Kicking off their next to last event prior to the WPT Championship next month, the World Poker Tour has settled into Jacksonville, FL, for the bestbet Jacksonville Open, what has become a popular stop on the circuit schedule not only for the players but also for the WPT staff also.
The $3500 buy in tournament has, in the past, drawn excellent fields for their tournaments with the lower buy in and re-entry rules. That hasn’t changed for this year’s version of the tournament. Players who busted out within the first five rounds of the day had a one-time option to rebuy and continue playing on the day. For those that decided not to exercise that option, there is also the opportunity to come back on Day 1B (today) to try their luck again with the same five level rule in place. If a player was to take all the opportunities to enter the tournament, a player would spend $14,000 from their precious bankroll (although there aren’t many takers on this option!).
Just after noon on Friday, the field for Day 1A slowly gathered and got about the business of playing poker. With ten 60 minute levels on tap, it was expected that the field would slowly materialize as the late entry/rebuy period moved closer. Still, as the first level for the day came and went, 98 players were on the felt with some looking to make significant moves.
One of those players was Matt Salsberg, the current leader of the WPT Player of the Year race. Holding that slim 100 point lead over Paul Volpe, the task looked as if it would be a difficult one for Salsberg. The defending champion of the WPT Grand Prix de Paris found himself on the felt with two former POY victors, defending WPT POY Joe Serock and Andy Frankenberger, but he didn’t seem to let that affect his game as he rumbled through the day.
The defending champion of this event, Shawn Cunix, decided to wait a bit before entering the fray and perhaps he should have waited a bit longer. He would use up his first buy in after clashing with Brian Hastings on a 5♥ 4♥ 2♦ flop in which the chips went to the center. Cunix showed a nice pair of pocket nines, but Hastings held a 7♥ 6♥ that would get there when the river turned up 4♥ for the straight flush. Unfortunately for Cunix, a second bullet wouldn’t work any better as he would be eliminated again.
By the time the five levels had passed, 146 entries had been registered on the tournament clock. This meant that eliminated players could not re-enter on the same day, but were welcome to come back today for action. At this point, the prize pool is over $500,000 and, if the usual flood of players (and reentries) holds on Saturday, it is entirely possible that the prize pool for the tournament will eclipse the $1.5 million mark.
Some of those players who might be back on Saturday include Will “The Thrill” Failla, Carter Phillips, Lily Kiletto (who was runner up at the WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open in February in Hollywood, FL), Shannon Shorr, David Tuthill, Chris Klodnicki and Jason Mercier. There were some players, however, who were able to build nice stacks they will take to play on Sunday.
One of those players was Raj Vohra, who was responsible for the knockout of Mercier. Pre-flop, Mercier was all in with his pocket fours against Vohra’s A♠ Q♠ and the flop took away much of the drama. Coming down A-J-6, Vohra took the lead in the race, which would hold up on the deuce turn and second six on the river. By eliminating Mercier, Vohra moved up to 137,000 in chips and would add a few more in eliminating both John Dibella and Harrison Gimbel on one of the last hands of the night to hold the Day 1A lead over the 44 remaining players.
1. Raj Vohra, 224,800
2. Talesh Patel, 213,200
3. Matt O’Donnell, 180,500
4. Matt Salsberg, 172,700
5. Tommy Vedes, 171,700
6. Hank Sitton, 168,500
7. Mark Rose, 152,300
8. Matt Giannetti, 151,300
9. Brian Hastings, 150,000
10. Blake Barousse, 141,200
Salsberg’s efforts have put him in good shape to add a few more points to his POY aspirations. With only this tournament, the WPT Montreal (next week) and the WPT Championship left on the Season XI schedule for the WPT, a solid finish in this event may sew up the POY championship for Salsberg, although last year’s POY race wasn’t determined until the final event.
Expect bestbet Jacksonville to be flooded today for Day 1B action! There are plenty of players who used up their two shots on Friday who will be back for Saturday’s final Day One and, with a large payday looming for someone come next Tuesday, it should be a hectic day of poker action on the felt in Florida.
