2020 WSOP Circuit – February
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Tampa, Florida
Event 1
$600 Double Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
$500,000 Guaranteed
Entries: 2,433
Prize Pool: $1,252,995
February 6-10, 2020

The first-ever Seminole Hard Rock Tampa Poker WSOP Circuit series kicked off with a bang. Event 1 drew an incredible 2,433 entries for the opener and Byron Johnson, a poker room cash game regular, walked away with the title along with $166,176.

The tournament featured five starting flights including the record-setting Flight E field the had a massive 1,023 entries. They pushed the $500,000 guaranteed prize pool all the way up to $1,252,995 and the series was off to a great start.

Johnson came into Day 2 near the bottom of the counts, his 143,000 good for 219th out of 242 come back. But he cruised through the long Day 2 field and hit the final table in the middle of the pack.

Fabian Foster was dominating the final table and held the majority of the chips until he was heads-up with Johnson for the WSOP Circuit ring. Everything went for Johnson from that point forward with a fortunate river and a small pair locking up his first career win and second career WSOP cash.

Final table results:

1st: Byron Johnson – $166,176 + WSOP Circuit ring
2nd: Fabian Foster – $102,705
3rd: Juan Restrepo – $78,741
4th: Massimo Dirienzo – $60,856
5th: Corey Zedo – $47,378
6th: Carlo Loving – $37,168
7th: Mike Spada – $29,384
8th: John Racener – $23,410
9th: Filipp Khavin – $18,797

$600 Double Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
$500,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 40:  400,000/800,000 with a 800,000 ante

Byron Johnson began heads-up play down two-to-one against Fabian Foster and had some work to do.

Seat 5: Byron Johnson – 32,500,000 (41 bb)
Seat 9: Fabian Foster – 64,800,000 (81 bb)

Johnson’s comeback was kicked off when he was all in and at risk with against Foster’s . He was live and caught a river on the board to double up.

Soon after, it was Foster at risk this time when he made a move with and Johnson called with . The dealer spread the board to give Johnson a river boat and the title.

After a long day at the tables, Johnson earned his first WSOP Circing ring along with $166,176 while Foster still took home a healthy $102,705 for second place.

1st: Byron Johnson – $166,176
2nd: Fabian Foster – $102,705

$600 Double Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
$500,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 40:  400,000/800,000 with a 800,000 ante
Players Remaining:  2 of 2,433

On the next hand after Massimo Dirienzo was eliminated, Juan Restrepo moved all in for about 8,100,000 and Fabian Foster called.

Foster:
Restrepo:

Restrepo was alive for a double up but the board paired four for Foster to send him out in third place.

Fabian Foster – 64,800,000 (81 bb)
Juan Restrepo – Eliminated in 3rd Place ($78,741)

$600 Double Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
$500,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 40:  400,000/800,000 with a 800,000 ante
Players Remaining:  3 of 2,433

It folded to Fabian Foster in the small blind, he moved all in with his monster stack, and Massimo Dirienzo called at risk for about 14,100,000.

Foster:
Dirienzo:

Dirienzo was in great shape for another double but Foster his the flop. The turn and river river were no help for Dirienzo and he was eliminated in fourth place.

Fabian Foster – 55,000,000 (92 bb)
Massimo Dirienzo – Eliminated in 4th Place ($60,856)

$600 Double Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
$500,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 39:  300,000/600,000 with a 600,000 ante
Players Remaining:  4 of 2,433

Byron Johnson open-shoved for 10,600,000 from the button, Juan Restrepo folded his small blind and Fabian Foster called in the big.

Johnson:
Foster:

Johnson picked up a monster and it held on the for another final table double.

Byron Johnson – 22,100,000 (37 bb)
Fabian Foster – 36,000,000 (60 bb)

$600 Double Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
$500,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 39:  300,000/600,000 with a 600,000 ante
Players Remaining:  4 of 2,433

Massimo Dirienzo open-shoved for 6,000,000 on the dot from the button, Bryon Johnson folded his small blind, and Juan Restrepo called after a short think.

Restrepo:
Diriezno:

Dirienzo had two live, suited cards for a possible double before both paired the flop. Dirienzo made two pair on the turn and secured his double on the river.

Massimo Dirienzo – 12,300,000 (21 bb)
Juan Restrepo – 22,100,000 (37 bb)

$600 Double Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
$500,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 39:  300,000/600,000 with a 600,000 ante
Players Remaining:  4 of 2,433

Juan Restrepo opened from under the gun, Byron Johnson moved all in from the big blind for 6,500,000 and picked up a call from Restrepo.

Johnson:
Restrepo:

It was a flip and Johnson moved ahead on the flop. The turn and river finished the board for Johnson’s double.

Byron Johnson – 13,300,000 (22 bb)
Juan Restrepo – 28,700,000 (48 bb)

$600 Double Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
$500,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 39:  300,000/600,000 with a 600,000 ante
Players Remaining:  4 of 2,433

Corey Zedo opened to 1,300,000 from under the gun and Juan Restrepo three-bet to 4,600,000 from the big blind. Zedo thought for a moment, announced all in for about 10,400,000 and Restrepo called.

Restrepo:
Zedo:

Zedo needed to catch something with his suited ace but blanked the run out to exit in fifth place.

Juan Restrepo – 35,200,000 (59 bb)
Corey Zedo – Eliminated in 5th Place ($47,378)

$600 Double Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
$500,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 38:  250,000/500,000 with a 500,000 ante
Players Remaining:  5 of 2,433

Massimo Dirienzo open-shoved for 8,525,000 from the button and Byron Johnson quickly called at risk from the small blind. Juan Restrepo folded his big and we saw the hands.

Johnson:
Dirienzo:

Johnson was way ahead for the double and it was secured on the board.

Byron Johnson – 9,050,000 (18 bb)
Massimo Dirienzo – 4,500,000 (9 bb)

$600 Double Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
$500,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 38:  250,000/500,000 with a 500,000 ante
Players Remaining:  5 of 2,433

Juan Restrepo opened to 1,300,000 from the button and Carlos Loving shoved for 4,375,000 from the big blind. After confirming the count, Restrepo called.

Restrepo:
Loving:

“Fair fight,” Loving said.

He was ahead but Restrepo paired the flop to take the lead. Loving’s rail called for an ace but it did not show on the turn or river to send Loving out in sixth place.

Juan Restrepo – 24,900,000 (50 bb)
Carlos Loving – Eliminated in 6th Place ($37,168)