2015 Winter Poker Open
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tampa
Event #11
$180 Seniors Classic Rockers 50+
Total Entries: 210
Prize Pool: $28,800
December 15, 2015

Tampa, FL (December 16, 2015) — The $180 Seniors Classic Rockers 50+ tournament began Tuesday morning at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Tampa. The 11th of 14 primary events on the Winter Poker Open schedule, the tournament was fitted with a $20,000 guarantee that was all but obliterated. A total field of 210 entries marked a year-over-over attendance increase of more than 30 percent and generated a prize pool of $28,800. It was a long, 15-hour battle, and when all was settled it was Ohioan Robert “Bo” Bloom who claimed the tournament’s top prize of $8,066 and a $1,650 WPO Championship seat.

“It feels great — a great tournament,” Bloom said. “It was a good bunch of guys.”

Only the top 27 players finished in the money and it was Bloom who did the deed when 29 remained. The fateful hand saw Bloom holding against one opponent’s and another’s . With one player at risk, Bloom was competing for a side pot that saw both players’ money go in on an board. Bloom was behind the trip jacks of one opponent, but the river improved him to a fullhouse, busting both players and sending the remaining 27 into the money in the process. Bloom wavered slightly in the hours following, but eventually closed the book on his first tournament victory.

Bloom outlasted a tough field late that included none other than Al Krux. Krux, a 72-year-old retiree from Wesley Chapel, NC, owns three $10,000 WSOP Main Event final table appearances, most notably a 6th-place finish in the 2004 finale won my Greg Raymer. Additionally, he claimed a gold bracelet during the 1996 WSOP in a $1,500 pot limit hold’em tournament. With more than $1.4 million in tournament earnings, Krux was by far the most accomplished player at the final table. Needless to say, his 4th-place elimination was music to Bloom’s ears.

In the end, the tournament belonged to Bloom. He defeated Tampa regular Forrest Jahn III following a brief heads up battle that saw Jahn bust second for $4,752.

Bloom is 54 years old and resides in Uhrichsville, OH. He says he spends a good amount of time in Tampa and comes here for the weather. The victory marks his third career tournament cash and first victory.

Event 11 final results:

1st: Bo Bloom – $8,066 + $1,650 seat
2nd: Forrest Jahn III – $4,752
3rd: Stephen Fife – $2,736
4th: Al Krux – $2,218
5th: Debra Dorcy – $1,728
6th: Frank Franze – $1,440
7th: “Tampa Bay” Ray DelCueto – $1,152
8th: Bill Isbell – $864
9th: Ken Ledford – $576
10th: Elmo Mariathasan  – $374
11th: Woodrow Pass – $374
12th: Frank Simone – $374
13th: Peter Coleman – $317
14th: Richard Terrill – $317
15th: Marcia Mechler – $317
16th: Clint Riemer – $288
17th: Edith Norman – $288
18th: Robert Kinstle – $288
19th: Anthony Pellegrini – $259
20th: Robert Rohr – $259
21st: Harlon Kinney – $259
22nd: Lawrence Dowling – $259
23rd: Seth Bobet – $259
24th: Jeff Buffenbarger – $259
25th: Gregory Osborne – $259
26th: Richard Stevens – $259
27th: Michael Dolle – $259