$1,650 Tampa Poker Classic Main Event
$300,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 18: 3,000/6,000 with a 6,000 ante
Players Remaining: 33 of 332
Wally Maddah’s unlikely run came to an end in 34th place. It was on the first hand after the bubble burst that his 2,000 chips went into the middle and never came back.
Wally Maddah – Eliminated in 34th place ($3,416)
$1,650 Tampa Poker Classic Main Event
$300,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 18: 3,000/6,000 with a 6,000 ante
Players Remaining: 34 of 332
With 35 players remaining and 34 finishing in the money, Cody Hernandez and start-of-day chip leader John O’Neal played what would be Hernandez’s last hand.
When staff approached the table, Hernandez was in late position facing off against O’Neal in the cutoff. O’Neal had 45,000 chips slid into the pot while Hernandez moved all-in for 261,000 total. Action was back on O’Neal. He called and the hands were up.
O’Neal: 
Hernandez: 
Runout: 
O’Neal’s pair held and Hernandez was eliminated on the bubble. The remaining 34 players — including Wally Maddah at a neighboring table with only 2,000 chips — were sent into the money.
John O’Neal – 730,000
Wally Maddah – 2,000
Cody Hernandez – Eliminated
$1,650 Tampa Poker Classic Main Event
$300,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 18: 3,000/6,000 with a 6,000 ante
Players Remaining: 37 of 332
Florida’s Erik Christensen is the most recent casualty here on Day 2 of the Seminole Hard Rock Tampa Poker Classic Main Event. Christensen unofficially fell in 38th place with only the top 34 finishing in the money.
Erik Christensen – Eliminated
$1,650 Tampa Poker Classic Main Event
$300,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 18: 3,000/6,000 with a 6,000 ante
Players Remaining: 38 of 332
Deon Sampson was all in for under 40,000 and Justin Zaki had the shortstack at risk.
Zaki: 
Sampson: 
Runout: 
Zaki’s aces held and Sampson was eliminated.
Justin Zaki – 230,000
Deon Sampson – Eliminated
$1,650 Tampa Poker Classic Main Event
$300,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Heading to Level 18: 3,000/6,000 with a 6,000 ante
Players Remaining: 39 of 332
The day’s first break has arrived and players are on a quick 15-minute recess. Blinds are about to go up 3,000/6,000 with a 6,000 ante and the money bubble is right around the corner. There are 39 left with only 34 finishing in the money.
Here’s a look at some of the short stacks hoping to sneak their way into a payday:
$1,650 Tampa Poker Classic Main Event
$300,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 17: 2,500/5,000 with a 5,000 ante
Players Remaining: 41 of 332
There was three-way, preflop action between Ken O’Donnell, Aric Pluskat and Matthew Smith. O’Donnell had the best of it, while Pluskat and Smith were all-in and behind.
O’Donnell: 
Pluskat: 
Smith: 
Runout: 
No help for the crew. O’Donnell’s aces held while Pluskat and Smith were sent to the rail shy of the money. O’Donnell piled up about 800,000 chips and took the lead.
Ken O’Donnell – 800,000
Aric Pluskat – Eliminated
Matthew Smith – Eliminated
$1,650 Tampa Poker Classic Main Event
$300,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 17: 2,500/5,000 with a 5,000 ante
Players Remaining: 46 of 332
Chris Boyle was short and his all-in bet wasn’t for much. Filipp Khavin called and Boyle needed to hold to hold onto his tournament life.
Boyle:
Khavin:
Runout: 
The flop came fast, giving Khavin a boat. Boyle was out of his seat and on his way out before the river even hit.
Filipp Khavin – 220,000
Chris Boyle – Eliminated
$1,650 Tampa Poker Classic Main Event
$300,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 17: 2,500/5,000 with a 5,000 ante
Players Remaining: 52 of 332
The day’s first level was rather uneventful with only six players hitting the rail. We’re up now with Level 17 at 2,500/5,000 and a 5,000 ante. The average stack sits at just over 191,000 good for about 38 big blinds.
Wally Maddah, Vitor Coelho, Randy Spain, Trey Harrell, Luke Vrabel and Huicun Qiao are among some of the short stacks looking still looking to spin it up.
