Event 5: Flight D Grinders

$560 Deep Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$200,000 Guaranteed 

Level 3:  Blinds 75/150

A couple of players who chopped last night’s final table are re-investing their winnings in this flight.

Steven Bennett and Claudemir Osorio finished 2nd and 4th, respectively, each earning $10,000 in Event 4, the $150 buy-in NLH event. Up to 41 entries in this flight so far, with late registration and re-entry available until the start of level 9.

EVENT 5: Cofhlin Catches Fire for Flight C & Overall Chip Lead

$560 Deep Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Level 12 Complete
18 Players Remaining
Next Blinds: 1k/2k/300 ante
Day 2, 12 pm Sunday

John Cofhlin
John Cofhlin – Chip Leader

John Cofhlin (Fort Pierce, FL) bags an impressive 419,400 to lead Flight C and take the overall chip lead.

On the penultimate hand of the day, Cofhlin is part of a three-way all in that saw him triple his 133 chip stack.

On a flop 9d8c5c Rick Clayton (Barnhardt, MO) bets 10k and Shawn Cunix (Columbus, OH) moves all in for 170k. Cofhlin calls, as does Clayton with both players at risk.

Cofhlin 9h9c (set of 9s)
Clayton 8s8h (set of 8s)
Cunix 7h2d (gutshot straight draw)

Cunix is looking to gamble as he already bagged 159k in Flight B and could only carry one stack forward into Day 2.

Turn: Tc (Cunix, OE straight draw)

River: 5h

Cofhlin’s gets the full triple-up to more than 400k with a full house, 9s full of 5s. Clayton’s full house wins the 38k side pot versus Cunix.

“I got lucky,” said Cofhlin. “Somehow I have chips for Day 2, usually I just squeak in.”

Cofhlin recently won the Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood Seniors event for $9,500 and won ~$22,000 here in Tampa during the December 2011 series. “Tampa has been good to me,” he said, “I’ve been fortunate here.”

18 players advance today to increase the Day 2 total to 45 players after three flights. The average stack is currently 110k (55 bb) with three flights still to play.

Cofhlin Watches the Official Count
Cofhlin Watches the Official Count

Event 5: Flight D Off The Ground

$560 Deep Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$200,000 Guaranteed 

Level 1: Blinds 25/50

Players began with 25,000 chips and 30-minute levels.  Once registration closes at the start of level 9, they will get 40-minute levels.

This event features six flights over three days.

Event 5 Schedule
December 11-14, 2014

Day 1A:  60 entries, 12 bagged
Day 1B:  59 entries, 15 bagged
Day 1C:  79 entries, nearing completion
Day 1D:  underway
Day 1E: 10 am Saturday
Day 1F: 6 pm Saturday
Day 2: 12 pm Sunday

Event 5 Structure

$$$ Unveiling New High Limit Slots $$$

High Limit Slots Room Officially Opens 8 pm Tonight

High Limit Slots2

In just a few hours the new High Limit Slots Room will be unveiled at Seminole Hard Rock Tampa.

The luxurious room is tripled in size from the previous version covering nearly 14,000 square feet and more than 200 slot machines.

The room features ultra plush seating, private salons and machines with single bets up to $2,000.  Guests will have a secure, private entrance and be offered butler-style personalized service.

The spacious room has an amazing decor and includes a customized crystal chandelier.

The room opens with a private party at 6 pm tonight before opening to the public at 8 pm.

Here’s a sneak peek of what you can expect to see:

EVENT 5: Chip Leader Unmasked

$560 Deep Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)

Level 9: Blinds 400/800/75 ante
79 Entries (Reg/RE Until ~3:30 pm)

Shawn Cunix at the Start of Flight C
Shawn Cunix at the Start of Flight C

Shawn Cunix (Columbus, OH) was trying to keep a low profile, but now that he’s the chip leader the cat is out of the bag.

Cunix already bagged 159k (80 bb) in Flight B, but came back today looking for more as players bagging in multiple flights can carry their best stack forward into Day 2.

“I had 300(k) last night, but bluffed a bunch off,” says Cunix, who is a poker die hard with more than $2 million in career tournament earnings.

“I’m going to get them back, 250(k) at least,” he says while sitting with 144k after today’s second break.

Al Krux (Fayetteville, NY) is the only other player with more than 100k, while Greg McNealy (Tampa, FL) is at 80k.

The overall chip leader after two flights is Jose Galvez (Hialeah, FL) with 248k (124 bb).

Flight C ends up with 79 entries; registration is closed and levels have increased to 40 minutes in length.