267
43rd: William Sanford – $267
44th: Brian Dokendorf – $267
45th: Mohammad Affaneh – $267
46th: Chad Kitchen – $237
47th: Vencent White – $237
48th: Vicki Holmes – $237
49th: Kenneth James – $237
50th: Jordan Keller – $237
51st: William McPhillips – $237
52nd: Anthony Thomas – $237
53rd: Jeffrey Kichman – $237
54th: James Wood – $237

Event 4: Mark “Bud” Wiser — 3rd Place ($5,338)

$150 Big Stack NL Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Level 28: 30,000/60,000 with a 10,000 ante
Players Remaining: 2 of 508

Mark “Bud” Wiser

In a raised pot, Kevin Pahl was in position versus Mark “Bud” Wiser. The flop was Td8d3c and Pahl shoved. Wiser took a minute or two, but called off his last 650,000. Wiser held Ac8s and was paired versus the KdJd of Pahl’s flush draw, overcards and backdoor straight draws.

The turn fell the Ad completing Pahl’s flush. Wiser called for another ace in hopes to improve to a fullhouse, but it never came. The river Jh sealed the deal and Wiser was eliminated in third place earning $5,338.

Pahl went into heads up play against Kostas Papastavrou with a massive chip deficit.

Mark “Bud” Wiser – Eliminated in third place ($5,338)

Event 4: Brandon Sinawi — 4th Place ($4,241); Kevin Goldstein — 5th Place ($3,321)

$150 Big Stack NL Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Level 27: 25,000/50,000 with a 5,000 ante
Players Remaining: 3 of 508

Brandon Sinawi

Brandon Sinawi  and Kevin Goldstein were just eliminated in a span of only a couple hands by chip leader Kostas Papastavrou. Papastavrou’s lead grew while Sinawi was eliminated fourth for $4,241 and Goldstein fifth for $3,321.

Kevin Goldstein

Brandon Sinawi – Eliminated in fourth place ($4,241)
Kevin Goldstein – Eliminated in fifth place ($3,321)

Event 4: Devaraj Munisekar — 6th Place ($2,728)

$150 Big Stack NL Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Level 27: 25,000/50,000 with a 5,000 ante
Players Remaining: 5 of 508

Devaraj Munisekar

Devaraj Munisekar open-shoved for 280,000. Action was sent to Kevin Pahl in the small blind and he moved all in for more. The big blind folded and Munisekar was at risk.

Pahl: AhJh
Devaraj Munisekar: Qd2d

Runout: Ac8h7cQs8c

Pahl’s aces took the pot and Munisekar was eliminated in sixth place for $2,728.

Devaraj Munisekar – Eliminated in sixth place ($2,728)

Event 4: Papastavrou Doubles through Munisekar in Massive All-In

$150 Big Stack NL Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Level 26: 20,000/40,000 with a 5,000 ante
Players Remaining: 6 of 508

Devaraj Munisekar raised to 100,000 from late position and Kostas Papastavrou made it 445,000 behind him. It was back on Munisekar and he moved all-in. Papastavrou called and with that the two biggest stacks at the table were all in preflop. It was unclear who had who covered.

Munisekar: JhJd
Papastavrou: AhKd

Runout: Qd7h4sKh5d

Papastavrou spiked his king on the turn to win the hand. His stack was counted down to 1,944,000. Munisekar sent the pot Papastavrou’s way and was left with just 160,000. Papastavrou, meanwhile, took a massive chip lead.

Kostas Papastavrou – 3,975,000 (99 bb)
Devaraj Munisekar – 160,000 (4 bb)

Event 4: Angelo Valdez — 7th Place ($2,165)

$150 Big Stack NL Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Level 26: 20,000/40,000 with a 5,000 ante
Players Remaining: 6 of 508

Angelo Valdez

Kevin Goldstein moved all in from late position and Angelo Valdez called from the small blind. Valdez was at risk.

Valdez: KcKd
Goldstein: QcQd

Goldstein, who previously doubled through Valdez’s queens, joked about good he was running. The flop fell 9s7s5h.

“I’m running really well right now,” Goldstein said. “The queen’s coming on the turn or river.”

He was wrong about the 7h turn, but smacked the Qh river improving him to a set and earning himself the pot. Valdez was eliminated in seventh place good for a $2,165 score.

Angel Valdez – Eliminated in seventh place ($2,165)

Event 4: Tony March — 8th Place ($1,690)

$150 Big Stack NL Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Level 25: 15,000/30,000 with a 5,000 ante
Players Remaining: 7 of 508

Tony March

Tony March was playing on borrowed time after his jacks ran into aces on an ace-high board. The turn and river completed the wheel for an unlikely chop and March lived to fight another day.

He met his fate recently, though, when he limped and Devaraj Munisekar raised to 150,000 from late position. It folded back to March who called.

March checked the 9s7h2s flop and Munisekar bet 175,000. March called.

The turn was the Ks and March ended up getting his last roughly 500,000 in the pot. Munisekar had AhAd for an overpair and was pleased to see March’s JhTh bluff. The river fell the 6s and March was eliminated in eighth place earning $1,690.

Tony March – Eliminated in eighth place ($1,690)

Event 4: Will Dominguez — 9th Place ($1,186)

$150 Big Stack NL Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Level 24: 12,000/24,000 with a 4,000 ante
Players Remaining: 8 of 508

Will Dominguez

Brandon Sinawi got it started by jamming about 360,000. It folded to Will Dominguez on the button and he shoved forward his final 202,000 chips. The blinds folded and Sinawi was in good shape claiming AcJc to Dominguez’s QdJh

An Ad9c4d flop spelled the end for Dominguez. Didn’t improve on the 2c turn or 2s river and was sent to the rail ninth earning $1,186.

Brandon Sinawi – 595,000 (24 bb)
Will Dominguez – Eliminated in ninth place ($1,186)

Event 4: Final Nine Head to Dinner

$150 Big Stack NL Hold’em (Re-Entry)
End of Level 23: 10,000/20,000 with a 3,000 ante
Players Remaining: 9 of 508

The remaining nine players are on a 40-minute dinner break. Action resumes at roughly 7:30pm. While you wait, here’s a look at the remaining payouts followed by the updated tournament results:

1st – $14,768 + $1,650 Seat
2nd – $8,303
3rd – $5,338
4th – $4,241
5th – $3,321
6th – $2,728
7th – $2,165
8th – $1,690
9th – $1,186

10th: Onder Ekinci – $771
11th: Vitor Coelho – $771
12th: Daniel Ramirez – $771
13th: Mal O’Connor- $593
14th: Antonio Rangel – $593
15th: Jean Zabin – $593
16th: James Gibson – $445
17th: Wally Maddah – $445
18th: Anthony Astarita – $445
19th: Erik Zika – $326
20th: Christina Taylor – $326
21st: Eric Buel – $326
22nd: Sumit Mantaporn – $326
23rd: Michael Henin – $326
24th: Jimmy Davis – $326
25th: Michael Scott – $326
26th: James Smith – $326
27th: Carlos Loving – $326
28th: Jason Hamilton – $297
29th: Oscar Lindo Zeledon – $297
30th: David Hudick – $297
31st: Joao Figueiredo – $297
32nd: Robert Panetta – $297
33rd: Ryan Hughes – $297
34th: John Holley – $297
35th: Hank Zheng – $297
36th: Greg Osborne – $297
37th: John Ambrosi – $267
38th: Ian Pearson – $267
39th: Matthew Mirabella – $267
40th: Rina Coss – $267
41st: Michael Nostrame – $267
42nd: Chase Kinchen – $267
43rd: William Sanford – $267
44th: Brian Dokendorf – $267
45th: Mohammad Affaneh – $267
46th: Chad Kitchen – $237
47th: Vencent White – $237
48th: Vicki Holmes – $237
49th: Kenneth James – $237
50th: Jordan Keller – $237
51st: William McPhillips – $237
52nd: Anthony Thomas – $237
53rd: Jeffrey Kichman – $237
54th: James Wood – $237