$1,650 WPO Championship (Re-Entry)
Level 2: 75/150
Entries: 88

Anthony Astarita isn’t the defending champion, but he’s a defending champion. Last year’s Winter Poker Open Championship winner, of course, was John Templeton. But it’s Asarita who won the last major event here in Tampa.

The Orlando-area player claimed victory in the property’s WPTDeepStacks-Tampa Main Event good for a haul of $130,541. Astarita, who was primarily a cash game player in recent years, has been on the tournament grind ever since. He’s recorded a handful of cashes, and even final tabled an event here in October for $18,000.

He’s in search of another title here in Flight A of the WPO Championship.

$1,650 WPO Championship (Re-Entry)
Level 2: 75/150
Entries: 82

The $300,000 guaranteed Winter Poker Open is off to a strong start with 82 entries at the beginning of Level 2. If the current pace holds up, last year’s Flight A figure of 105 should be easily bested.

Late registration and re-entry is available until about 7pm.

$1,650 WPO Championship (Re-Entry)
Level 1: 50/100
Entries: 79

In addition to hefty first prizes and a guitar trophy, the majority of the Winter Poker Open prelim champions earned themselves $1,650 seats in the Championship. A handful of those winners are in action during the early stages of Flight A. Here’s a look at them:

$1,650 WPO Championship (Re-Entry)
Level 1: 50/100
Entries: 75

When Justin Zaki plays an event, everyone at Seminole Hard Rock Tampa takes notice. The Florida resident is one of three players that wears the property’s token purple patch at events across the country. Zaki owns nearly $1,750,000 in career earnings and has been looking forward to the Winter Poker Open Championship all year.

He’s been active early, playing a handful of small pots, but sits near starting stack.

Playin 1A of the $1650/300k GTD at my home casino @SHRTPoker. Reg open til 7pm. Must play event for anyone in the area.

— Justin Zaki (@Justin_Zaki) December 15, 2016

$1,650 WPO Championship (Re-Entry)
Level 1: 50/100
Entries: 61

The day is here. Thursday marks beginning of the Winter Poker Open Championship, the series’ $1650 buy-in, $300,000 guaranteed finale. Last year’s event blew the doors off the poker room drawing more than 450 entries generating a prize pool of over $675,000. In the end, John Templeton earned a six-figure top prize along with the property’s token guitar trophy.

Flight A — the first of three starting flights in this year’s event — is freshly underway. Players are taking their seats to 30,000-chip starting stacks and are set to log 14, 45-minute levels. Late registration and re-entry are available until about 7pm with play expected to conclude around 11pm.

Here’s a closer look at the schedule:

11AM: Day 1A – $1,650 WPO Championship (Re-Entry)

• $300,000 Guaranteed Prize Pool
• Players begin with 30,000 in chips and 45-minute levels
• Late registration/re-entry available until start of Level 10
• Day 1 will end after Level 14 or Tournament Director discretion
• Championship Structure Sheet

Updates throughout the day will be available right here at SHRTPoker.com. Good luck, Championship players!

Main Event Schedule

11AM: Day 1A – $1,650 WPO Championship (Re-Entry)

• $300,000 Guaranteed Prize Pool
• Players begin with 30,000 in chips and 45-minute levels
• Late registration/re-entry available until start of Level 10
• Day 1 will end after Level 14 or Tournament Director discretion
• Championship Structure Sheet

Secondary and Satellite Schedule

3PM: Event 25 – $190 WPO Championship Satellite (1-in-10)

• 5 seats guaranteed into $300,000 GTD WPO Championship
• Players begin with 12,000 in chips and 20-minute levels
• Late registration/re-entry available until start of Level 9
• This is a one-day tournament and plays until completion
• Event 25 Structure Sheet

7PM: Event 26 – $190 WPO Championship Satellite (1-in-10)

• 5 seats guaranteed into $300,000 GTD WPO Championship
• Players begin with 12,000 in chips and 20-minute levels
• Late registration/re-entry available until start of Level 9
• This is a one-day tournament and plays until completion
• Event 26 Structure Sheet

$1,650 WPO Championship (Re-Entry)

The $1,650 Winter Poker Open Championship begins tomorrow with the first of three flights in the $300,000 guaranteed finale. If last year’s event is any indication, the tournament should easily best its six-figure target and more than likely see a prize pool upwards of $600,000. With 30,000-chip starting stacks, start days are offered Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 11am with Day 2 starting Sunday at 12pm.

Details:

11AM: Day 1A/B/C – $1,650 WPO Championship (Re-Entry)

• $300,000 Guaranteed Prize Pool, SHRPO seat added to 1st
• Players begin with 30,000 in chips and 45 and 50-minute levels
• Late registration/re-entry available until start of Level 10
• Day 1 will end after Level 14 or Tournament Director discretion
• Day 2 begins Sunday, December 18 at 12pm
• Championship Structure Sheet

Last year’s tournament drew a massive turnout of 453 entries generating a total prize pool in excess of $675,000. A slew of notables made deep runs including Wally Maddah, Sean Shah, Steve Karp, Cory Waaland, John Holley, Timothy Miles and Sheddy Siddiqui. The event concluded in a three-way chop that saw John Templeton earn $134,731. Also pocketing six figures was runner-up David Lappano who scored. $107,798.

In addition to an expected six-figure first prize, this year’s champion earns a guitar trophy and an added $5,250 seat in the next August’s Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open Championship.

Those interested in reserving rooms for the Championship are encouraged to call 866-388-4263 and use group code GWINT16 for $99 rates at the nearby Fairfield Inn & Suites.

Below is a recap of Event 11 of the Winter Poker Open, the $180 Seniors Classic Rockers event, that concluded during the early morning hours of Wednesday, December 14.

2016 Winter Poker Open
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Tampa, FL
Event 11
$180 Seniors Classic Rockers 50+
Entries: 145
Prize Pool: $19,375
December 13, 2016

Billy Dubay became the latest Winter Poker Open guitar trophy winner at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa during the early morning hours of Wednesday. Dubay’s title came at the hands of 145 “seniors” in the $180 Seniors Classic Rockers event and was the result of a heads-up chop with Andrew Butte. The duo split the prize pool evenly — each pocketing $4,503 — but Dubay went home with a $1,650 Championship seat and, of course, the trophy to boot.

There was plenty of play late in the tournament with big stacks and 30-minute levels. In fact, play was so deep that the bubble lasted 27 hands. After the better part of an hour, it was none other than Seminole Hard Rock Tampa ambassador Wally Maddah who busted 19th and went home with the unenviable honor of bubble boy. Maddah got short when he ran his fullhouse into an opponent’s better full house, then got his last 13,000 in during the 4,000/8,000 level. His pair was no good.

With Maddah’s exit, the remaining 18 locked up a score and play picked up. Notables to work their way into a scored include World Series of Poker gold bracelet winner Andre Boyer and Tampa regular Marvin Karlins.

Dubay started the final table as one of the short stacks, but quickly busted Byron Schenk 10th and Pete Kosakowski ninth. From there, he watched as Wes Skinner went out eighth, Randy Spain seventh, Debra Dorcy sixth and Lenny Rubin fifth. He went back into action busting Brenda Worley fourth and Elton “Skunk” Hates third. Dubay and Butte played a couple hands heads up, but quickly agreed to the aforementioned chop.

Dubay is a regular of the Tampa property and has recorded multiple cashes including an eighth-place finish in this very event in 2014. The win marks his first major tournament win and moves him to over $35,000 career earnings.

The Seniors Classic Rockers event was open to all participants age 50 or older. The 145-entry field generated a prize pool of $19,375.

Seniors Classic Rockers final results:

1st: Billy Dubay – $4,503 + Championship seat
2nd: Andrew Butte – $4,503
3rd: Elton “Skunk” Hayes – $1,841
4th: Brenda Lane-Worley – $1,550
5th: Lenny Rubin – $1,163
6th: Debra Dorcy – $969
7th: Randy Spain – $775
8th: Wes Skinner – $581
9th: Pete Kosakowski – $436
10th: Byron Schenk – $388
11th: Daniel Wilson – $388
12th: Ben Van Klink – $388
13th: Andre Boyer – $339
14th: George Bailey – $339
15th: Marvin Karlins – $339
16th: Michael Simon, Sr. – $291
17th: Peter Martin – $291
18th: Robert Brandl – $291