$3,500 WPT Tampa Championship
$2,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure
Level 8:  600/1,200 with a 1,200 ante
Day 1A Entries:  533

A player raised UTG+1 to 3,200, Armando Figueroa called from the cutoff, Event #13 champion Hasan Hakim called from the small blind, and Andrew Barfield moved all in from the big blind for 25,800.

The UTG+1 player four-bet it to 53,200, and Figueroa called all in for 36,700. Hakim folded.

These were their cards, in descending order of chip counts:

UTG+1:  
Armando Figueroa:  
Andrew Barfield:  

The board came — the UTG+1 player turned a gutshot straight draw, but improved no further. The pocket queens held up for Figueroa to win the entire pot, doubling thru the UTG+1 player and eliminating Barfield.

Armando Figueroa  –  103,600  (86 bb)
Andrew Barfield  –  Eliminated

Registration remains open with unlimited re-entries until the start of Level 9, around 9:15 pm, and Day 1B begins tomorrow at 11:00 am.

$3,500 WPT Tampa Championship
$2,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure
Level 7:  500/1,000 with a 1,000 ante
Day 1A Entries:  513

Cricket Agnello was 20-25 minutes late returning from dinner, but it wasn’t enough to make a noticeable dent in his stack of nearly 220K, which was the biggest in the room during the dinner break.

Registration remains open with unlimited re-entries until the start of Level 9, around 9:15 pm, and Day 1B begins tomorrow at 11:00 am.

$3,500 WPT Tampa Championship
$2,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure
Level 7:  500/1,000 with a 1,000 ante
Day 1A Entries:  495

A scan of the field during the break turned up three players with at least 200K in chips, creating an unofficial leaderboard:

1.  Still at Dinner?  –  220,300  (220 bb)
2.  Blair Hinkle  –  217,400  (217 bb)
3.  Frank Funaro  –  200,400  (200 bb)

It’s been nearly 20 minutes since play resumed after dinner, and the chipleader still hasn’t returned. In the meantime, the player in the room with the biggest stack coming back from dinner is Blair Hinkle.

Registration remains open with unlimited re-entries until the start of Level 9, around 9:15 pm, and Day 1B begins tomorrow at 11:00 am.

$3,500 WPT Tampa Championship
$2,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure
Level 7:  500/1,000 with a 1,000 ante
Day 1A Entries:  495

The players return from dinner to begin Level 7, with increased blinds of 500-1,000 with a 1,000 ante.

With about 340 players remaining from a Day 1A field of 495, the average chip stack is about 58,200 (58 big blinds).

Registration remains open with unlimited re-entries until the start of Level 9, around 9:15 pm, and Day 1B begins tomorrow at 11:00 am.

$3,500 WPT Tampa Championship
$2,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure
Level 6: 400/800 with a 800 ante
Day 1A Entries:  481

Level 6 came to an end and tournament staff sent the Championship players on their 90-minute dinner break. They will return at 7:03 pm to continue their way through the day.

$3,500 WPT Tampa Championship
$2,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure
Level 6: 400/800 with a 800 ante
Day 1A Entries:  475

Matt Waxman raised to 3,200 from the button after both the hijack and cutoff limped preflop. Both players called and the flop came . The hijack checked, the cutoff checked, and Waxman bet 2,800.

The hijack check/raised to 10,500, the cutoff folded and Waxman called to see the turn. The hijack player bet 8,000 and Waxman announced all in. The hijack player would be at risk for his remaining 20,000 but elected to fold while flipping over the .

“Do you want me to show?” Waxman asked. “Do I owe you one?”

“Good fold,” Waxman said as he showed for top/top.

Matt Waxman – 74,200 (93 bb)

$3,500 WPT Tampa Championship
$2,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure
Level 6: 400/800 with a 800 ante
Day 1A Entries:  469

Two more players with their names on the Mike Sexton Champions Cup joined after the second break.

Shawn Cunix is making the most of his late reg ticket, quickly up to 102,000 and staying active. The last time we saw WPT Seminole Coconut Creek Champ James Calderaro in a Main Event or Championship played in the Event Center, he made the final table. The 2020 WSOP Circuit Tampa Main Event drew 1,162 entries and “Caldo” finished fifth for $80K.

$3,500 WPT Tampa Championship
$2,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure
Level 5: 300/600 with a 600 ante
Day 1A Entries:  450

Championship players returned to their seats as the entry count hit 450 with registration open until 9:15 pm. They’ve put $1.44 million towards the $2 million guarantee, so that’s a lock

Blair Hinkle looks like that biggest stack in the room. The WSOP bracelet winner/five WSOP Circuit ring owner/SHRPO Champ is up to 114,000 after four levels and comfortably grinding through the day.

$3,500 WPT Tampa Championship
$2,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure
Level 4: 300/500 with a 500 ante
Day 1A Entries:  440

Day 1A players are on their second break of the day but not before we tracked down some more local grinders taking their shot at the WPT Tampa Championship.

Players will return from break at 3:30 pm, play two more levels, then take a 90-minute dinner break.

$3,500 WPT Tampa Championship
$2,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure
Level 4: 300/500 with a 500 ante
Day 1A Entries:  432

With the board reading , Vanessa Alvarez tossed her 17,900 stack in the middle from the small blind. Trung Pham was waiting on the button and called with the bigger stack.

Alvarez:
Pham:

Alvarez was ahead with two pair with one card to come against Pham’s open-ended straight draw. The river came and Alvarez doubled up.

Vanessa Alvarez – 46,300 (93 bb)
Trung Pham – 6,200 (12 bb)