$1,700 SPS Championship (Re-Entry) $1,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts Level 26: 50,000/75,000 with a 75,000 ante Players Remaining: 8 of 778
Shane Melert
Shane Melert was eliminated in ninth place when his pocket kings couldn’t hold against the of Eric Edwards and of Craig Varnell in a three-way pot. Melert took home $20,490 in prize money. Varnell held 5,775,000 after the hand, and Edwards was still on a short stack after winning the side pot.
Shane Melert – Eliminated in Ninth Place ($20,490)
$1,700 SPS Championship (Re-Entry) $1,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts Level 26: 50,000/75,000 with a 75,000 ante Players Remaining: 9 of 778
Michael Phillips
The final table was sent on a break after Level 25 and here’s a look at their counts. Michael Phillips continues to lead, while Eric Edmonds has some work ahead to get back into fighting shape.
$1,700 SPS Championship (Re-Entry) $1,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts Level 25: 30,000/60,000 with a 60,000 ante Players Remaining: 9 of 778
Karl Manouchakian
Heitor Saraiva opened to 120,000 from early position and Karl Manouchakian three-bet to 350,000 next to act. It folded back around to Saraiva, he called, and the flop came .
Saraiva bet 300,000 and Manouchakian called. The turn was , Saravia looked at Manouchakian’s stack and announced all in. Manouchakian went into the tank and would be at risk if he called. He took several minutes to think it through, called for his last 1,140,000 and the cards were tabled.
Manouchakian: Saraiva:
Manouchakian was ahead with top-top and needed to dodge Saraiva’s eight outs with the open-ended straight draw. The river was safe for Manouchakian and he doubled big at the final table.
$3,500 Signature NLH (Re-Entry) Structure Level 1: 500/1,000 with a 1,000 ante
The biggest buy-in tournament on the schedule gets underway at 2 pm in the Event Center with the $3,500 Signature NLH trophy event—a big buy-in with a lot of play.
They’ll start with 100,000 stacks and all levels last 40 minutes until they reach the final table where they increase to 90 minutes. Late registration and unlimited re-entries are available until the start of Level 10 at 10 pm following the 90-minute dinner break.
It will be a fun tournament to watch and we look forward to see who jumps in the game.
Players begin with 100,000 in chips
Levels last 40 minutes; Final table levels last 90 minutes
Late registration/re-entry available until start of Level 10 (10:00pm)
$1,700 SPS Championship (Re-Entry) $1,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts Level 25: 30,000/60,000 with a 60,000 ante Players Remaining: 9 of 778
Rodney Turvin
Craig Varnell opened to 130,000 from under the gun, Rodney Turvin three-bet shipped for 1,340,000 from the big blind, and Varnell called.
Varnell: Turvin:
Turvin needed to catch and ace or some diamonds and the flop gave him a sweat. The turn and finished the board and Turvin was eliminated in tenth place.
Craig Varnell – 3,570,000 (60 bb) Rodney Turvin – Eliminated in 10th Place ($20,490)
Tournament staff paused the clock and the last nine players are redrawing seats for the final table.
$1,700 SPS Championship (Re-Entry) $1,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts Level 24: 25,000/50,000 with a 50,000 ante Players Remaining: 10 of 778
Marcus Carter
Marcus Carter opened to 150,000 from the button and Michael Phillips defended his big blind to see the flop. Phillips checked, Carter moved all in for about 1,100,000 and Phillips insta-snapped his call.
Phillips: Carter:
Carter was ahead preflop but Phillips paired his jack to take the lead. Carter turned a gutshot straight with the but blanked the river to exit.
On the hand after Brett Bader was eliminated, Tampa legend James Calderaro was eliminated in 12th place.
Michael Phillips – 5,200,000 (104 bb) Marcus Carter – Eliminated in 11th Place ($16,270) James Calderaro – Eliminated in 12th Place ($16,270)
$1,700 SPS Championship (Re-Entry) $1,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts Level 24: 25,000/50,000 with a 50,000 ante Players Remaining: 12 of 778
Steven Bennett
Action folded to Craig Varnell in the cutoff and he announced all in. Steven Bennett checked his cards, called at risk for about 400,000 from the small blind and Karl Manouchakian folded his big.
Varnell: Bennett:
Bennett needed a lot of help to double back into the game but blanked the board to go out in 14th place.
Craig Varnell – 1,100,000 (22 bb) Steven Bennett – Eliminated in 14th Place ($13,140)
While Bennett was playing his hand on Table 63, Brett Bader was eliminated in 13th place on Table 62.