$250 Deep Stack NL Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Level 15: 1,500/3,000 with a 500 ante
Players Remaining: 21 of 119
It’s unclear what went down, but Jay Ballentine ended up with the majority of Ted Wild’s stack. Ballentine is comfortably over 200,000 while Wild now sits with less than 100,000.
Ballentine’s stack doesn’t quite look to be the biggest left, but he’s definitely toward the top of the counts with the bubble right around the corner.
$150 Double Green Chip Bounty NL Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Level 2: 50/100
Entries: 56
The entrant count continues to move higher as Event 10 rolls through the second level of the day and the 56 entries put them on pace to match last year’s tournament.
We’re seeing some familiar faces pop into play, some new today and some getting in the game after busting out of Event 9. Mark “Bud” Wiser is back at the table looking for his third deep run of the series. He earned back-to-back cashes in Events 3 and 4, both with final table appearance, and earned $5,338 for his third place finish in the multi-day $150 Event 3.
$250 Deep Stack NL Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Level 13: 1,000/2,000 with a 300 ante
Players Remaining: 27 of 119
Play moved slow following break, but there was a three-way all-in recently that left yesterday’s turbo champion Alan Phillips bust.
Phillips got all-in holding 
and was against the 
of one opponent and the 
of another. With his adversaries each holding two of the others’ outs, and Phillips holding two of their straight cards, the turbo champ was a favorite to win.
A 
flop paired Phillips, but the 
turn gave his opponent’s a straight. Frustrated, he stood from the table. After a second or two to cool down, he pushed in his chair and left with a smile.
$250 Deep Stack NL Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Level 13: 1,000/2,000 with a 300 ante
Players Remaining: 28 of 119
Cards are back in the air following a 30-minute dinner break. Out in front with only 28 players remaining is Ted Wild. Wild sits on 212,000 chips and leads the likes of Mohammad Affaneh, John Holley, Alan Phillips, Hank Zheng, Kirsten Olieberg and others.
$150 Double Green Chip Bounty NL Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Level 1: 25/50
The second tournament of the day is about to kick off in the poker room and reward players for getting the field smaller along the way. Event 10 has a $150 buy-in with a $50 bounty on every player’s head at the table. Knock someone out, get two green chips worth $50.
The tournament has a $10,000 guaranteed prize pool and should be an entertaining way to spend a Monday evening at the tables.
Players start with 12,000 stacks and the tournament runs 25-minute levels from start to finish. Late registration is available until the start of Level 9 around 9:50pm and unlimited re-entries are available during that time. This is scheduled as a one-day tournament and we will award our tenth WPO guitar trophy when they are through.
Cards fly at the top of the hour and we’ll follow along with their journey to the title.
$250 Deep Stack NL Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Level 12: 800/1,600 with a 200 ante
Players Remaining: 30 of 119
Action is narrowing quick and just three tables house the last 30 players. Only the top 18 go home with prize money and the money bubble is like just a couple levels away.
Here’s a glance at the final three tables followed by the remaining payouts:
1st – $7,004 + Championship seat
2nd – $3,851
3rd – $2,217
4th – $1,867
5th – $1,400
6th – $1,167
7th – $934
8th – $700
9th – $525
10th-12th – $467
13th-15th – $408
16th-18th – $350
$250 Deep Stack NL Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Level 12: 800/1,600 with a 200 ante
Players Remaining: 35 of 119
With a couple limps already in the pot, Kirsten Olieberg raised to 7,600 from the button. The blinds folded as did all others except for the cutoff.
Olieberg and the cutoff saw a flop of 
. The cutoff checked and Olieberg bet 8,500. The cutoff called.
The turn was the 
. The cutoff checked again. Olieberg bet 16,000. The cutoff promptly moved and Olieberg rechecked her hole cards. She called and the hands were tabled.
Cutoff: 
Olieberg: 
Both players had a straight and the tension ceased as the dealer burned and turned the 
on the river. With that, there was no damage on the hand.
With the Championship right around the corner, action is ramping up at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa. Players filed in for the $570 over the weekend and another rush is expected for the $1,650 buy-in, $300,000 guaranteed finale next weekend.
Those traveling from out of town can reserve their room at the Fairfield Inn & Suites located less than two miles from the Seminole Hard Rock. In addition to free breakfast and Wi-Fi, the facility offers a complimentary shuttle to and from the casino.
Those interested in reserving their room should call 866-388-4263 and book using code GWINT16.
$250 Deep Stack NL Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Level 9: 400/800 with a 100 ante
Players Remaining: 55 of 119
Registration is closed and the prize pool is finalized.
Event 9 of the Winter Poker Open, a $250 deep stack tournament, drew 119 entries. The $23,340 prize pool pays the top 18 finishers at least $350. From there, the prizes steadily escalate until topping out in the form of a $7,004 score. In addition, the tournament’s champion earns a $1,650 Championship seat and the guitar trophy.
Full payouts:
2016 Winter Poker Open
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Tampa, FL
Event 9
$250 Deep Stack No Limit Hold’em
Entries: 119
Prize Pool: $23,340
December 12, 2016
1st – $7,004 + Championship seat
2nd – $3,851
3rd – $2,217
4th – $1,867
5th – $1,400
6th – $1,167
7th – $934
8th – $700
9th – $525
10th-12th – $467
13th-15th – $408
16th-18th – $350
The clock currently shows 55 players remaining toward the end of Level 9. Among them are John Holley, Daniel Ramirez, Mark “Bud” Wiser, Claudemir Osorio, Wally Maddah, Brandon Byars, Ryan Dunn, Alan Phillips and Ladies Event champion Kirsten Olieberg.
$250 Deep Stack NL Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Level 8: 300/600 with a 75 ante
Entries: 117
Brandon Byars has been a night owl through the Winter Poker Open concentrating his efforts in the 6pm installments of the multi-flight events. After a deep run in the $570 and a late night last night, he got a slow start this morning and just squeaked into today’s $250 in Level 8.
Byars, who won last April’s Spring Little Slick, has carded two cashes thus far at the WPO and is in the hunt for number three.
Players are about to go on their second break of the day. When they return, registration will officially close and the payout information will be posted shortly thereafter.