$125 + $20 + $20 No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Level 9 : Blinds 400/800/100 ante
70 players remaining, 29k avg (37 bb)

Dealer Le in the Green

Players are just back from break as the green (25) chips have been raced off.

The field is down to seven tables.

$125 + $20 + $20 No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Level 8: Blinds 300/600/75

Wazir Warm and Dry in F-L-A

The weekend snow storm that gripped the East Coast is just another good reason to play in the Seminole Hard Rock Tampa Winter Poker Open tournament series.

Wazir Baksh (St. Cloud), who is originally from Queens, NY, is a familiar face on the tournament circuit in Atlantic City and glad he made the move to Florida three months ago.

Baksh is a businessman who’s taking a break from work and spending more time on poker after moving South. His career resume features 18 cashes for nearly $70,000 and a couple of wins including one for $21,000.

He’s eying a return to the job in 2014, but for now it’s a break from work and from the snow.

$125 + $20 + $20 No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Level 7: Blinds 250/500/50 ante

The two resident WSOP bracelet holders are back today after failing to cash in the Seniors event.  Marsha Wolak (Ft. Lauderdale) and Harold Angle (Sun City Center) are in the field on separate tables.

One of the tougher draws features two players who final tabled the Seniors. Herbert Woodbery (Winter Garden, FL), who finished 10th and Michael Lavington (Bradenton), who was part of the chop that earned him $3,438, are across from each other.

$125 + $20 + $20 No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Level 6: Blinds 200/400/50 ante

Rosetta & Maddah

Of the 12 tables in Action Table 45 is a tough draw.  Two players who chopped Event 1 ($150,000 NL Guarantee), Stephen Diamantas (Tampa) and Bobby Rosetta (Tampa) are here, as is Wally Maddah (Orlando) who final table bubbled the Seniors (Event 5) last night.

Diamantas ($13,038) and Rosetta ($9,526) were part of the 9-way deal, while Maddah’s 11th place finish was a heart breaker. Eventual winner Maroun Akiki (Orlando) flopped a straight against Maddah’s top pair.

$125 + $20 + $20 No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Level 5: Blinds 150/300/25 ante

The numbers for this event continue to impress as the field is close to 400 players and the prize pool at nearly $50,000.

Entries:

Flight 1: 190
Flight 1A: 206
Flight 1B: 7 pm

Total Entries: 396 through two flights

The 11 am flight will play into Level 13 before bagging and tagging at ~6:30 pm, just in time for the third and final flight to take over the room.

$125 + $20 + $20 No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Level 4 : Blinds 100/200/25 ante

Players Smash Guarantee

After 190 entries in the initial flight, the second of three flights is approaching that total as players blow past the $40,000 Guaranteed Prize Pool.

Registration is open until after the first break of the day with the cage closing at ~1:15 pm.

Flight 6B is 7 pm tonight, with all remaining players returning for Day 2 Wednesday at 2 pm.

20th Anniversary Celeberation
Javier, Gardner, Hajaistron & Lyman

In honor of the Poker Room’s 20th Anniversary, the Seminole Hard Rock Tampa family is honoring four invaluable associates who have been here since Day 1.

Congratulations to Rudy Javier, Lue Gardner, Shirley Hajaistron and Teresa Lyman who have helped grow the room to the success it is today.

In addition to honoring the fab four, Hard Rock Tampa is having a Poker Room Appreciation Day for all 250 Team Associates. The highlight is the signing of a solid body electric guitar that will be displayed for years to come.

Thanks to everyone for all their hard work and dedication!

Hajaistron a Hard Rock Original Since ’93

$125 + $20 + $20 No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)

After crowning five winners in the Hard Rock Tampa Winter Poker Open, the quest for number six continues with the second of three flights in the $40,000 Guaranteed Prize Pool.

Players start with 10k in chips and levels are 30 minutes each.

Registration is open for four levels and through the first break which keeps the cage open until ~1:15 pm.

This is a two-day event where the winner also gets entry into the $1,650 Championship Event.

The chip leader after Monday’s first flight is David Tirrell (Tampa) who bagged 158k. The third and final flight kicks off tonight at 7 pm, while Day 2 is set for Wednesday.

$125 + $20 + $20 No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Level 13 (8 min remaining): Blinds 1k/2k/300 ante

David Tirrell
Chip Leader

Play ends with 27 players and  holding the chip lead with nearly 158k.  The first of three flights had 190 entries and the remaining players advance to Day 2.

Tirrell was part of a five-way deal in the PLO tournament (Event 2), where he picked up $2,500 and entry into the $1,650 WPT Hard Rock Tampa Winter Poker Open Championship (Dec 13-15).

This $40,000 Guaranteed Prize Pool event has two flights Tuesday with Flight 6A at 11 am and Flight 6B at 7 pm.

Day 2 is set for 2 pm Wednesday.

Name-Chip Count

Daniel Tirrell 157,600 (53 bb)
Jesse Goulding 143,700
Marc Picarazzi 139,700
Julio Novo 120,000
Larry Thompson 119,300
Dusty West 116,800
Adam Templeman 109,000
David Bell 106,900
Jean Miccio 101,900
Richard Clayton 94,800
Michael Manticoff 75,400
AVERAGE STACK 70,000 (23 bb)
Milan Guerrero 63,100
Jacqulyn Kagan 54,200
Bruce Rimar 50,000
Christopher King 47,000
Paul Spice 46,200
Peter Williams 44,200
Craig Krden 42,100
Jordan Peralta 41,900
Brian Lawandus 39,200
Terri-Anne Crawford 38,500
Gerald McCormick 37,200
Reymundo Fermo 28,600
Ryan Gitlings 25,900
Vince Heilman 24,800
Randall Chang 20,300
Antonio Lyons 12,500 (4 bb)

$125 + $20 + $20 No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Level 13: Blinds 1k/2k/300 ante
33 players remaining, 56k avg (29 bb)

Players are back from a 15 minute break and playing until six more eliminations. The field will bag and tag when 27 players remain (14% of 190 entries).