2019 Seminole Hard Rock Tampa Poker Classic
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Tampa, Florida
Event 1
$360 Buy-In No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$200,000 Guaranteed
Entries: 1,128
Prize Pool: $338,400
February 20-24, 2019

(Tampa, FL) – The inaugural Tampa Poker Classic kicked things off with a big, multi-day tournament that set a great pace for the series. More than 1,000 entries got in the game and it was 2017 WPTDeepstacks Tampa Main Event final table member Andrew Boccia outlasting them all, taking the title and nearly $50,000 after a five-way deal.

Event 1 drew 1,128 entries over the six starting flights to push the $200,000 guaranteed prize pool up to $338,400. Only 179 advanced to Day 2 on Sunday with Todd Doan leading the field. Unfortunately for him, a series of bad beats and second best hands sent him out short of the money with 113 getting paid.

The bubble burst after the first break and it was a steady parade of eliminations getting in line for their payout. There were only 15 players remaining on the dinner break and they were down to the final table within one level.

Philip Starner began the final table with the chip lead but Boccia was not far behind. Christopher Boyle spent some time on top of the counts after sending Dan Kennedy and Ed Vasconcelos out at the same time with a two-out river to start the action at the ten-handed table.

Boyle’s lead did not last long as Boccia went on a heater until only five players remained. They made a deal to divide up the remaining prize pool and Boccia took the lion’s share of $46,255 plus a seat in the $300,000 Guarantee Main Event.

This was the second biggest live payday for Boccia and only a few hundred behind what he picked up for his fourth-place finish in the 2017 WPTDeepstacks Tampa Main Event.

Congrats to Andrew and thanks to our players for a great kickoff.

Final table results:

1st: Andrew Boccia $46,255 + $1,650 Seat
2nd: Daniel Mills – $36,494
3rd: Christopher Boyle – $31,772
4th: Philip Starner – $25,393
5th: Bob Van Syckle – $21,417
6th: Eddie Kofler – $11,904
7th: Thomas Leonzio – $9,850
8th: Edward Muniz – $7,836
9th: Ed Vasconcelos – $5,883
10th: Dan Kennedy – $4,765

Click link below for full Event 1 results:

Continue reading Event 1: Andrew Boccia Takes Down Tampa Poker Classic Opener →

$360 Deepstack Challenge (Re-Entry)
$200,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 32: 100,000/200,000 with a 200,000 ante
Players Remaining: 5 of 1,128

After Eddie Kofler was eliminated in sixth place, the five remaining players decided to enter discussions about dividing up what was left of the prize pool. Andrew Boccia owned the biggest stack by far and he negotiated his way to the top paying position plus a bit more.

He earned $46,255 plus Boccia now owns a seat in Flight A of the Tampa Poker Classic Main Event on Thursday.

Below are the chip counts for the five players and their new payout:

Andrew Boccia – 12,800,000
Daniel Mills – 6,675,000
Christopher Boyle – 4,575,000
Philip Starner – 2,425,000
Bob Van Syckle – 1,450,000

1st: Andrew Boccia $46,255 + $1,650 Seat
2nd: Daniel Mills – $36,494
3rd: Christopher Boyle – $31,772
4th: Philip Starner – $25,393
5th: Bob Van Syckle – $21,417

$360 Deepstack Challenge (Re-Entry)
$200,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 31: 100,000/150,000 with a 150,000 ante
Players Remaining: 5 of 1,128

Eddie Kofler open-shoved for ~1,100,000 and Christopher Boyle called in the small blind with the much bigger stack.

Boyle:
Kofler:

Kofler was in great shape and faded the flop. The turn was no problem either but Boyle hit another river, this time the , to send Kofler out in sixth place.

Christopher Boyle – 7,200,000 (48 bb)
Eddie Kofler – Eliminated in 6th place ($11,904)

$360 Deepstack Challenge (Re-Entry)
$200,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 31: 100,000/150,000 with a 150,000 ante
Players Remaining: 6 of 1,128

Andrew Boccia opened to 425,000 from middle position and Thomas Leonzio shoved from the small blind for 1,750,000. Boccia asked for a count and said “I’m probably calling” as the dealer broke down the stack. He called.

Boccia:
Leonzio:

It was a race and Leonzio needed to catch to stay in the game. It wasn’t meant to be as the dealer spread the all low board and the chip leader made a boat to send Leonzio out in seventh place.

Andrew Boccia – 11,600,000 (77 bb)
Thomas Leonzio – Eliminated in 7th place ($9,850)

$360 Deepstack Challenge (Re-Entry)
$200,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 30: 75,000/125,000 with a 125,000 ante
Players Remaining: 7 of 1,128

Dinner time leader Edward Muniz was down to 2,400,000 and put those in the middle. Andrew Boccia called to put him at risk and it was another cooler.

Boccia:
Muniz:

Muniz had to like his queens when he first saw them but they were no help as the board ran to send him out in eighth place.

Andrew Boccia – 9,100,000 (73 bb)
Edward Muniz – Eliminated in 8th place ($7,836)

$360 Deepstack Challenge (Re-Entry)
$200,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 30: 75,000/125,000 with a 125,000 ante
Players Remaining: 8 of 1,128

Dan Kennedy open-shoved for 1,175,000 from middle position and Christopher Boyle called from the button. Ed Vasconcelos moved all in the small blind for only 125,000 more and Boyle called having both covered.

Boyle:
Kennedy:
Vasconcelos:

Vasconcelos had the best of it but Kennedy took the lead on the flop. The turn improved Kennedy to a boat but Boyle jumped when he spiked the river to send both out.

Christopher Boyle – 6,100,000 (49 bb)
Ed Vasconcelos – Eliminated in 9th place ($5,883)
Dan Kennedy – Eliminated in 10th place ($4,765)

$360 Deepstack Challenge (Re-Entry)
$200,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 30: 75,000/125,000 with a 125,000 ante
Players Remaining: 10 of 1,128

It was a quick path to the final table after the dinner break and they got there when Philip Starner returned a cooler to Alex Ivan. Earlier Ivan took a big pot when both flopped trip jacks but Starner’s king kicker was beat by Ivan’s ace.

With 11 remaining, Ivan had pockets tens and ran into Starner’s pocket aces to send Ivan out in 11th place and set the final table.

Seat 1: Andrew Boccia – 6,675,000 (53 bb)
Seat 2: Christopher Boyle – 3,700,000 (30 bb)
Seat 3: Ed Vasconcelos – 1,500,000 (12 bb)
Seat 4: Philip Starner – 6,800,000 (54 bb)
Seat 5: Bob Van Syckle – 1,600,000 (13 bb)
Seat 6: Thomas Leonzio – 1,100,000 (9 bb)
Seat 7: Daniel Mills – 1,525,000 (12 bb)
Seat 8: Dan Kennedy – 1,225,000 (10 bb)
Seat 9: Edward Muniz – 2,300,000 (18 bb)
Seat 10: Eddie Kofler – 1,575,000 (13 bb)

Remaining payouts:

1st: $58,835 + $1,650 Seat
2nd: $41,211
3rd: $26,660
4th: $19,707
5th: $14,918
6th: $11,904
7th: $9,850
8th: $7,836
9th: $5,883
10th: $4,765

Recent results:

11th: Alex Ivan – $4,765
12th: Aaron Speer – $4,765
13th: Matthew Kerley – $3,755
14th: Naresh Parwani – $3,755
15th: Wayne Daley – $3,755

$360 Deepstack Challenge (Re-Entry)
$200,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 29: 50,000/100,000 with a 100,000 ante
Players Remaining: 15 of 1,128

The tightened play late in the day has shortened the average stack and we should see a lot of movement when they return.

William Muniz leads the way with 3,250,000 and Naresh Parwani is the only other player over 3 million.

Table 20
Seat 1: Edwin Vasconcelos – 1,400,000 (14 bb)
Seat 2: Aaron Speer – 1,800,000 (18 bb)
Seat 3: Eddie Kofler – 2,300,000 (23 bb)
Seat 4: — Empty —
Seat 5: Wayne Daley – 1,075,000 (11 bb)
Seat 6: Matthew Kerley – 650,000 (7 bb)
Seat 7: Thomas Leonzio – 1,125,000 (11 bb)
Seat 8: Andrew Boccia – 2,550,000 (26 bb)
Seat 9: Robert Van Syckle – 1,700,000 (17 bb)

Table 21
Seat 1: — Empty —
Seat 2: Daniel Kennedy – 1,225,000 (12 bb)
Seat 3: Philip Starner – 2,425,000 (24 bb)
Seat 4: William Muniz – 3,250,000 (33 bb)
Seat 5: Alex Ivan – 2,150,000 (22 bb)
Seat 6: Naresh Parwani – 3,025,000 (30 bb)
Seat 7: Christopher Boyle – 2,675,000 (27 bb)
Seat 8: — Empty —
Seat 9: Daniel Milles – 650,000 (7 bb)

$360 Deepstack Challenge (Re-Entry)
$200,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 28: 40,000/80,000 with a 80,000 ante
Players Remaining: 15 of 1,128

The 15 remaining players are taking a 40-minute dinner break while the 5K chips are coming out of play and the yellow 100k is introduced.

We will post the two-table lineup and counts while they are gone.

16th: Philip Hale – $3,115
17th: Mark Wiser – $3,115

$360 Deepstack Challenge (Re-Entry)
$200,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 28: 40,000/80,000 with a 80,000 ante
Players Remaining: 17 of 1,128

Action folded to DeVaughn Smith and he moved all in for 340,000. Daniel Kennedy, next to act, quickly called and the rest of the table folded.

Smith:
Kennedy:

Smith had two live cards but Kennedy paired the flop. That prompted Smith to begin gathering his things and it was settled after the turn and river.

Daniel Kennedy – 1,350,000 (17 bb)
DeVaughn Smith – Eliminated in 18th place ($3,115)