Winter Poker Open players can stay at the nearby Fairfield Inn & Suites for only $99 per night. Those interested in reserving a room for the $300,000 guaranteed Championship or any of the prelims scheduled between now and then are encouraged to call 866-388-4263 and use group code GWINT16.
In addition to a breakfast buffet, the Fairfield Inn & Suites features complimentary transportation to and from the Seminole Hard Rock.
Fairfield Inn & Suites – Tampa Fairground/Casino 6720 Lakeview Center Drive, Tampa, FL 33619
The first of four $55 step satellites into the $300,000 guaranteed Winter Poker Open Championship is underway. Players have the opportunity to turn a modest investment into a seat in December 14th’s $190 buy-in satellite with 15 $1,650 seats guaranteed. From there, they can punch their ticket into one of the state’s biggest events which begins December 15th.
In addition to a six-figure score, the Championship winner earns a guitar trophy and a $5,250 seat in next August’s Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open Championship.
$150 Big Stack NL Hold’em (Re-Entry) Level 6: 200/400 with a 50 ante Entries: 86
Tom Nguyen
Anytime Tom Nguyen is at a table, there’s sure to be some action. Nguyen crushed the middle stages of Event 1 yesterday, claiming 800,000 or more chips while much of the rest of the field hovered around a couple hundred thousand. Nguyen ended up finishing 24th and is giving it another go here in the $150 multi-flight re-entry.
A quick stroll by Nguyen’s table and it’s clear it’s business as usual. With a raise and a few callers, Nguyen jammed the big blind. After some thought, everyone got out of the way and Nguyen — who flashed an ace — took the blinds, antes and the rest of the chips in the middle.
The very next hand someone shoved and Nguyen called with . He had the stack of the opponent covered, but couldn’t improve and sent a double to his tablemate.
Nguyen pocket sevens can’t improve versus pocket nines
Nguyen joked about going to play baccarat because it’s cheaper than poker.
$150 Big Stack NL Hold’em (Re-Entry) Level 5: 150/300 with a 50 ante Entries: 86
Richard Rose
The first break expired and players are back in their seats with Richard Rose appearing to own the top spot among the counts. Rose has turned his 15,000 starting chips into 34,000 and more than doubled his stack early.
$150 Big Stack NL Hold’em (Re-Entry) Level 4: 100/200 with a 25 ante Entries: 80
Herbert Woodbery
The entry count continued to tick up through Level 4 and it’s now at 80 with the first break right around the corner. Herbert Woodbery, a two-time Seminole champion, is among those in action.
Woodbery resides in nearby Winter Park and has claimed victories both here in Tampa and at Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee. With $184,000 in career earnings, a victory in Event 4 would undoubtedly move him over the $200,000 mark.
Players are about to go on their first break of the day and a glance at the chip leader will be provided shortly after cards get in the air.
$150 Big Stack NL Hold’em (Re-Entry) Level 3: 75/150 with a 25 ante Entries: 62
Myhong Han
Myong Han came out on the good end of yesterday’s $150 Turbo primary event after gracing the final table and bowing out fourth for $1,634. When ten players remained, there was some talk of chop, but Han wanted to play. For all intents and purposes, his fourth-place payday was equal to the chop presented at the time, so Han made out pretty much event.
With the turbo structure came an abrupt end and Han was able to go home and get a good night’s sleep. He’s back it here in today’s Flight A of the $150 buy-in, $50,000 guarantee.
With 16 minutes remaining on the clock in Level 2, the board reads a total of 52 entries to this point. Last year’s opener drew 102 and it appears the most recent installment will likely come up just a bit shy of that. Late registration and re-entry are available until 3:30pm.
Below is a recap of Event 3 of the Winter Poker Open, a $150 Deep Stack Turbo event that concluded Sunday, December 4.
2016 Winter Poker Open Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa, FL Event 3 $150 Deep Stack Turbo No Limit Hold’em Entries: 184 Prize Pool: $20,430 December 4, 2016
Josias Santos, Event 3 Champion
Josias Santos broke through and carded another tournament victory at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sunday night during the property’s Winter Poker Open. Santos, a native of Brazil, defeated a field of 184 entries in a $150 Deep Stack Turbo event pocketing $4,749 and a $1,650 seat in the series’ $300,000 guaranteed Championship. The victory is his second at the Seminole Hard Rock, his first coming in 2015 when he carded more than $30,000 in the Deep STack Winter Poker Series.
Event 3 played out in a flash, narrowing from nearly 200 starting entries to the final table of 10 in just about seven hours. The average stack hovered around 10 big blinds and Louis Constant’s 10th-place finish opened the floodgates. Just about 30 minutes after his departure play narrowed to a heads-up battle between Santos and eventual runner-up Jennifer Arojado. Santos owned roughly three-quarters of the chips in play heads up, but that didn’t stop Arojado from trying to negotiate an even chop. Santos was reluctant at first, but obliged after a few minutes of debate. The prize money was split evenly, but Santos’ deal was sweetened with the Championship seat, and of course, the property’s token guitar trophy.
Santos is a 52-year-old business owner who spends as much of his free time on the tournament felt he can. His poker resume boasts 44 cashes totaling nearly $160,000 in career earnings. He experienced some success in Tampa recently as well, finishing fourth in the WPTDeepStacks-Tampa in June for over $18,000.
Event 3 final results:
1st: Josias Santos – $4,749 + $1,650 Championship Seat 2nd: Jennifer Arojado – $4,749 3rd: Kenneth Jensen – $1,941 4th: Myhong Han – $1,634 5th: Michael Scott – $1,226 6th: Eric Buel – $1,022 7th: Moses Clepper – $817 8th: Peter Dalcamo – $613 9th: Mark “Bud” Wiser – $460 10th: Louis Constant – $409 11th: Michael Conner – $409 12th: Matthew Sacks – $409 13th: Paul Huffer – $358 14th: Gerald Silva – $358 15th: Robert Bloom – $358 16th: Jean Hebert – $306 17th: Roerto Polanco – $306 18th: Daniel Pearlman – $306
It’s 11am at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa and the first of four flights in Event 4 of the property’s Winter Poker Open is here — a $150 Big Stack No Limit Hold’em tournament with a $50,000 guarantee. Players begin with 15,000 chips and log 30-minute levels throughout.
Details:
11AM: Event 4 Day 1A – $150 Big Stack NL Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$50,000 Guaranteed Prize Pool
Players begin with 15,000 in chips and 30-minute levels
Late registration/re-entry available until start of Level 9
Day 1 will end after Level 14 or Tournament Director discretion
Those unable to make it for today’s play have the option of playing tonight’s Flight B, or tomorrow’s Flight C and D. Day 2 of this event begins Wednesday at 12-noon.
Updates throughout the action will be posted right here at SHRTPoker.com. Good luck, players!
. He had the stack of the 
opponent covered, but couldn’t improve and sent a double to his tablemate.
