$1,650 WPO Championship (Re-Entry)
Level 3: 75/150 with a 25 ante
Entries: 103

With nearly 10 minutes remaining in Level 3, the Flight A Championship field cracked triple digit territory. This all but assures the tournament will best last year’s opening field of 105 entries and puts it in great position to see a massive prize pool when all is said and done Saturday evening.

In addition to today’s Flight A, Flight B begins tomorrow at 11am and Flight C Saturday at 11am. Registration is open each day until about 7pm.

$1,650 WPO Championship (Re-Entry)
Level 3: 75/150 with a 25 ante
Entries: 97

Tampa regular Tony March recently had his whole stack at risk. He and the big blind got 3,000 in preflop and saw a board of . The big blind lead for another 3,000 and March moved all-in. The big blind folded and March took the pot.

March’s stack sits at about 23,000 following the hand.

$1,650 WPO Championship (Re-Entry)
Level 2: 75/150
Entries: 88

Anthony Astarita isn’t the defending champion, but he’s a defending champion. Last year’s Winter Poker Open Championship winner, of course, was John Templeton. But it’s Asarita who won the last major event here in Tampa.

The Orlando-area player claimed victory in the property’s WPTDeepStacks-Tampa Main Event good for a haul of $130,541. Astarita, who was primarily a cash game player in recent years, has been on the tournament grind ever since. He’s recorded a handful of cashes, and even final tabled an event here in October for $18,000.

He’s in search of another title here in Flight A of the WPO Championship.

$1,650 WPO Championship (Re-Entry)
Level 2: 75/150
Entries: 82

The $300,000 guaranteed Winter Poker Open is off to a strong start with 82 entries at the beginning of Level 2. If the current pace holds up, last year’s Flight A figure of 105 should be easily bested.

Late registration and re-entry is available until about 7pm.

$1,650 WPO Championship (Re-Entry)
Level 1: 50/100
Entries: 79

In addition to hefty first prizes and a guitar trophy, the majority of the Winter Poker Open prelim champions earned themselves $1,650 seats in the Championship. A handful of those winners are in action during the early stages of Flight A. Here’s a look at them:

$1,650 WPO Championship (Re-Entry)
Level 1: 50/100
Entries: 75

When Justin Zaki plays an event, everyone at Seminole Hard Rock Tampa takes notice. The Florida resident is one of three players that wears the property’s token purple patch at events across the country. Zaki owns nearly $1,750,000 in career earnings and has been looking forward to the Winter Poker Open Championship all year.

He’s been active early, playing a handful of small pots, but sits near starting stack.

Playin 1A of the $1650/300k GTD at my home casino @SHRTPoker. Reg open til 7pm. Must play event for anyone in the area.

— Justin Zaki (@Justin_Zaki) December 15, 2016

$1,650 WPO Championship (Re-Entry)
Level 1: 50/100
Entries: 61

The day is here. Thursday marks beginning of the Winter Poker Open Championship, the series’ $1650 buy-in, $300,000 guaranteed finale. Last year’s event blew the doors off the poker room drawing more than 450 entries generating a prize pool of over $675,000. In the end, John Templeton earned a six-figure top prize along with the property’s token guitar trophy.

Flight A — the first of three starting flights in this year’s event — is freshly underway. Players are taking their seats to 30,000-chip starting stacks and are set to log 14, 45-minute levels. Late registration and re-entry are available until about 7pm with play expected to conclude around 11pm.

Here’s a closer look at the schedule:

11AM: Day 1A – $1,650 WPO Championship (Re-Entry)

• $300,000 Guaranteed Prize Pool
• Players begin with 30,000 in chips and 45-minute levels
• Late registration/re-entry available until start of Level 10
• Day 1 will end after Level 14 or Tournament Director discretion
• Championship Structure Sheet

Updates throughout the day will be available right here at SHRTPoker.com. Good luck, Championship players!

Main Event Schedule

11AM: Day 1A – $1,650 WPO Championship (Re-Entry)

• $300,000 Guaranteed Prize Pool
• Players begin with 30,000 in chips and 45-minute levels
• Late registration/re-entry available until start of Level 10
• Day 1 will end after Level 14 or Tournament Director discretion
• Championship Structure Sheet

Secondary and Satellite Schedule

3PM: Event 25 – $190 WPO Championship Satellite (1-in-10)

• 5 seats guaranteed into $300,000 GTD WPO Championship
• Players begin with 12,000 in chips and 20-minute levels
• Late registration/re-entry available until start of Level 9
• This is a one-day tournament and plays until completion
• Event 25 Structure Sheet

7PM: Event 26 – $190 WPO Championship Satellite (1-in-10)

• 5 seats guaranteed into $300,000 GTD WPO Championship
• Players begin with 12,000 in chips and 20-minute levels
• Late registration/re-entry available until start of Level 9
• This is a one-day tournament and plays until completion
• Event 26 Structure Sheet

$1,650 WPO Championship (Re-Entry)

The $1,650 Winter Poker Open Championship begins tomorrow with the first of three flights in the $300,000 guaranteed finale. If last year’s event is any indication, the tournament should easily best its six-figure target and more than likely see a prize pool upwards of $600,000. With 30,000-chip starting stacks, start days are offered Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 11am with Day 2 starting Sunday at 12pm.

Details:

11AM: Day 1A/B/C – $1,650 WPO Championship (Re-Entry)

• $300,000 Guaranteed Prize Pool, SHRPO seat added to 1st
• Players begin with 30,000 in chips and 45 and 50-minute levels
• Late registration/re-entry available until start of Level 10
• Day 1 will end after Level 14 or Tournament Director discretion
• Day 2 begins Sunday, December 18 at 12pm
• Championship Structure Sheet

Last year’s tournament drew a massive turnout of 453 entries generating a total prize pool in excess of $675,000. A slew of notables made deep runs including Wally Maddah, Sean Shah, Steve Karp, Cory Waaland, John Holley, Timothy Miles and Sheddy Siddiqui. The event concluded in a three-way chop that saw John Templeton earn $134,731. Also pocketing six figures was runner-up David Lappano who scored. $107,798.

In addition to an expected six-figure first prize, this year’s champion earns a guitar trophy and an added $5,250 seat in the next August’s Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open Championship.

Those interested in reserving rooms for the Championship are encouraged to call 866-388-4263 and use group code GWINT16 for $99 rates at the nearby Fairfield Inn & Suites.