With a massive outpouring of entries over Friday and Saturday’s action, the World Poker Tour stop at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino for the 2014 WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown has become the largest ever event (by number) in the history of the WPT. As the 673 survivors ready for Day 2 action on Sunday, the competition is fierce for this next-to-last title on the WPT’s Season XII schedule.
Friday action on the tables at the Hard Rock saw 542 entries come into the fray which, along with the numbers from Thursday’s first Day 1, created a field of 1021 entries. With the Seminole Hard Rock laying down a $5 million guarantee for the prize pool, that meant that Saturday’s play only needed to bring in another 530 entries for the guarantee to be met. First, however, was the task of ten levels of play on Friday.
Such notables taking advantage of the structure of this WPT event (unlimited re-entries each day up to the close of registration, option of re-entry if busted on previous Day 1) included the defending champion Kevin Eyster, Jeff Madsen, Mike Sowers and several other notable names. None of those men mentioned would be able to work their way through Friday’s minefield (leaving them only Saturday to make the field) as Melad Marji headed the field for Day 1B with his 297,900 stack. He was joined by Timothy Banks (246,800), Jonathan McCray (243,100), Stuart Breakstone (238,300) and Garrett Greer (233,500) in the Top Five for the day.
Saturday’s action saw 439 players alone come out for the opening deal, pushing the entry numbers up to 1460 and pretty much ensuring that the guarantee would be met. Some of those hoping that it would be “third time lucky” included Darryll Fish, Jared Jaffee, Madsen and others as the figure needed (1551 entries) was passed during action in Level 2. The only question left was just how many more entries would be received before late registration expired at the end of Level 7.
As the players waited for the final numbers, many decided to ramp up their aggression in order to compete adequately on Day 2. Such players as Phil Laak, Michael Mizrachi, Matt Brady, current WPT Player of the Year leader Mukul Pahuja and POY challenger Dylan Wilkerson were players who made early moves in doubling up their stacks (or, in Laak’s instance, tripling it). Jaffee (also contending for WPT POY from his early Season XII success) wasn’t having their fortune, however, as he went through two buy-ins on Saturday (four in all for the tournament) before Level 5 even began.
By the time that Level 7 was completed, WPT officials knew they had something special on their hands. Another 774 entries were received on Saturday to push the final totals to 1795 entries, by far outpacing the $5 million guarantee set by the Seminole Hard Rock. The resulting prize pool created was $5,763,150, of which the final 170 players would take a piece. The eventual champion of the 2014 WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown will walk off with $1,081,184 for their performance, a seat at the WPT World Championship later this month and their name on the WPT Champions’ Cup.
Now that all the fun and games of re-entry were over, the players settled in to make their drive for Day 2. Amir Babakhani, Joe Serock, Nenad Medic and Madsen were unable to claim their seat for Sunday’s action, but Joe Kuether was able to claim the Day 1C chip lead with his 295,900 in chips. He was followed in the Top Five on the Day 1C table by Will Durkee (284,800), Nick Schwarmann (274,900), Gary Sewell (266,300) and Siva Ganta (217,800).
When the remaining 673 players come to the felt this afternoon in Florida, here’s how the leaderboard will stack up (unofficially):
1. Justin Young, 313,200*
2. Melad Marji, 297,900
3. Joe Kuether, 295,900
4. Will Durkee, 284,800
5. Nick Schwarmann, 274,900
6. Ryan D’Angelo, 271,300*
7. Gary Sewell, 266,300
8. Timothy Banks, 246,800
9. Jonathan McCray, 243,100
10. Mark Darner, 238,700*
* – indicates Day 1A player
With such a large field remaining, it is going to be tough to predict a winner out of this pack. It should be an exciting week of poker as the WPT determines their next champion at the 2014 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown on Wednesday.