Tag Archives: 2022 WPO

Julio Delgado Dominates WPO Event 1 Late for the Win

2022 Winter Poker Open
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Tampa, Florida
Event 1
$400 No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$250,000 Guaranteed
Entries:  1,334
Prize Pool:  $446,890
November 30 – December 4, 2022

Julio Delgado

The 2022 Tampa Winter Poker Open kicked off with a big multi-flight tournament and Event 1 drew 1,334 entries to blast the $250,000 guarantee. Tampa regular Julio Delgado took the lead midway through Day 2 and used his chip stack to push his way to the win after a three-way deal at the final table.

The turnout over the six starting flights generated a prize pool worth $446,890 and all 136 who advance to Day 2 began Sunday in the money. With no bubble to sweat, Day 2 sped along quickly, and they were down to the last two tables when they took a dinner break.

Once they were back, a series of big hands and coolers and bad beats dropped the tournament to the final table nine. Luke Torres ran his kings into aces, WSOP bracelet winner Chris Tryba ran out of time, John Bollette made a move against Delgado that fell short of success, and Shawn Sorgi flopped a set only to be rivered by a bigger one.

Tampa regular Wally Maddah had perhaps the most interesting path to the final table. He began Day 2 at the bottom of the counts, returning 133rd of 136. Maddah even thought his day was done early when he was holding a payout ticket for 134th place. But it turned out he earned the side pot in a big hand, was still in the game and finished in seventh place. Then it was a two-outer that got Maddah out of the game (a one-outer if Delgado was truthful).

Delgado had 25% of the chips in play with 15 remaining and nearly 40% when they formed the final table. Everyone had to go through him to get chips, and Shane Melert made the best run at the leader, getting within ten big blinds before he fell back.

With three players remaining, they decided to divide the rest of the prize pool based on the ICM numbers. Melert earned $47,309 for third place with Manny Minaya banking $51,121 for a runner-up finish.

Delgado took home $62,750 for the WPO Event 1 title, the biggest cash of his career, topping the $13K he won for a Triple 30s title in April.

Congrats to Julio for the dominant run!

Final table results:

PlaceFirst NameLast NameCityStatePrize Amount
1JulioDelgadoOrlandoFL$62,750 *
2MannyMinayaNorthdaleFL$51,121 *
3ShaneMelertMogadoreOH$47,309 *
4JoelDeutschHollywoodFL$27,460
5JoshBabcockClearwaterFL$20,710
6AlanThomasIrvingTX$15,790
7WallyMaddahTampaFL$12,160
8JerryArgentoNew Port RicheyFL$9,470
9DrewDodgeSpring HillFL$7,450

* – denotes results of a three-way deal

Event 1: We Have a Deal!

$400 No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$250,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 30: 100,000/200,000 with a 200,000 ante

Julio Delgado

After Joel Deutsch was eliminated in fourth place, the three remaining players decided to divide up the remaining prize pool based on ICM numbers.

Julio Delgado held more than half of the chips in play and earned $62,750 as the official Tampa Winter Poker Open Event 1 champ.

Julio Delgado – 23,075,000 (115 bb)
Manny Minaya – 9,775,000 (49 bb)
Shane Melert – 7,050,000 (35 bb)

1st: Julio Delgado – $62,750 + WPO trophy
2nd: Manny Minaya – $51,121
3rd: Shane Melert – $47,309

Manny Minaya
Shane Melert

Event 1: Joel Deutsch – 4th Place ($27,460)

$400 No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$250,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 30: 100,000/200,000 with a 200,000 ante
Players Remaining:  3 of 1,334

Joel Deutsch

Manny Minaya opened to 425,000 from under the gun and Joel Deutsch moved all in for 4,800,000 from the big blind.

“That’s all my stack,” Minaya said.

He thought for a minute and pushed his stack in the middle.

Deutsch: AsQs
Minaya: 9h9c

The race was pure and Minaya’s nines held on the 8h7h7dTs9d when he made an overkill full house.

The dealer counted down both stacks and Minaya was all in for 4,775,000 leaving Deutsch with a single 25K chip. He was in the small blind on the next hand and could not find a miracle to exit in fourth place.

Manny Minaya – 9,775,000 (49 bb)
Joel Deutsch – Eliminated in 4th Place ($27,469)

Event 1: Josh Babcock – 5th Place ($20,710)

$400 No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$250,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 30: 100,000/200,000 with a 200,000 ante
Players Remaining:  4 of 1,334

Josh Babcock

Julio Delgado opened to 450,000 from under the gun and Josh Babcock moved all in for 1,675,000 from the button. The blinds folded and Delgado called.

Delgado: Kc7s
Babcock: 9d9c

Babcock was looking good for the double with his nines but Delgado took the lead when he paired his king on the Ks5d3h flop. Neither the 2h turn nor the 6h river could help Babcock and he was eliminated in fifth place while our chip leader added to his stack.

Julio Delgado – 18,075,000 (90 bb)
Josh Babcock – Eliminated in 5th Place ($20,710)

Event 1: Manny Minaya Versus Julio Delgado

$400 No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$250,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 30: 100,000/200,000 with a 200,000 ante
Players Remaining:  5 of 1,334

Shane Melert opened to 400,000 from under the gun/cutoff, Manny Minaya called from the small blind, and Julio Delgado called in the big. The flop came AsKsQd and all three players checked.

The turn was 2h, Minaya bet 575,000 and only Delgado came along. The river was the Jd and Minaya moved all in for 4,000,000. Delgado thought for a few minutes, folded, and flashed an ace.

Minaya showed JxTx for a flopped straight.

Manny Minaya – 6,550,000 (33 bb)
Julio Delgado – 15,900,000 (80 bb)

Event 1: Alan Thomas – Eliminated in 6th Place ($15,790)

$400 No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$250,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 29: 100,000/150,000 with a 150,000 ante
Players Remaining:  5 of 1,334

Alan Thomas

It folded to Manny Minaya in the small blind, he limped, Alan Thomas moved all in for about 1,300,000 and Minaya snapped a call.

Minaya: AsAc
Thomas: KhQs

Thomas ran into Minaya’s aces and never found a sweat on the 5c3s3h7h9s board.

Manny Minaya – 3,875,000 (26 bb)
Alan Thomas – Eliminated in 6th Place ($15,790)

Event 1: Wally Maddah – 7th Place ($12,160)

$400 No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$250,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 29: 100,000/150,000 with a 150,000 ante
Players Remaining:  6 of 1,334

Wally Maddah

Wally Maddah opened to 600,000 from under the gun leaving a 25K chip behind. It folded to Shane Melert in the big blind, he checked his cards, and put Maddah all in for his one chip.

Maddah: AcAs
Melert: 6h6s

“Don’t worry Wally,” Julio Delgado said. “I folded a six.”

If it was true, that made the six on the Th8s6d flop a one outer for Melert. Maddah jumped up and was sent out after the 8h turn and 2c river.

Shane Melert – 12,900,000 (86 bb)
Wally Maddah – Eliminated in 7th Place ($12,160)

Event 1: Counts on Break

$400 No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$250,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 29: 100,000/150,000 with a 150,000 ante
Players Remaining:  7 of 1,334

The seven remaining players were sent on another break and return with Julio Delgado and Shane Melert holding most of the chips in play.

Seat 2: Manny Minaya – 2,425,000 (16 bb)
Seat 3: Alan Thomas – 1,850,000 (12 bb)
Seat 4: Julio Delgado – 15,800,000 (105 bb)
Seat 5: Shane Melert – 12,075,000 (81 bb)
Seat 6: Wally Maddah – 625,000 (4 bb)
Seat 7: Josh Babcock – 2,075,000 (14 bb)
Seat 8: Joel Deutsch – 5,175,000 (35 bb)

Remaining payouts:

1st: $74,650 + WPO trophy
2nd: $49,760
3rd: $36,770
4th: $27,460
5th: $20,710
6th: $15,790
7th: $12,160

Event 1: Jerry Argento – 8th Place ($9,470)

$400 No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$250,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 28: 75,000/125,000 with a 125,000 ante
Players Remaining:  7 of 1,334

Jerry Argento

Jerry Argento was the short stack, sitting in the small blind with 275,000, when Alan Thomas opened to 275,000 from the button.

“What the hell,” Argento said. “It’s been a good day”.

He called, Shane Melert folded, and Argento was at risk.

Thomas: KsTd
Argento: Kh8s

Argento’s king was dominated and he found no love on the 9h6d2sAd2d board to exit in eighth place.

Alan Thomas – 2,425,000 (19 bb)
Jerry Argento – Eliminated in 8th Place ($9,470)

Event 1: Drew Dodge – 9th Place ($7,450)

$400 No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$250,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 28: 75,000/125,000 with a 125,000 ante
Players Remaining:  8 of 1,334

Drew Dodge

Action folded to Drew dodge in middle position and he moved all in for 775,000. Shane Melert called on the button and the blinds folded.

Melert: TcTd
Dodge: AsJc

It was a race and Dodge needed to improve to double up. The dealer ran out the 9d7s6h7hQh and Dodge missed the board to exit the final table in ninth place.

Shane Melert – 9,150,000 (73 bb)
Drew Dodge – Eliminated in 9th Place ($7,450)