All posts by BJ Nemeth

Stephen Brite Continues a Strong Year by Winning the Six-Max Pot Limit Omaha Trophy

2021 WPT Tampa
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Tampa, Florida
Event 10
$1,100 Six-Max Pot Limit Omaha (Re-Entry)
Entries:  72
Prize Pool:  $69,840
June 15-16, 2021

Event 10 Champion Stephen Brite
Event 10 Champion Stephen Brite

The $1,100 Six-Max Pot Limit Omaha returned for Day 2 with eight players in the money, and when it was all over, recreational poker player Stephen Brite had outlasted a tough final table to win his first guitar trophy here at Seminole Hard Rock Tampa.

“The final table started off pretty bad for me,” said Brite. “I had the chip lead to start, but I lost that pretty quickly, and I had to come back. The final table had a lot of talented players, with James Carroll leading the pack. He’s definitely a tough player. I feel very fortunate to have won it.”

“I’ve had some success this year,” said Brite. “I got a fifth place in the main event here back in February, which was nice.” That was the biggest cash of Brite’s tournament career, when he earned $70,543. This score was a bit smaller, worth $24,287, but it came with the lovely guitar trophy that signifies Brite as a PLO champion.

“PLO is one of my favorite games,” said Brite. “I like all the games, I like high-low and stuff like that. I play a lot of PLO cash games. Tournaments, whenever there’s a good one like this one, I’ll definitely be in it.”

PlaceFirst NameLast NameCityStatePrize
1StephenBriteBradentonFL$24,287
2JoshuaPalmerDaphneAL$15,011
3JamesCarrollLas VegasNV$10,131
4MichaelRaimonSarasotaFL$6,965
5CoryWoodMurfreesboroTN$4,880
6DamjanRadanovMemphisTN$3,486
7DavidMzareulovKatyTX$2,540
8IgorTretyakovLutzFL$2,540

Event 10: Stephen Brite Wins ($24,287); Joshua Palmer Finishes as Runner-Up ($15,011)

$1,100 Six-Max Pot Limit Omaha (Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 20:  10,000/20,000 with a 20,000 ante
Players Remaining:  1 of 72

Stephen Brite (left) Heads-Up Against Joshua Palmer

After about 15 minutes of heads-up play, Stephen Brite had built some momentum in a lot of smaller pots to knock Joshua Palmer down below 300K.

Stephen Brite  –  1,160,000  (58 bb)
Joshua Palmer  –  280,000  (14 bb)

At that point, Palmer completed the small blind to 20,000, and Brite checked his option.

The flop came As8d3h, Brite checked, Palmer bet 25,000, and Brite called.

The turn card was the 7h, Brite checked, Palmer bet 60,000, and Brite pot-raised all in. Palmer tanked for a long time before he called all in for 234,000.

Stephen Brite:  Ad9h7s7c  (set of sevens)
Joshua Palmer:  Jh8h6c5d  (heart flush draw, open-ended straight draw)

The river card was the Jc, and the set of sevens held up for Brite to win the pot — and the trophy and the title.

Congratulations to Stephen Brite!

1st:  Stephen Brite  –  $24,287
2nd:  Joshua Palmer  –  $15,011
3rd:  James Carroll  –  $10,131
4th:  Michael Raimon  –  $6,965
5th:  Cory Wood  –  $4,880
6th:  Damjan Radanov  –  $3,486
7th:  David Mzareulov  –  $2,540
8th:  Igor Tretyakov  –  $2,540

Event 10: James Carroll – 3rd Place ($10,131)

$1,100 Six-Max Pot Limit Omaha (Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 20:  10,000/20,000 with a 20,000 ante
Players Remaining:  2 of 72

James Carroll
James Carroll

Stephen Brite raised from the button to 50,000, and James Carroll called from the big blind. The flop came 9d8s7s, Carroll bet 75,000, and Brite called.

The turn card was the 2s, Carroll checked, and Brite moved all in for 234,000. Carroll waited for an exact count and tanked for a while before he called.

James Carroll:  Jd9s6h5s  (nine-high flush)
Stephen Brite:  As7h7c3d  (set of sevens)

Brite needed to improve to stay alive, and the river card paired the board with the 2d, giving Brite a full house to win the pot and double up in chips.

Stephen Brite  –  748,000  (37 bb)
James Carroll  –  170,000  (9 bb)

About 10 minutes later, James Carroll got it all in from the big blind for about 0000 against Stephen Brite on the button.

Stephen Brite:  AsAh9s3h
James Carroll:  AcKcKs6c

The board came 10h7c5hJh3d, and Brite turned a heart flush to win the pot and eliminate Carroll in third place.

James Carroll  –  Eliminated in 3rd Place  ($10,131)

Here are the approximate chip counts for the start of heads-up play:

Stephen Brite  –  925,000  (46 bb)
Joshua Palmer  –  525,000  (26 bb)

And a reminder of the payouts for this event:

1st:  $24,287
2nd:  $15,011

3rd:  James Carroll  –  $10,131
4th:  Michael Raimon  –  $6,965
5th:  Cory Wood  –  $4,880
6th:  Damjan Radanov  –  $3,486
7th:  David Mzareulov  –  $2,540
8th:  Igor Tretyakov  –  $2,540

“Brooklyn Johnny” Crowther Wins Event 9 to Deny Chris Kennedy a Second Victory This Series

2021 WPT Tampa
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Tampa, Florida
Event 9
$400 Omaha 8/Stud 8 (Re-Entry)
Entries:  107
Prize Pool:  $35,845
June 15, 2021

Brooklyn Johnny Crowther
Event 9 Champion “Brooklyn Johnny” Crowther

There were 107 entries in Wednesday’s Omaha 8/Stud 8 tournament, and the last player standing was Randolph “Brooklyn Johnny” Crowther, who earned $11,382, the title, and the guitar trophy.

“I thought I played a solid tournament,” said Crowther. “I made one bad decision early on, and it almost knocked me out. But then I luckily recovered.”

There was a surprisingly long final table bubble, and when they finally took their seats at the final table, five of the eight players had three big bets or less.

Crowther began the final table second in chips behind Chris Kennedy, who won Event 3 ($400 Limit Omaha 8) last week to earn the second guitar trophy of his career, and the two of them knocked out the other six players between them to reach heads-up play nearly even in chips.

They played for a short while before taking a break, and Kennedy had taken a 740K-to-542K lead. But when they got back from break, it was all Crowther from there, with Kennedy apparently going winless during the next level to find himself with less than half of a big bet.

Kennedy bounced back a bit, but was knocked out a few minutes later in a final hand where he started with aces in the hole in Stud-8, but Crowther finished with a queen-high straight.

“I love high-low games,” said Crowther. “I’ve been playing them my whole life. I’m a patient player, and I read the cards quickly. I know highs, and I know lows.”

And now Crowther has the guitar trophy to prove it.

PlaceFirst NameLast NameCityStatePrize
1RANDOLPHCROWTHERTAMPAFL$11,382
2CHRISTOPHERKENNEDYAUBURNAL$7,035
3LARRYST JEANSALISBURYMA$4,661
4JOHNFAHMYHOPKINTONMA$3,218
5KENNETHPOSEVEN HILLSOH$2,320
6DAVIDSHMUELMIAMIFL$1,750
7BARTLEYO'CONNELLODESSAFL$1,384
8STEVENRUTTERREADINGPA$1,150
9DONALDYUCIUSDUXBURYMA$1,007
10KAIHICKSSEATTLEWA$1,007
11CHRISTOPHERTRYBAEVERGREENCO$931

Event 10: Stephen Brite Leads the Final Eight into Day 2

$1,100 Six-Max Pot Limit Omaha (Re-Entry)
Structure
Level 14:  3,000/5,000 with a 5,000 ante
Players Remaining:  8 of 72

Stephen Brite
Chipleader Stephen Brite

After Victor Figueroa’s elimination in ninth place, the final eight players bagged up their chips for Day 2. Here are the official chip counts and seating assignments, followed by the prizepool:

TABLE 83
Seat 1.  Joshua Palmer  –  166,000  (33 bb)
Seat 3.  Igor Tretyakov  –  104,000  (21 bb)
Seat 5.  James Carroll  –  153,000  (31 bb)
Seat 6.  Damjan Radanov  –  302,000  (60 bb)

TABLE 84
Seat 1.  Stephen Brite  –  304,000  (61 bb)
Seat 2.  Michael Raimon  –  292,000  (58 bb)
Seat 4.  David Mzareulov  –  56,000  (11 bb)
Seat 6.  Cory Wood  –  63,000  (13 bb)

1st:  $24,287
2nd:  $15,011
3rd:  $10,131
4th:  $6,965
5th:  $4,880
6th:  $3,486
7th-8th:  $2,540

Day 2 begins tomorrow (Wednesday) at 2:00 pm.

Event 9: Johnny Crowther Wins ($11,382); Chris Kennedy Finishes as Runner-Up ($7,035)

$400 Omaha 8/Stud 8 (Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 24:  40,000/80,000 Limits
Remaining Players:  1 of 107

Johnny Crowther
Event 9 Champion “Brooklyn” Johnny Crowther

After starting heads-up nearly even in chips during Level 22, when the blinds increased to 30,000-60,000 during Level 23, Johnny Crowther caught fire and steamrolled his way to a big chip lead.

Kennedy said he went 0-for-Level 23, never winning a hand (not counting split pots).

During a round of Omaha-8, with the final board showing 10d6d3c9h5h and a sizable pot built up, Kennedy folded, leaving himself with just 36,000 in chips.

Crowther let him off the hook and showed his cards — Jd8d7h4c for a jack-high straight with an 8-6 low.

Johnny Crowther  –  1,248,000  (16 BB)
Chris Kennedy  –  36,000  (1/2 BB)

Kennedy got it all in on the next hand with pocket kings to Crowther’s pocket jacks.

Chris Kennedy:  KcKsJs2c
Johnny Crowther:  JhJc9c8c

The board came Kd8d6s6h7s, and Kennedy won the pot with kings full of sixes to double up to 72,000.

Chris Kennedy  –  72,000  (1 BB)
Johnny Crowther  –  1,212,000  (15 BB)

They split the next pot, and then Crowther folded to a shove, bumping Kennedy to 112,000. They split the next pot, and then Kennedy scooped a hand in Stud-8 to double up to 224,000.

Chris Kennedy  –  224,000  (3 BB)
Johnny Crowther  –  1,060,000  (13 BB)

Chris Kennedy
Runner-Up Chris Kennedy

Kennedy was climbing out of the hole, but less than 10 minutes later, they got it all in on sixth street during a round of Stud-8.

Johnny Crowther:  Qd10c  8c9c7sJc  5h
Chris Kennedy:  AdAc  KdJh9h3h  Ks

Kennedy rivered two pair, aces and kings, but it was no good as Crowther caught a queen-high straight on sixth street to win the pot — and the title and the trophy.

Congratulations to “Brooklyn” Johnny Crowther!

1st:  Johnny Crowther  –  $11,382 + Trophy
2nd:  Chris Kennedy  –  $7,035
3rd:  Larry St. Jean  –  $4,661
4th:  John Fahmy  –  $3,218
5th:  Kenneth Po  –  $2,320
6th:  David Shmuel  –  $1,750
7th:  Bart O’Connell  –  $1,384
8th:  Steve Rutter  –  $1,150
9th:  Donald Yucius  –  $1,007
10th:  Kai Hicks  –  $1,007
11th:  Chris Tryba  –  $931

Event 9: Larry St. Jean – 3rd Place ($3,218)

$400 Omaha 8/Stud 8 (Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 22:  20,000/40,000 Limits
Remaining Players:  2 of 107

Larry St. Jean
Larry St. Jean

During a round of Omaha-8, Larry St. Jean got it all in preflop from the big blind against Chris Kennedy in the small blind and Johnny Crowther on the button.

Kennedy and Crowther checked all the way down on a board of 10s10h6hAdJc, and with no possible lows, all three players revealed their cards.

Chris Kennedy:  Jd6c5h4d  (two pair, jacks and tens)
Johnny Crowther:  As5d4s2h  (two pair, aces and tens)
Larry St. Jean:  Jh3h2d2c  (two pair, jaxcks and tens)

Crowther won the entire pot with his aces up to eliminate St. Jean in third place.

Larry St. Jean  –  Eliminated in 3rd Place  ($4,661)

Heads-up play got underway with both players having nearly even stacks:

Chris Kennedy  –  650,000  (16 BB)
Johnny Crowther  –  640,000  (16 BB)

Event 9: John Fahmy – 4th Place ($3,218)

$400 Omaha 8/Stud 8 (Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 22:  20,000/40,000 Limits
Remaining Players:  3 of 107

John Fahmy
John Fahmy

During a round of Omaha-8, after a flop of AdKh9c, John Fahmy got it all in for his last 28,000 against Chris Kennedy, and they both turned over their cards.

Chris Kennedy:  AsJh7h6h  (pair of aces, jack kicker)
John Fahmy:  AcQc7s2d  (pair of aces, queen kicker)

The turn card was the 4c, the river card was the Jd, and with no qualifying lows, Kennedy rivered two pair, aces and jacks, to win the entire pot and eliminate Fahmy in fourth place.

Chris Kennedy  –  710,000  (18 BB)
John Fahmy  –  Eliminated in 4th Place  ($3,218)

With three players remaining, the average chip stack is about 430,000 (11 BB), and the next player to bust will earn $4,661.

Event 9: Kenneth Po – 5th Place ($2,320)

$400 Omaha 8/Stud 8 (Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 22:  20,000/40,000 Limits
Remaining Players:  4 of 107

Kenneth Po
Kenneth Po

Kenneth Po tells us he had been down to just 8,500 in chips back during Level 17 (with limits at 6,000-12,000) one or two spots away from the money, but he managed to spin it up to 42,500 before the Money Bubble burst. He then got it all the way up to 154,500 with nine players left, but it took a surprisingly long time to reach the eight-handed final table, and in that time, Po dropped back down to 42,500. He was one of five players who began the final table with just 2-3 big bets.

Po laddered up three spots before he got it all in under the gun for 1,500 during a round of Omaha-8 against Johnny Crowther in the small blind and Chris Kennedy in the big blind.

Crowther and Kennedy checked all the way down on a board of 3c2c2h4h9h, and all three players showed their cards:

Chris Kennedy:  QdJc9c7s
Johnny Crowther:  As8s8d3s
Kenneth Po:  Ad10s8c5s

Po scooped the main pot with a wheel to triple his stack up to 4,500.

Kenneth Po  –  4,500  (11% of a BB)

The next hand, Po was forced all in from the big blind for 4,500 against Kennedy in the small blind.

Chris Kennedy:  AcKh8c6s
Kenneth Po:  3s3h3d2d

The board came Ad10s2hKcAs, and with no possible lows, Kennedy won the pot with a full house, aces full of kings, to eliminate Po in fifth place.

Chris Kennedy  –  680,000  (17 BB)
Kenneth Po  –  Eliminated in 5th Place  ($2,320)

With four players remaining, the average chip stack is about 320,000 (8 BB), and the next player to bust will earn $3,218.

Event 9: David Shmuel – 6th Place ($1,384)

$400 Omaha 8/Stud 8 (Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 21:  15,000/30,000 Limits
Remaining Players:  5 of 107

David Shmuel
David Shmuel

During a round of Stud-8, David Shmuel got it all in on third street for 15,000 against Chris Kennedy.

Chris Kennedy:  Ks6h  3d3s5s4s  10s
David Shmuel:  8c4d  7d10cQh7h  3h

Neither player made a qualifying low, and Kennedy caught four straight spades to win the pot with a flush, eliminating Shmuel in sixth place.

Chris Kennedy  –  650,000  (22 BB)
David Shmuel  –  Eliminated in 6th Place  ($1,384)

With five players remaining, the average chip stack is about 257,000 (9 BB), and the next player to bust will earn $2,320.