$400 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 21:  15,000/25,000 with a 25,000 ante
Players Remaining:  135 of 3,788

We found two big stacks sitting next to each other at Table 53. Both Joey Burns and TK Miles came into the day among the leaders and they continue to climb. Burns sits with 2,375,000 while Miles (second on the all-time SHT Tampa money list) is dangerous with 1,645,000.

The blind increased to 15,000/25,000 with a 25,000 ante and the average stack is about 830,000 (33 bb).

$400 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 20:  10,000/20,000 with a 20,000 ante
Players Remaining:  160 of 3,788

Joe Parrish opened to 45,000 from the hijack and Wagner Wysotchanski three-bet to 150,000 from the cutoff. The button and blinds folded and Parrish moved all in. Wysotchanski quickly called at risk for 600,000 total and a huge pot.

Wysotchanski:
Parrish:

It was a big flip for a lot of chips, and Wysotchanski maintained his lead with queens on the flop and turn. The river improved Parrish to a pair of kings to send Wysotchanski and stack up among the leaders.

Joe Parrish – 1,865,000 (93 bb)
Wagner Wysotchanski – Eliminated in 161st Place ($1,240)

$400 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 20:  10,000/20,000 with a 20,000 ante
Players Remaining:  180 of 3,788

After a little bonus time to make sure everything was settled, players returned to their seats with 180 still in contention and a new chip leader.

Chris Durgin is the new top stack in the room and the only player over two million. He has 2,375,000 to work and Carina Cedrechi is his closest competitor with 1,855,000. A few more sit over 1.5 million, including Armando Figueroa and AK Kelsall.

Blinds are up to 10,000/20,000 with a 20,000 ante and the average stack is about 625,000 (31 bb).

$400 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 19:  8,000/16,000 with a 16,000 ante
Players Remaining:  204 of 3,788

After a hectic few levels, the remaining Event 1 players were sent on a 15-minute break while tournament staff pull the 1K chips out of play and introduce more 25K chips.

$400 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 19:  8,000/16,000 with a 16,000 ante
Players Remaining:  244 of 3,788

James Collins opened to 50,000 from under the gun, a middle position player called, and Lana Nester moved all in for 338,000. Collins folded his hand, and the player in middle position quickly called.

Nester:
MP:

Nester was in great shape for a double up and stayed that way on the flop. Collins let out a small groan when he saw the flop, saying he had pocket sixes in the muck.

The turn and river finished the board and Nester had her double.

Lana Nester – 753,000 (47 bb)

$400 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 18:  6,000/12,000 with a 12,000 ante
Players Remaining:  296 of 3,788

The pace is moving right along with a lot of early action in the Event Center. That means some are climbing while others are hitting the payout desk.

Armando Figueroa continues to have a nice run and is up to 1,055,000 while Blake Whittington is cruising with 718,000. Ryan Hogan isn’t among the leaders but having a nice day; he began Day 2 with only 63,000 but is now up to 480,000.

Blinds increased to 6,000/12,000 with a 12,000 ante and the average stack is about 380,000 (32 bb).

$400 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 17:  5,000/10,000 with a 10,000 ante
Players Remaining:  350 of 3,788

Armando Figueroa opened the action from under the gun and Brandon Kiehm called in middle position. John Two-Bears moved all in for 80,000 from the big blind and Figueroa raised to 200,000. Kiehm moved all in for 254,000 and Figueroa quickly called for the three-way pot.

Two-Bears:
Figueroa:
Kiehm:

Two-Bears was ahead for the double, but there were a lot of live cards in the deck. Figueroa found one of them on the flop to take the lead with his paired jack and the turn changed nothing. The river put Two-Bears back in the lead for a triple up while Kiehm was sent out for a min-cash.

“I’ll take that side pot,” Figueroa laughed with Two-Bears.

John Two-Bears – 255,000 (26 bb)
Armando Figueroa – 879,000 (88 bb)
Brandon Kiehm – Eliminated ($900)

$400 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 17:  5,000/10,000 with a 10,000 ante
Players Remaining:  372 of 3,788

At 1 pm on the dot, tournament staff put cards back in the air for SPS Event 1 with 372 players in the room, playing down towards the final table and beyond.

Blinds are 5,000/10,000 with a 10,000 ante and the average stack is about 302,000 (30 bb).

$400 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 17:  5,000/10,000 with a 10,000 ante
Players Remaining:  372 of 3,788

The first event of the inaugural Tampa Signature Poker Series drew 3,788 entries over eight starting flights and put $1.25 million up for grabs. We saw 381 players make it through and are in the money from the start of Day 2.

We had nine players bag twice; they will get a min-cash for their smallest bag and play their biggest. That means we have 372 in action at 1 pm and the pace will be quick without a money bubble today.

Lu Yu leads the return with John Kennedy, Christopher Durgin, Luis Medina, and Khanh Truong rounding out the top five.

They will play out the last 28 minutes of Level 17 and levels will increase to 40 minutes at the start of Level 18.

Top ten returning stacks:

1. Lu Yu – 1,218,000 (122 bb)
2. John Kennedy – 1,100,000 (110 bb)
3. Christopher Durgin – 1,062,000 (106 bb)
4. Luis Medina – 957,000 (96 bb)
5. Khanh Truong – 953,000 (95 bb)
6. Wendy Lu – 919,000 (92 bb)
7. Allen Ventura – 913,000 (91 bb)
8. Motyk Scott – 907,000 (91 bb)
9. William Lackey – 882,000 (88 bb)
10. Daniel Kusnerak – 862,000 (86 bb)

Day 2 Seats | Day 2 Chips | Payouts

$400 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 17:  5,000/10,000 with a 10,000 ante
Players Remaining:  372 of 3,788

Flight A: 248 Entries; 23 Advanced
Flight B: 296 Entries; 30 Advanced
Flight C: 271 Entries; 25 Advanced
Flight D: 331 Entries; 32 Advanced
Flight E: 477 Entries; 46 Advanced
Flight F: 525 Entries; 52 Advanced
Flight G: 886 Entries; 88 Advanced
Flight H: 754 Entries; 76 Advanced
Day 2: Sunday at 1 pm