2019 Winter Poker Open
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Tampa, Florida
Event 3
$570 No Limit Hold’em (Freeze-Out)
Entries: 80
Prize Pool: $40,000
December 9, 2019

The Winter Poker Open kicked off the new week with a $570 Freeze-Out that had a guitar trophy awaiting the winner along with first-place money. More than 12 hours after the start, David DiBernardi was standing alone after an outright win for $12,379.

The tournament drew exactly 80 entries to create a prize pool worth $40,000. The last 12 players made some money and they hit the money bubble right at the dinner break. They stuck around for three more hands before WSOPC Coco ring winner Mark Stephen Edwards knocked out Mario Alonso.

They returned from dinner and were soon at the final table. Joshua Poe moved into the chip lead after knocking the first few players out but DiBernardi took it over after sending Andrew Boyer and November Niner John Dolan out in succession.

DiBernardi had a healthy lead to start heads-up with Poe and it ended quickly. Poe picked up pocket queens on the last hand but they were no good when the money got in after the flop. DiBernardi hit two pair and that was good enough to give him the win along with the guitar trophy.

Event 3 results:

1st: David DiBernardi – $12,379 + Guitar Trophy
2nd: Joshua Peo – $7,651
3rd: Andrew Boyer – $5,132
4th: John Dolan – $3,569
5th: Mark Stephen Edwards – $2,578
6th: Vittario Iemolo – $1,937
7th: Bryce McVay – $1,515
8th: Jeff Morzella – $1,237
9th: Melody Murphy – $1,056
10th: David Sweeley – $1,056
11th: Jeffrey Higgins – $945
12th: Oscar Lindo – $945

$570 No Limit Hold’em (Freeze-Out)
Structure | Payouts
Level 22:  10,000/20,000 with a 20,000 ante

The heads-up match did not last long. A few hands into the battle, Joshua Poe opened to 60,000 from the button and David DiBernardi called to see the flop.

Poe got his last 500,000 in the middle and saw the damage.

DiBernardi:
Poe:

Poe caught a preflop monster but DiBernardi out flopped him with two pair sixes and fours. The turn and river were blanks for Poe and DiBernardi locked up the Event 3 title.

1st: David DiBernardi – $12,379 + Guitar Trophy
2nd: Joshua Peo – $7,651

$570 No Limit Hold’em (Freeze-Out)
Structure | Payouts
Level 22:  10,000/20,000 with a 20,000 ante
Players Remaining:  2 of 80

David DiBernardi – 1,265,000 (63 bb)
Joshua Poe – 735,000 (37 bb)

Remaining payouts:

1st: $12,379 + Guitar Trophy
2nd: $7,651

$570 No Limit Hold’em (Freeze-Out)
Structure | Payouts
Level 22:  10,000/20,000 with a 20,000 ante
Players Remaining:  2 of 80

In a battle of the blinds, Andrew Boyer bet 95,000 with the board reading . David DiBernardi called and the river came .

Boyer bet 100,000 and DiBernardi announced all in. Boyer had 200,000 behind and called after a minute.

DiBernardi:
Boyer:

Boyer had two pair, aces and queens, but DiBernardi once again was better the a full house sixes full of queens to send Boyer out.

David DiBernardi – 1,265,000 (63 bb)
Andrew Boyer – Eliminated in 3rd Place ($5,312)

$570 No Limit Hold’em (Freeze-Out)
Structure | Payouts
Level 21:  10,000/15,000 with a 15,000 ante
Players Remaining:  3 of 80

John Dolan limped from the small blind, David DiBernardi checked, and the flop came . Dolan bet 15,000, DiBernardi called, and the turn was .

Dolan bet another 25,000 and DiBernardi called. Dolan checked after the river and DiBernardi announced all in. Dolan thought for several minutes and called with his last 135,000.

DiBernardi tabled for a full house, sevens over aces and Dolan was second best with to exit in fourth place.

David DiBernardi – 790,000 (53 bb)
John Dolan – Eliminated in 4th Place ($3,569)

$570 No Limit Hold’em (Freeze-Out)
Structure | Payouts
Level 21:  10,000/15,000 with a 15,000 ante
Players Remaining:  4 of 80

Andrew Boyer open-shoved for 160,000 from under the gun and Joshua quickly called from the big blind.

Boyer:
Poe:

Boyer was dominated and needed help, which he found on the flop. His paired ten put him in the lead and his double came after the turn and river.

Andrew Boyer – 345,000 (23 bb)
Joshua Poe – 960,000 (64 bb)

$570 No Limit Hold’em (Freeze-Out)
Structure | Payouts
Level 21:  10,000/15,000 with a 15,000 ante
Players Remaining:  4 of 80

Action folded to Mark Stephen Edwards on the button and he moved all in for 130,000. Joshue Poe checked his cards, shrugged, and called.

Poe:
Edwards:

Edwards had two live cards to double but it was Poe who paired the flop. The turn and river were no help and Edwards was eliminated in fifth place.

Joshua Poe – 1,145,000 (76 bb)
Mark Stephen Edwards – Eliminated in 5th Place ($2,578)

$570 No Limit Hold’em (Freeze-Out)
Structure | Payouts
Level 21:  10,000/15,000 with a 15,000 ante
Players Remaining:  5 of 80

Vittario Iemolo was the next player to take a shot trying to double and moved all in for 185,000. Joshua Poe stayed active and called with a chance for another knockout.

Poe:
Iemolo:

Iemolo was racing to stay in the game but Poe improved to a set on the flop. The board finished turn and river to send our former chip leader out in sixth place.

Joshua Poe – 985,000 (66 bb)
Vittario Iemolo – Eliminated in 6th Place ($1,937)

$570 No Limit Hold’em (Freeze-Out)
Structure | Payouts
Level 20:  5,000/15,000 with a 15,000 ante
Players Remaining:  6 of 80

Joshua Poe opened to 56,000 from the cutoff and John Dolan moved all in from the small blind. Poe took a quick moment to think about it and called at risk for 390,000.

Poe:
Dolan:

Poe was in great shape to double up and the board gave him an overkill flush to double.

Joshua Poe – 810,000 (54 bb)
John Dolan – 185,000 (12 bb)

$570 No Limit Hold’em (Freeze-Out)
Structure | Payouts
Level 19:  5,000/10,000 with a 10,000 ante
Players Remaining:  7 of 80

In a battle of the blinds, Vittario Iemolo had David DiBernardi at risk with the flop reading .

DiBernardi was ahead with two pair against and double after the turn and river.

David DiBernardi – 290,000 (29 bb)
Vittario Iemolo – 250,000 (25 bb)