2023 Tampa Signature Poker Series
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Tampa, Florida
Event 3
$400 Pot Limit Omaha 8 (Re-Entry)
Entries: 103
Prize Pool: $34,505
September 7, 2023
Nick Kost made it two nights in a row that a local poker professional won the title at the 2023 SPS. Kost topped a field of 103 entries to take home the trophy in the $400 PLO O8 tournament against a talented field of mixed-game players. His toughest match was waiting at the end of the tournament when he faced AJ Kelsall heads-up for the tournament title. Kost faced more than a 2:1 chip disadvantage to start that final battle, but he persevered to seize the day and the SPS trophy along with $9,665 in prize money up top.
Here is what former World Series of Poker gold bracelet winner had to say shortly after his victory tonight: “It feels great man, it’s been a minute since I’ve won anything. I’ve done well this year, but I haven’t won a trophy or won a tournament in a long time.”
“AJ got me in the dealer’s choice at the World Series, so he clipped me there, so I got him back. He doesn’t make any mistakes, so you’re scratching and clawing for whatever you can. I got a couple of situations where I got baled out on half the pot, and then I scooped him and that was it,” said Kost about the heads-up final.
Kost knew that the final match was gong to be a battle after Kelsall made a metaphor that you wouldn’t give up and chop on the 16th hole if you were all tied in golf – and that’s the fun part. Here is what Kost had to say about the final stages of the tournament: “I knew with those four guys, especially the final three, that we were going to play for that trophy. Plus, [Kelsall] had side bets, so you have a little bit of a situation where it’s endgame. For me, when you get to the final table it’s endgame, you have to figure out the top three and win it. It’s been a minute, I’ve had a lot of seconds the last few years, so it’s nice to get a first.”
The winner’s interview finished with Kost talking about what he enjoys about his home-court advantage here at Seminole Hard Rock Tampa. Here is what he had to say: “I mostly play mixed, so it’s nice. It’s good to see that they’re doing it at a lot of series. Obviously Hollywood is good too, I love it. I live in St. Pete so this is perfect for me, and it’s a good setup too. I like how the poker room is just separate. Easy in and out, the player pool is decent for PLO cash, and if they have these a few times a year it’s a plus for me. I travel a lot, but it’s nice to be 20 minutes from the tournament instead of at an Airbnb.”
1st: Nick Kost – $9,665 + SPS trophy
2nd: AJ Kelsall – $6,450
3rd: Terry Mackie – $4,380
4th: Donald Maloney – $3,080
5th: Peter Walsworth – $2,250
6th: Mike Collins – $1,710
7th: Mike Tadlock – $1,360
8th: Lewis Gallo – $1,120
9th: Samuel Silverman – $970
10th: Allen Kessler – $970
11th: James Hall – $850
12th: Jonathan Gold – $850
13th: Likang Berninger – $850
in the hole from the button, and Nick Kost had him covered holding 
.
, and Kelsall was eliminated in second place, good for $6,450 in prize money. That made Kost the champion of the tournament thanks to a straight, and he took home the SPS trophy along with the top prize money worth $9,665.
from the button, and Nick Kost had him covered holding 
.
, and Kelsall doubled up to survive with 1.36 million. Kost held 1,215,000 after the dust settled.
on the small blind.
in the hole under the gun, and Terry Mackey had him covered holding 
