Event 12
The first week of the Winter Poker Open saw six players walk away with WPO trophies and since then, ten more players have walked away with “tiny glass Borgatas”. Those trophies have been awarded through a wide variety of events and the first saw Marc Matz take home the Event 7 ‘Omaha/Stud H/L’ title and an over $6,000 score. That was Matz’s first career tournament win and that kicked off a busy week, with ‘The General’ claiming the next WPO trophy.
That came in the Event 8 ‘Super Stack Elevator’ and prior to the ‘Borgata Million’ starting on Tuesday, James Chen won the Event 9 ‘Pot Limit Omaha High’. The trophies were then kept out of sight for a few days, as that ‘Borgata Million’ played through six starting flights but ‘All-Star Weekend’ did not disappoint, creating plenty of headlines and storylines over the last few days.
The biggest of those storylines was Joe ‘Black’ Reddick claiming his first career title in the $1,000,000 GTD Event 10. Reddick took home just over $215,000 for his ‘Borgata Million’ win and while that wasn’t the first title awarded during ‘All-Star Weekend’, Reddick was the weekend’s highest earner.
Mike Rees was the second biggest earner, after he claimed the Event 11 ‘$1,000 Six Max’ title early Sunday morning. After a nearly seven hour final table, Rees outlasted a stacked field to take home $80,000 and his first BPO title, with Rex Clinkscales doing the same on Saturday night. He won the Event 12 ’40 Big Blind Bounty’ for just over $30,000.
Those two wins bookended Allan Vrooman‘s $100,000 GTD ‘Saturday Series’ win, as he claimed the Event 13 title for his first career Borgata victory. The final trophy awarded on a busy Saturday, saw partypoker’s Jamie Kerstetter take down the Event 16 ‘Charity Series of Poker’ title. That was a win-win for both Kerstetter and the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, as over $13,000 were raised through another extremely successful CSOP event.
While Saturday saw plenty of hardware get handed out, Sunday was a slightly less hectic schedule, with only two players claiming WPO trophies. The first was Alex Benyayev, who outlasted a 75 player field to win the Event 15 ‘Pot Limit Omaha High’, the second event of it’s kind during this WPO series.
The big winner from Sunday though was Matt Emmel, who claimed potentially the most prestigious non-main event title, when he outlasted a 64 player bracket to win Event 14. Emmel, who is a heads up sit & go specialist used that experience to claim the ‘Heads Up Championship’ title and a nearly $50,000 score. Emmel was the last WPO title winner but over the next few days, five more trophies are up for grabs, including the WPT Champions Cup.
The WPO blog will be here to bring you all of that action but if you want to go back and catch up on what’s happened over the last week, the links at the top of this post will bring you to each event’s individual coverage. It should also be noted, that a complete list of results from each event are linked as well.
Event 12 – ’40 Big Blind Black Chip Bounty NLH’
Level 21 (50,000/100,000/20,000)
Total Entries: 283
Players Remaining: 5
Average Stack: 2,264,000
Rex Clinkscales – Winter Poker Open Event 12 ’40 Big Blind Bounty’ Champion
After the elimination of Jane Hitchcock, this Event 12 final table went on a short break and when they returned, the “shove fest”, as some players were calling it in Level 20, continued into Level 21. In the end, the chips all ended up in front of Rex Clinkscales, a fitting finish for the player who came back from the dinner break with the final table chip lead.
It wasn’t all smooth sailing though, as Clinkscales ran into a few tough spots right after that break and saw John Bilello take control of the chip lead. That lead held until the very end, as Clinkscales bested Bilello heads up, to claim one of the only pieces missing from his nearly full poker trophy case.
The Las Vegas based pro has won tournaments from coast to coast, including two WSOP Circuit rings and a Colorado Poker Championship in 2014. This win puts Clinkscales over the $800,000 mark in terms of career earnings and kicks off his 2016 season with a victory, after 2015 was his best year as a professional.
He’ll certainly be a player to watch throughout the rest of ‘All-Star Weekend’, as he’ll go for another deep run when the WPT starts their WPO Championship tomorrow.
That concludes the WPO blog’s coverage of the Event 12 ’40 Big Blind Bounty’ and a list of the final table results is provided below:
- Rex Clinkscales – $30,851
- John Bilello – $18,182
- Adam Agaev – $10,468
- Devon Shalmi – $8,485
- Alan Snow – $6,612
Event 12 – ’40 Big Blind Black Chip Bounty NLH’
Level 20 (40,000/80,000/10,000)
Total Entries: 283
Players Remaining: 5
Average Stack: 2,264,000
Soukha Kachittavong (Woonsocket, RI)
After nearly an hour and a half without an elimination, two players were sent to the rail in back to back hands. The first to go was Soukha Kachittavong, as he moved all-in from the cutoff and saw Adam Agaev re-shove for more from the button.
The small and big blind folded, leaving Kachittavong drawing thin, as his {9c}{9d} was up against Agaev’s {10c}{10d}. The smaller pocket pair needed some help but he didn’t get any on the {Jc}{7d}{4d}{Qd}{6d} runout.
Jane Hitchcock (Washington DC)
He’d hit the rail in 7th place and in the very next hand, Hitchcock was at risk against the chip leader.
John Bilello opened on the button and Hitchcock, in the small blind, moved all-in for just over 700,000 and Belillo called to put the short stack at risk. It was flip, as Bilello held {Ad}{Kd} to Hitchcock’s {8h}{8s}.
There would be no miracle double this time around though, as Bilello flopped an ace and held through the turn and river on the {Ac}{Jh}{6h}{2d}{2s} runout. She’d bow out in 6th place and she’ll make $8,485. Kachittavong, who went out 7th, will make $6,612.
We are now five-handed at this Event 12 final table and it should be noted that there are only a few minutes left in Level 20.
Event 12 – ’40 Big Blind Black Chip Bounty NLH’
Level 20 (40,000/80,000/10,000)
Total Entries: 283
Players Remaining: 7
Average Stack: 1,610,000
Jane Hitchcock has been in the center of all the Level 20 action, scoring two doubles to keep herself alive at this Event 12 final table.
While Level 19 didn’t bring much action, Level 20 is giving us more than our fair share. So far, there have been three double ups, with Jane Hitchcock involved in all three encounters, catching timely rivers to keep herself alive at this Event 12 final table.
The first double, saw Hitchcock double through Soukha Kachittavong, when her {Kc}{Qc} rivered a flush against Kachittavong’s {Ad}{Kd} on a {As}{Ac}{7h}{5c}{9c} runout. Hitchcock couldn’t believe her luck and Kachittavong was left short with close to 850,000, wondering what could have been.
He’d get some redemption a few hands later, as he doubled through Hitchcock, {Ac}{Qc} besting her {9c}{9s}. The {Ad}{3s}{2h}{8s}{4s} runout got Kachittavong back up near 1,500,000 and dropped Hitchcock back to the bottom of the leaderboard. She’s still there but with a workable ten big blind stack, thanks to another near miracle runout, as she Hitchcock just scored a third double to round out the Level 20 action.
That hand was picked up with chip leader John Bilello opening to 160,000 and after some thought, Hitchcock moved all-in for 475,000. The tabled folded around to Adam Agaev, who re-shoved from the big blind and forced Bilello to get out of the way. It didn’t matter if Agaev iso-ed or not, as Hitchcock’s {Qd}{9d} was destined for the double, beating Agaev’s {Ah}{5c} on the {10d}{8d}{7h}{Ac}{6c} runout.
It’s been a crazy start back from the first post-dinner break and Jane Hitchcock has her lucky 100,000 value chip to thank for it. When the floor staff was coloring up the stacks during the last break, Hitchcock’s short stack was the only one that didn’t a black 100,000 value chip. She then traded one for some “good luck” and that has worked thus far, as she’s still alive here at the Event 12 final table.
Event 12 – ’40 Big Blind Black Chip Bounty NLH’
Level 19 (30,000/60,000/5,000)
Total Entries: 283
Players Remaining: 7
Average Stack: 1,610,000
Soukha Kachittavong doubled late in Level 19 and even though he’s still short, he’s still alive for this Event 12 title.
It’s been a slow crawl towards the first post-dinner break, as Level 18 and 19 saw a lot of jockeying but only a few massive hands play out. The last of those saw Soukha Kachittavong double through Adam Agaev, after Devon Shalmi opened to 125,000 and Kachittavong shoved from the small blind.
Agaev quickly re-shoved and Shalmi folded {4h}{4d} face up. Kachittavong laughed, as he tabled {3c}{3h} and would have been in big trouble against the slight over pair. Instead, he was flipping against Agaev’s {Ad}{KS} and the short stack’s small pair held through the {Jh}{6c}{2d}{7h}{9s} runout, doubling Kachittavong and leaving Shalmi wondering what could have been.
Instead of the double knockout, we are still seven-handed heading on the next break, with a complete update of the remaining stacks provided below:
- Souka Kachittavong – 1,400,000
- Adam Agaev – 1,300,000
- John Bilello – 3,700,000
- Jane Hitchcock – 700,000
- Devon Shalmi – 1,800,000
- Alan Snow – 1,600,000
- Rex Clinkscales – 850,000
Event 12 – ’40 Big Blind Black Chip Bounty NLH’
Level 18 (25,000/50,000/5,000)
Total Entries: 283
Players Remaining: 7
Average Stack: 1,610,000
Mike Nye (East Bridgewater, MA)
The first level back from dinner, didn’t see any all-ins and calls but there were some sizable pots that played out. Rex Clinkscales and John Bilello, who came back from dinner with the two biggest stacks at this final table, got involved early. They saw a flop of {8c}{7s}{4h} and Bilello check-raised to 300,000 after Clinkscales continued for 80,000.
The big stack called and after the {6d} fell, Bilello led for 525,000. Clinkscales tank folded and said he mucked the “biggest of pairs” but he couldn’t get Bilello to show, although everyone thought that pocket aces were beat in that spot. Clinkscales and Bilello would continue to dominate most of the action, as they’re still the only two players over the 2,000,000 chip mark but Alan Snow just got involved for the first time at this final table.
He just scored the first post-dinner elimination, sending Mike Nye out in 8th place. Nye, who’s been short stacked since getting cut down by Devon Shalmi, moved all-in for 345,000 from middle position. Snow just called on the button and after the blinds folded, he tabled {Kd}{Kh}. Nye was drawing thin with {Ad}{Ks} and he couldn’t find an ace on the {7s}{4H}{2s}{8c}{7d} runout, meaning he was the next player out at this Event 12 final table.
In the very next hand, Shalmi doubled through Soukha Kachittavong, {As}{Kh} over {6d}{6h}, to leave Kachittavong as the low man with 700,000. Shalmi is now playing 1,700,000 while Snow is now up to 1,800,000.
Event 12 – ’40 Big Blind Black Chip Bounty NLH’
Level 17 (20,000/40,000/4,000)
Total Entries: 283
Players Remaining: 8
Average Stack: 1,420,000
Rex Clinkscales head into the Event 12 dinner break with the final table chip lead. He’ll now try to return from that dinner break to claim the first WPO title of a jam-packed weekend.
After the elimination of David Gerassi at the end of Level 16, there wasn’t much movement for the majority of the ’40 Big Blind Bounty’ final table through Level 17. Rex Clinkscales was the exception to that rule though, as he did nothing but increase his stack over the last half hour to take just over 2,500,000 into the dinner break.
That break will see players return just before 8:10 PM and when they do, the remaining eight players will play down to claim, what should be, the first WPO trophy of ‘All-Star Weekend’.
- Souka Kachittavong – 1,200,000
- Adam Agaev – 1,100,000
- John Bilello – 2,200,000
- Mike Nye – 650,000
- Jane Hitchcock – 1,300,000
- Devon Shalmi – 1,500,000
- Alan Snow – 800,000
- Rex Clinkscales – 2,600,000
Event 12 – ’40 Big Blind Black Chip Bounty NLH’
Level 17 (20,000/40,000/4,000)
Total Entries: 283
Players Remaining: 8
Average Stack: 1,420,000
David Gerassi (Oceanside, NY)
After a swingy first half hour at the Event 12 final table, we finally saw our first player hit the rail. That was the uber aggressive David Gerassi, who was just eliminated in 10th place by John Bilello.
Action was picked up with Gerassi opening to 135,000 from late position and after some folds, Bilello, who had just over 1,100,000, declared himself “all-in”.
The big blind folded and Gerassi, without much thought, threw his bounty chip in the middle to signal a call.
Bilello tabled {8c}{8h} and it was a flip for Gerassi’s tournament life, as he held {Kh}{Qh} and just over 700,000. The short stack couldn’t find any help on the {Ac}{7s}{6s} flop but he did manage to turn some additional outs when the {10s} fell.
None of those outs hit though, as the {4d} completed the board and sealed his fate as the first player gone from the final table. He’ll make $2,204, while John Bilello is now playing just shy of 2,300,000.
A few hands earlier, in the one of the last hands of Level 16, Shang Dai was eliminated in 10th place.
Event 12 – ’40 Big Blind Black Chip Bounty NLH’
Level 16 (15,000/30,000/4,000)
Total Entries: 283
Players Remaining: 10
Average Stack: 1,113,000
The first half hour at the Event 12 ’40 Big Blind Bounty’ final table has seen a few big changes to the leaderboard. Rex Clinkscales has moved to the top of the leaderboard and Devon Shalmi, who was cut down by Clinkscales, then got “very lucky” after against Mike Nye.
That leaves Clinkscales playing just over 2,000,000 atop the leaderboard, with Shalmi playing close to 1,000,000. Mike Nye would have had 2,300,000 but instead, he’s grinding 700,000. That movement might change the overall landscape of this final table but, as fate would have it, the average stack right now is just under 40 big blinds.
That’s how this tournament began and with everyone at this Event 12 final table sitting relatively deep, we could be in for the long haul before we crown the first WPO champion of ‘All-Star Weekend’. It should be noted that there are just a few minutes remaining in Level 16 and that the dinner break will be after Level 17.
Event 12 – ’40 Big Blind Black Chip Bounty NLH’
Level 15 (12,000/24,000/3,000)
Total Entries: 283
Players Remaining: 10
Average Stack: 1,113,000
Devon Shalmi is now near the top of the Event 12 ’40 Big Blind Bounty’ leaderboard at the ten-handed final table.
The final table of the ’40 Big Blind Bounty’ is officially set and since our last chip count update, we’ve seen some decent swings on the Event 12 leaderboard. The biggest of those swings has seen Devon Shalmi skyrocket up the charts, as he’s now playing just shy of the chip lead heading into the final table.
His 1,500,000 is only behind John Bilello, who has held his spot atop the leaderboard over the last half hour. A complete list of the remaining stacks and their chip counts is provided below:
- David Gerassi – 920,000
- Souka Kachittavong – 1,100,000
- Adam Agaev – 1,200,000
- John Bilello – 1,570,000
- Mike Nye – 1,420,000
- Shang Dai – 890,000
- Jane Hitchcock – 1,130,000
- Devon Shalmi – 1,500,000
- Alan Snow – 640,000
- Rex Clinkscales – 930,000