2024 Tampa Poker Classic
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Tampa, Florida
Event 1
$400 No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$200,000 Guaranteed
Entries:  1,082
Prize Pool:  $357,060
March 13 – 17, 2024

The opening event of the 2024 Tampa Poker Classic was a $400 buy-in multi-flight tournament that drew big crowds to the poker room. After a tough final table, Thomas Robertson defeated Ryan Hogan heads-up for the title and $59,500.

Event 1 drew 1,082 entries over six starting flights, creating a prize pool worth $357,060. It easily topped the $200,000 guarantee, and the 137 players who returned for Day 2 were in the money.

The tournament quickly played down to the nine-handed final table with Ryan Hogan holding a massive chip lead and Robertson the shortest at the table. Reigning WPO Champ Ross Corless dropped out in ninth place and Robertson began his climb.

Four-handed play slowed the action with very deep stacks until Ray Mancini went out in fourth. When they reached heads-up play, Hogan was able to pull back to a virtual tie, but Robertson worked hard to win the title outright against a talented opponent.

Robertson earned $59,500 for the win, along with the first TPC trophy of the series.

Congrats Thomas!

Final table results:

1st: Thomas Robertson – $59,500 + TPC Trophy
2nd: Ryan Hogan – $39,730
3rd: Mario Valbuena – $29,370
4th: Ray Mancini – $21,930
5th: Randy Levin – $16,540
6th: Eric Tarikas – $12,610
7th: Parm Mehmi – $9,720
8th: Phil Krnyaich – $7,560
9th: Ross Corless – $5,950

• – Full TPC Event 1 Results (PDF)

$400 No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$200,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 33:  200,000/400,000 with a 400,000 ante

Ryan Hogan was able to pull into a virtual tie with Thomas Robertson, but that was where the good news ended for the former Tampa champ.

Robertson took most of the rest of the pots until Hogan was left short. He was sitting on 2,600,000 and moved all in after Robertson raised to 1,000,000 from his button. Robertson quickly called with a chance to win the tournament.

Robertson:
Hogan:

Hogan was drawing live for a double but Robertson slammed the door when he made trip kings on the flop. The turn and river finished the board and the tournament. Hogan took home $39,730 for his runner-up finish while Robertson earned $59,500 for the top spot.

1st: Thomas Robertson – $59,500 + TPC Trophy
2nd: Ryan Hogan – $39,730

$400 No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$200,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 32:  150,000/300,000 with a 300,000 ante
Players Remaining:  2 of 1,082

Thomas Robertson opened to 600,000 from the button and Ryan Hogan called. The flop was and Hogan check-called 300,000 from Robertson. The turn was and Hogan check-called another 500,000 from Robertson.

The river was , Hogan checked, and Robertson bet 750,000.

“Why so cheap?” Hogan asked. He thought for two minutes, called the bet, and showed for two pair nines and threes. Robertson mucked and Hogan took the pot.

Seat 4: Thomas Robertson – 16,650,000 (56 bb)
Seat 8: Ryan Hogan – 15,800,000 (53 bb)

$400 No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$200,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 32:  150,000/300,000 with a 300,000 ante
Players Remaining:  2 of 1,082

Seat 4: Thomas Robertson – 20,425,000 (68 bb)
Seat 8: Ryan Hogan – 12,025,000 (40 bb)

1st: $59,500 + TPC Trophy
2nd: $39,730

$400 No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$200,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 31:  125,000/250,000 with a 250,000 ante
Players Remaining:  2 of 1,082

Mario Valbuena opened to 500,000 from the button and Thomas Robertson three-bet to 1,325,000. Valbuena moved all in for about 2,100,000 and Robertson quickly called.

Valbuena:
Robertson:

It was a race and Valbuena needed his tens to hold to double up. The flop was safe but Robertson took the lead when he paired his queen on the turn. The board finished with the river and Valbuena was eliminated in third place.

Thomas Robertson – 17,100,000 (68 bb)
Mario Velbuena – Eliminated in 3rd Place ($29,370)

$400 No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$200,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 31:  125,000/250,000 with a 250,000 ante
Players Remaining:  3 of 1,082

After a long stalemate with Ray Mancini riding a short stack and the other three not putting many chip in action, Mancini finally got some action from Thomas Robertson when he was all in for 1,900,000.

Robertson:
Mancini:

Mancini was ahead for the double and faded the flop. That changed when Robertson paired his ace on the turn and Mancini was eliminated after the river.

Thomas Robertson – 12,150,000 (49 bb)
Ray Mancini – Eliminated in 4th Place ($21,930)

$400 No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$200,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 29:  75,000/150,000 with a 150,000 ante
Players Remaining:  4 of 1,082

Randy Levin opened to 325,000 from under the gun and Mario Valbuena three-bet to 850,000 from the button. The blinds folded, Levin moved all in for 2,475,000 and Valbuena quickly called.

Valbuena:
Levin:

Levin was in great shape for a double up but Valbuena made a set of jacks on the flop. The board finished with the turn and river and Levin was eliminated in fifth place.

Mario Valbuena – 9,850,000 (66 bb)
Randy Levin – Eliminated in 5th Place ($16,540)

$400 No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$200,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 29:  75,000/150,000 with a 150,000 ante
Players Remaining:  5 of 1,082

The wealth in the stack of Ryan Hogan was redistributed to the other four players at the table and Thomas Robertson now leads Event 1 with five players remaining.

Seat 1: Mario Valbuena – 6,975,000 (47 bb)
Seat 2: Ray Mancini – 5,400,000 (36 bb)
Seat 4: Thomas Robertson – 10,400,000 (69 bb)
Seat 6: Randy Levin – 2,475,000 (17 bb)
Seat 8: Ryan Hogan – 7,275,000 (49 bb)

1st: $59,500 + TPC Trophy
2nd: $39,730
3rd: $29,370
4th: $21,930
5th: $16,540

$400 No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$200,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 28:  75,000/125,000 with a 125,000 ante
Players Remaining:  5 of 1,082

$400 No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$200,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 27:  50,000/100,000 with a 100,000 ante
Players Remaining:  6 of 1,082