2019 Winter Poker Open
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Tampa, Florida
Event 2
$360 No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$250,000 Guaranteed
Entries: 1,010
Prize Pool: $303,000
December 4-8, 2019

Event 2 was the first big multi-flight tournament on the Winter Poker Open schedule and players came out in force. It drew 1,010 entries over the first weekend and it came to close with SHR Tampa favorite Tony March walking away with the win along with a nice payday for his charity.

The tournament featured a $250,000 guaranteed prize pool but the four-digit turnout blasted it over $300,000 by the time registration closed. The last 102 players would earn some money but first, they had to get through their opening flight.

Only 131 players were able to do it so that meant a quick bubble on Day 2. The pace never really slowed and they were soon down to the final table nine after the dinner break. A.J. Kelsall stormed to the top of the counts with three tables remaining and was in the driver’s seat.

March, on the other hand, was near the bottom with less than 20 big blinds when the final table got underway. But didn’t last long. March did most of the heavy lifting at the table until he was heads-up with Kelsall for the title.

March had a big lead and it only increased against Kelsall. The two came to an agreement to chop up the remaining prize pool with Kelsall earning $45,850 for second place.

It is a big win for March and even more important for his charity. He runs the Pay It Backward Foundation that was created “to help feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, encourage the brokenhearted and get them on their feet again.”

March donates 100% of all tournament earnings and this is another $45,851 going to a great cause.

Final table results:

1st: Tony March – $45,851 + Guitar Trophy *
2nd: A.J. Kelsall – $45,850 *
3rd: Barbara Cardin – $24,404
4th: Tom Nguyen – $18,059
5th: Vincent Yenko – $13,756
6th: Michael Stracuzza – $10,926
7th: Landon Brown – $9,042
8th: Walter Conners – $7,193
9th: Wilmer Diaz – $5,390
* – denotes heads-up deal

• Download – Complete results (PDF)