Seminole Hard Rock Tampa Spring Poker Open
Event 8: $1,650 WPT Regional Championship No Limit Hold’em
March 14-16, 2014

Entries: 261
Prize Pool: $391,500

RECAP
A case of boredom and restlessness earned Jean Gaspard $109,613 and the WPT Seminole Hard Rock Tampa Championship No Limit Hold’em title.

“I was just feeling a little bored at home in Las Vegas,” said Gaspard after his win in the early hours of Monday morning. “There are so many distractions out there. My buddy told me about this tournament and I just hopped on a flight and came out here to play it.”

The 42 year-old poker pro already has over $1.2 million in live career tournament earnings to his name, but felt that his game was lacking a little bit because of the distractions that are available in in Sin City.

“I told my girlfriend that I’m flying out to Tampa and I’m going to win this tournament,” said Gaspard. “I’ve felt really good playing here. I’ve been really focused. The last time I felt this focused was in New Orleans when I won my ring.”

Gaspard came into the final day as the chip leader after cruising through the third of three starting flights for the event. He carried that momentum into Sunday and entered the final table as one of the biggest stacks.

Gaspard never got too short at the final table and ended up playing heads-up for the title against local poker professional and World Series of Poker bracelet winner, Chris Dombrowski.

The heads-up match lasted about an hour and at the start of the match, Dombrowski was facing a slight chip disadvantage. The momentum seemed to change though when Dombrowski rivered the nut flush and won a big pot. Dombrowski took the chip lead with that hand and then grinded out a 4-to-1 chip lead over the Last Vegas pro.

“I tried to put him on tilt,” said Gaspard about his table talk that started when he was trailing in chips. “I was throwing everything at him, but nothing worked. That kid plays good.”

Gaspard regained the chip lead when he got all in on a flop of with against Dombrowski’s . Gaspard found another jack on the turn and he never looked back from there.

He won a few hands without showdown after that and then they got the last chips in the middle preflop with Gaspard holding the best of it with pocket fives against Dombrowski’s pocket threes. The board didn’t offer any help to Dombrowski and Gaspard took earned himself a six-figure payday.

FINAL RESULTS

Main Event Schedule