Event 14 (Day 1A): Satellite Winners Into The Main

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 14 ($1,500 No Limit Hold'em Main Event $500,000 GTD)

Level 1 (Blinds 50/100)

Total Entries: 32

Listed below are the players to have satellited into this Battles At The Beach $1,500 Main Event, from yesterday's $340 No Limit Hold'em "Mega Satellite:"

1. John Dollinger
2. Edward Mandel
3. Daniele Condorelli
4. Frank Impliazzo
5. Sheldon Gross 
6. Chris Elderkin
7. Joseph Biegler
8. Frank Silverstein
9. Charles Alexander
10. Changfei Cui
11. Erik Nomberg
12. Evan Teitelbaum
13. Paul Shafran
14. Yue-jian Wang
15. Jeffrey Saylors
16. Amir Sujak
17. Javier Surache
18. Aaron Porter
19. Jeffrey Silverstein
20. David Maslowski
21. Sandy Sanchez
22. Pasquale Calabria
23. Philip Clements
24. Rodney Tullock
25. Eric Polirer
26. Carlos Molinet
27. Marc Sheli
28. Kenneth Fagioli
29. Jeff Kessler
30. Marc Duqeutte
31. Matthew Yorra
32. Rafael Reis

And the players to have satellited in via the $175 No Limit Hold'em "Super Satellite:"

1. Marsha Wolak
2. Scott Levitt
3. Phillip Stuttman
4. Andre Rukasa
5. Carl Cajuste
6. John Abrosi
7. Julio Rodriguez
8. Timothy Frazin
9. Nicholas Vella
10. Charles Bury

Event 14 (Day 1A): It's Time!!! BATB Main Event Action Underway

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 8 ($1,500 No Limit Hold'em Main Event $500,000 GTD)

Level 1 (Blinds 50/100)

Total Entries: 24

Tournament Director Ralph Brandt only has a few more rules announcement remaining, as we've reached the Battles At The Beach $1,500 Main Event.  All of the hype and excitement has been leading up to this tournament, the "big daddy" so to say.  This Main Event has the largest guarantee of the series ($500,000), and offers up one of the best structures you'll find for an event anywhere in the state.

Players start with 30,000 in chips, and play Day 1's with (50) minute levels, eventually transitioning to hour long levels on Day 2 (and beyond).  Each starting flight is scheduled to play (12) levels, unless the field gets down to 10%.  Registration is open throughout the day, including up until the moment the cards are in the air for Sunday's Day 2.  As mentioned earlier, we already have over (50) entries won by players via satellite, so it will be interesting to see where the overall field size finishes up.  As expected, the opening flight has started with an "intimate" crowd, but we will update you on players in the field as the tournament area fills up.

"Live blogged" coverage will be offered for each and every starting flight, from the moment the cards are in the air, to the moment the bagging process begins.

Thursday, March 2: Battles At The Beach $1,500 Main Event Begins Today!

After (13) events and three satellites, the Battles At The Beach Main Event is upon us.  The $1,500 buy-in no limit hold'em tournament carries with it a $500,000 guaranteed prize pool, and should attract some of the biggest names in the Florida poker circuit (along with big named players from across the country).  In past Battles At The Beaches main events, we've seen champions John Dollinger (2016), William Kakon (2015), Jason Weber (2014), Steven Boker (2013), Victor Coelho (2012), Anthony Spinella (2011), Fred Bunchan (2010), and Hayden Fortini (2009).  Players will begin with 30,000 chip starting stacks, playing levels that are (50) minutes in length on Day 1, followed by (60) minute levels on Day 2 (and Day 3 if necessary).

There were two schedule satellites yesterday for the Main Event, guaranteeing a total of (40) seats combined, but the field sizes ended up offering up even more than that.  If you add in the (10) seats that were given away during February 22nd's satellite, there are already more than (50) entries into the event before the cards get in the air.  We've already seen the prize pools for both Event 1 and Event 8 crush the guarantees, so it shouldn't surprise anyone if that trend continues.

Live blogged coverage of the Day 1A will begin at 12:00pm, and will continue through the bagging process to end the day.  We will also catch up the followers of the blog on all of the action leading up to this point in the series.  Followers can also look forward to some player features throughout the starting days, including the implementation of videos for the first time since the blog's inception.

12:00pm - Event 14 (Battles At The Beach) Day 1A $1,500 No Limit Hold'em $500,000 GTD

- Players receive 30,000 in tournament chips
- All late registrants and re-entries receive a full stack
- Levels 1-12 will be (50) minutes, Levels 13+ will be (60) minutes
- Late registration and re-entries for the first (12) levels, to include before the first card on Day 2

6:00pm - (Battles At The Beach) $175 No Limit Hold'em Main Event "Super Satellite" (8 Guaranteed Seats)

- Players receive 12,000 in tournament chips
- Level are (20) minutes in length
- We will award as many seats as the prize fund allows.  Any additional prize money will go to the player on the bubble in the form of cash.  The most cash that can be awarded in any satellite is $1,499.

Wednesday, March 1st: Hawkins' Run Continues, Event 13 Chop, It's Satellite Wednesday

Maurice Hawkins (Plantation, FL)

For Maurice Hawkins (Plantation, FL), 2016 was a landmark year in his poker career, becoming the first player ever to win back-to-back WSOP Circuit Main Events (Council Bluffs and Cherokee).  That was just one highlight though, as Maurice added another WSOPC Main Event win later in the year (Palm Beach Kennel Club), getting his hand on an eighth WSOPC ring.  Maurice's incredible run still hasn't slowed down or stalled, even as the calendar year flipped, as he won a record tying ninth WSOPC ring last week ($365 No Limit Hold'em Event 12 - Palm Beach Kennel Club).  Hawkins took his talents to the Isle Casino Poker Room yesterday, winning his third ever Isle Poker event, taking home the Event 12 ($250 No Limit Hold'em $20,000 GTD) trophy.  Event 12 attracted a total of (90) entries ($20,000 prize pool), with Maurice besting Kenneth Barkoff (Dix Hills, NY) heads-up to win the trophy.  Other to reach the final table (and the money) included James Salmon (coming off his Event 8 final table finish), and Andrew Touchette.

Yesterday's evening event (Event 13 - $40 No Limit Hold'em $10,000 GTD) drew a field of (425) entries, and ended with an official prize pool over $14,400.  After the elimination of Avi Frier (Hollywood, FL) at the final table, the nine remaining players agreed to a deal, with Michael Watkins (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) being declared the winner, and walking away with the trophy.  Some other players included in the deal were Barry Tucker (2nd place), Barbara Raisner (3rd place), Alan Werner (8th place), and Cameron Collins (9th place).

With the Battles At The Beach Main Event beginning tomorrow (Thursday), there are no "standard money" tournaments on the schedule, as today's focus is strictly on satellites.  There are (40) guaranteed seats that are going to be given away over the course of the day, with a $340 No Limit Hold'em "Mega Satellite" at 11:00am, followed by a $175 No Limit Hold'em "Super Satellite" at 6:00pm.

11:00am - (Battles At The Beach) $340 No Limit Hold'em Main Event "Mega Satellite" (30 Guaranteed Seats)

- Players receive 16,000 in tournament chips
- Level are (30) minutes in length
- We will award as many seats as the prize fund allows.  Any additional prize money will go to the player on the bubble in the form of cash.  The most cash that can be awarded in any satellite is $1,499.

6:00pm - (Battles At The Beach) $175 No Limit Hold'em Main Event "Super Satellite" (10 Guaranteed Seats)

- Players receive 12,000 in tournament chips
- Level are (20) minutes in length
- We will award as many seats as the prize fund allows.  Any additional prize money will go to the player on the bubble in the form of cash.  The most cash that can be awarded in any satellite is $1,499.

ICYMI: Official Battles At The Beach Event 13 Results

ICYMI: Official Battles At The Beach Event 12 Results

Tuesday, February 28th: Amato Raises Event 8 Trophy, The "Battles" Continue On

Event 8 Winner Michael Amato (Delray Beach, FL)

A small Event 8 schedule change saw the final eight players return yesterday afternoon for Day 3, and after four hours of dramatics, Michael Amato (Delray Beach, FL) was declared the winner after a heads up chop with Marty Zabib (New York, NY).  The two players were responsible for all of the final table eliminations except one (Eddie Uehara eliminated Ariel Williams), and for a good portion of the day, it looked like it was going to be all Marty Zabib.  At one point, when play was four handed, Zabib held over 50% of the chips in play, but Michael Amato's eliminations of both Uehara and Rafiki Brown would give him a 3:1 chip lead going into heads-up play.  The pair of remaining players would pause the clock to discuss a deal, and after about ten minutes, the two would confirm the agreement with a handshake.  Michael Amato would take home the trophy and $70,766, while Marty Zabib earned $55,100 for his runner-up finish.  Many of the final table players already confirmed their future attendance in this weekend's Battles At The Beach Main Event, but there are still two days of events before that headlining tournament.

Tuesday's "Battles" carry over $30,000 in combined guarantees, with the ever-popular "Tuesday $10k" part of the series schedule.

11:00am - Event 12 (Battles At The Beach) $250 No Limit Hold'em $20,000 GTD

- Players receive 15,000 in tournament chips
- All late registrants and re-entries receive a full stack
- Level are (30) minutes in length
- Late and re-entries for the first (8) levels

6:00pm - Event 13 (Battles At The Beach) $40 No Limit Hold'em $10,000 GTD

- Players receive 12,000 in tournament chips
- All late registrants and re-entries receive a full stack
- Level are (20) minutes in length
- Late and re-entries for the first (8) levels

- Optional add-on at the end of Level 8 ($20 for 8,000 units, with 100% going towards prize pool)

ICYMI: Official Battles At The Beach Event 11 Results

ICYMI: Official Battles At The Beach Event 10 Results

Event 8 (Day 3): Event 8 Ends In Heads-Up Chop, Amato Declared Winner

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 8 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $200,000 GTD)

Level 32 (Blinds 80,000/160,000/20,000)

Total Entries: 1,143

Players Remaining: 2

Event 8 "Winner" Michael Amato (left), and "Runner-Up" Marty Mordechai

After about ten minutes of numbers breakdown, the pair of players decided to a heads-up chop, with Michael Amato taking home first place money, as well as the trophy.  Posted below are the numbers that they agreed to:

1. Michael Amato - $70,766
2. Marty Mordechai - 55,100

Event 8 (Day 3): 3rd Place - Brown ($31,924)

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 8 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $200,000 GTD)

Level 32 (Blinds 80,000/160,000/20,000)

Total Entries: 1,143

Players Remaining: 2

Rafiki Brown (Pembroke Pines, FL) 3rd Place - $31,294

After calling an open from Michael Amato (on the button), Rafiki Brown (big blind) would watch as the dealer fanned out a flop of 8♣ 6♠ 3♣.  Rafiki checked to Amato, who placed out a bet of 350,000, and the proceeded to check-raise to 950,000.  Amato made the call, and after the 9♥ on the turn, Brown would now lead for 1,100,000.  Amato once again made the call, with both players intently watching as the board paired with an 8♠ on the river.

Rifiki led out once again, this time for 2,000,000, with Amato's head perking up to eye down what was left of Rifiki's stack.  Michael would announce himself all-in, putting Brown at risk, with Rifiki taking little time before announcing a call.  

Amato: 8♦ 9♦ (rivered full house)

Brown: 5♦ 7♦ (turned straight)

Brown seemed to know what Amato was going to turn over..."Do you have boat," Rifiki asked, watching as Amato rolled over his hand.  This would be Brown's largest career cash, actually eclipsed his total earnings coming into the day.  

The remaining two players are discussing a potential deal, with the clock paused until the a decision has been made.

Event 8 (Day 3): Rafiki Doubles Through Marty Once Again, We Are All Even

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 8 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $200,000 GTD)

Level 32 (Blinds 80,000/160,000/20,000)

Total Entries: 1,143

Players Remaining: 3

Marty Mordechai and Rafiki Brown got involved in an all-in pot once again, will Rafiki the aggressor on a flop of J♠ 3♠ 5♠, shoving 4,300,000 over a flop bet of 1,300,000 from Marty. "I have a really bad hand, but I just don't think you're there yet," Mordechai said before calling:

Flop: J♠ 3♠ 5♠

Mordechai: 2♠ 4♣

Brown: K♣ J♦

Turn: Q♦

River: 2♦

Marty's hand wasn't as bad as he made it out to be, especially considering there were no spades in Rafiki's hand.  The turn and river would brick Marty's combo draw, and he'd ship 4,300,000 over the way of Brown.

1. Raffia Brown - 9,200,000
2. Michael Amato - 11,100,000
3. Marty Mordechai - 8,200,000

Event 8 (Day 3): 4th Place - Uehara ($21,226)

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 8 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $200,000 GTD)

Level 32 (Blinds 80,000/160,000/20,000)

Total Entries: 1,143

Players Remaining: 3

Eddie Uehara (Lake Worth, FL) 4th Place - $21,226

Eddie Uehara (Lake Worth, FL) opened from the button to 325,000, with Michael Amato three-betting to 950,000 out of the big blind.  After Uehara got the exact amount of the raise, he tossed the chips forward for a call, and the two would see a flop of 5♣ 2♠ 2♦.  Amato checked to Uehara, who announced himself all-in for just over 3,000,000.  Having Uehara covered, Amato would make the call and put Eddie at risk:

Flop: 5♣ 2♠ 2♦

Uehara: 3♥ 3♠

Amato: 2♥ 8♦

Turn: 6♠

River: 10♣

"Wooowww...," Uehara exclaimed as the cards were turned over, seeing the rough shape he was in.  The turn would bring Eddie extra outs to a straight, but a river ten would mean the end of Day 3 for Uehara.  Amato is now up to 9,200,000, and closing the gap between himself and Marty MOrdechai.

Event 8 (Day 3): Mordechai Begins To Gain Seperation

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 8 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $200,000 GTD)

Level 32 (Blinds 80,000/160,000/20,000)

Total Entries: 1,143

Players Remaining: 4

Marty Mordechai sits with close to half of the chips in play

The second half of Level 31 has been all Marty Mordechai, as his constant aggression has won him pots without many showdowns, and when the few hands went to showdown...he had it.  Mordechai was up to 15,600,000 just moments ago, but doubled up Rafiki Brown after his A♠ K♥ < 10♦ 10♠ on a runout of 10♣ 8♦ 6♠ J♥ 7♣.  Brown's all in was for just under 3,000,000, putting him in second position after the double.

1. Eddie Uehara - 5,000,000
2. Rifiki Brown - 6,300,000
3. Michael Amato - 5,300,000
4. Marty Mordechai - 12,500,000

Event 8 (Day 3): Updated Four-Handed Chip Counts (Mid Level 31)

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 8 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $200,000 GTD)

Level 31 (Blinds 60,000/120,000/20,000)

Total Entries: 1,143

Players Remaining: 4

1. Eddie Uehara - 5,500,000
2. Rifiki Brown - 4,800,000
3. Michael Amato - 8,500,000
4. Marty Mordechai - 9,000,000

Event 8 (Day 3): Updated Chip Counts At Break

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 8 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $200,000 GTD)

Level 31 (Blinds 60,000/120,000/20,000)

Total Entries: 1,143

Players Remaining: 4

Players are currently on their first break of the day, and will be returning to Level 31, with new blinds of 60,000/120,000/20,000.  With Rifiki Brown's double up just moments before break (through Eddie Uehara), we are looking at some fairly even stacks with four remaining:

1. Eddie Uehara - 6,400,000
2. Rifiki Brown - 5,200,000
3. Michael Amato - 8,500,000
4. Marty Mordechai - 8,200,000

Event 8 (Day 3): 5th Place - Kessler ($14,603)

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 8 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $200,000 GTD)

Level 30 (Blinds 50,000/100,000/10,000)

Total Entries: 1,143

Players Remaining: 4

Jeffrey Kessler (Plantation, FL) 5th Place - $14,603

"I really wanted to win this one," Jeffrey Kessler said moments ago as he exited the tournament area.  Kessler found himself in a handful of spots where he was put to tough decisions, and the first time he went with a spot this afternoon, it would be his last.

Michael Amato opened to 225,000 from early position, with Kessler calling out of the big blind.  After the Q♠ 7♠ 6♦ flop, Kessler shoved for his remaining 1,400,000, with Amato calling fairly quickly:

Kessler: 4♠ 6♥

Amato: A♣ Q♦

Turn: 9♦

River: K♥

Kessler's aggression may have gotten a lot of hands to fold that flop, but Amato happened to be holding one hand that wasn't going anywhere.  Kessler earns $14,603 for fifth place, which is his largest cash since 2013.

Event 8 (Day 3): 6th Place - Salmon ($11,207)

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 8 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $200,000 GTD)

Level 30 (Blinds 50,000/100,000/10,000)

Total Entries: 1,143

Players Remaining: 5

James Salmon (Davie, FL) 6th Place - $11,207

James Salmon (Davie, FL) had the most impressive tournament resume of the group returning for Day 3, and was definitely in a comfort zone with this "major-like" structure.  He was able to get two all-ins through during this level, teetering between 10-15 big blinds since the day started.  Salmon open shoved for 1,100,000 just moments ago, but ran into the buzzsaw that has been Marty Mordechai:

Salmon: A♣ Q♦

Mordechai: K♦ Q♠

Runout: K♣ Q♥ 8♦ 10♣ 10♠

James was in great shape to double up to a manageable stack, but watched as the dealer fanned out a flop giving Mordechai two pair.  The 10♣ on the turn gave Salmon some extra outs, but the board would pair on the river with the 10♠, sealing Salmon's fate.  James earns $11,207 for his sixth place finish, his largest cash since June of last year.  Marty is back up to 8,000,000, and sits behind only Eddie Uehara in chip counts.

Event 8 (Day 3): Mid-Level Chip Counts (Level 30)

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 8 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $200,000 GTD)

Level 30 (Blinds 50,000/100,000/10,000)

Total Entries: 1,143

Players Remaining: 6

1. Eddie Uehara - 9,500,000
2. Rifiki Brown - 1,200,000
3. Jeffrey Kessler - 2,400,000
4. James Salmon - 1,200,000
5. Michael Amato - 6,100,000
6. Marty Mordechai - 8,300,000

Event 8 (Day 3): 7th Place - Williams ($8,490)

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 8 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $200,000 GTD)

Level 30 (Blinds 50,000/100,000/10,000)

Total Entries: 1,143

Players Remaining: 6

Ariel Williams (Miami, FL) 7th Place - $8,490

Ariel Williams (Miami, FL) used her aggressive, unorthodox style to vault up the leaderboard during yesterday's Day 2, and basically cruised to this final table.  She did have a crucial hand on the final table bubble (out flopping pocket aces with her pocket kings), and came into the day sixth in chips (of the eight players that returned).  

Williams never found any traction at today's final table though, and was left with just (5) big blinds after having to fold to a river-shove from Marty in a heads-up pot (worth close to 2,500,000).  The $8,490 third place money is the third largest live tournament cash of Williams's career, and she already confirmed that she'll be looking to best this effort in this weekend's $1,500 Battles At The Beach Main Event.

Event 8 (Day 2): First Level Winding Down, Updated Chip Counts

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 8 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $200,000 GTD)

Level 29 (Blinds 40,000/80,000/10,000)

Total Entries: 1,143

Players Remaining: 7

The final few minutes are winding down in the first level of the day (Level 29), with blinds about to transition to 50,000/100,000/10,000 (4,000,000).  Play is still deep with a (40bb) chip average, and since the elimination of Patrick Peduto, the table has been fairly quiet.  Here are the updated chip counts with under (7) minutes remaining in Level 28:

1. Eddie Uehara - 6,900,000
2. Rifiki Brown - 925,000
3. Ariel Williams - 1,600,000
4. Jeffrey Kessler - 4,800,000
5. James Salmon - 1,800,000
6. Michael Amato - 4,900,000
7. Marty Mordechai - 6,800,000

Event 8 (Day 3): 8th Place - Peduto ($6,249)

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 8 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $200,000 GTD)

Level 29 (Blinds 40,000/80,000/10,000)

Total Entries: 1,143

Players Remaining: 7

Patrick Peduto (Delray Beach, FL) 8th Place - $6,249

It didn't take long for the chips to fly at this Day 3 final table, as Marty Mordechai scores the day's for knockout.  After Patrick Peduto (Delray Beach, FL) called an open from Mordechai, the two would watch the dealer fan out a flop of 6♣ 2♥ 8♦.  Peduto then check-called a bet from Mordechai, but then changed his line on the turn, deciding to check-shove after the 3♥ (for over 2,500,000).  Patrick, along with the table, was shocked when Marty made the call and turned over 3♣ 3♠.

Peduto then rolled over 2♠ 2♣, looking for the last remaining deuce in the deck to steal the pot away, and hopefully double up.  The A♣ on the river was not the no-spotter Patrick was looking for, and he'd be eliminated first from this Day 3 final table.  With that set-over-set pot, Marty takes the chip lead with over 8,000,000, while Peduto heads to collect his $6,249 for eight place.

Event 8 (Day 3): First Ever Blogged Day 3 Is Underway

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 8 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $200,000 GTD)

Level 29 (Blinds 40,000/80,000/10,000)

Total Entries: 1,143

Players Remaining: 8

The cards are in the air for Day 3 of Event 8, and we promise you...they will be playing down to a winner today (unless they agree to a deal).  Live updated will be provided throughout the day, including updated chip counts from each level's conclusion, along with eliminations and key hands.  Listed below is a reminder of what these players are competing for, as well as the position they started the day in:

Monday, February 27th: Event 8 Final Table Front And Center, "Battles" Continue

Event 8 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $200,000 GTD) was scheduled to end last night, but with the unexpected size of the tournament's field (coupled with the amount of chips in play), the event wrapped up at 2:05am with (8) players still remaining.  Those still left bagged their chips for Day 3, which will begin this afternoon at 12:00pm.  Here is a look at the players remaining, their updated chip counts heading into the afternoon, and a payout reminder for those eight spots:

1. Eddie Uehara - 4,640,000
2. Rifiki Brown - 1,640,000
3. Ariel Williams - 2,795,000
4. Patrick Peduto - 3,350,000
5. Jeffrey Kessler - 3,965,000
6. James Salmon - 1,795,000
7. Michael Amato - 3,925,000
8. Marty Mordechai - 6,255,00

1. $79,678
2. $46,188
3. $31,924
4. $21,226
5. $14,603
6. $11,207
7. $8,490
8. $6,249

Event 9 Winner Tony Burns (Coconut Creek, FL)

While the Event 8 final table was being reached, Event 9 ($75 No Limit Hold'em $5,000 GTD) was also at it's final table, but that tournament would play out to a conclusion.  There would be no deal struck between players though, Tony Burns (Coconut Creek, FL) won the event outright, steamrolling the final table (after grinding a short stack through the money bubble).  If you're asking yourself if it's "that" Tony Burns...you'd be correct.  Tony is the Tournament Director at Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood, and is well known by most all of the players in this South Florida community.  Tony returned from the American Poker Awards late Saturday night, but couldn't pass up the opportunity to jump in the event.  He's added not just the first place prize money to his resume, but earned the first piece of tournament poker hardware in his career (according to Hendon Mob).

The Battles At The Beach series rolls on today as well, with two events on the schedule.  The first tournament begins at 11:00am (Event 10), and is a $75 No Limit Hold'em ($10,000 GTD).  That tournament is followed at 6:00pm by a $130 No Limit Hold'em ($20,000 GTD).


11:00am - Event 10 (Battles At The Beach) $75 No Limit Hold'em $10,000 GTD

- Players receive 12,000 in tournament chips
- All late registrants and re-entries receive a full stack
- Level are (20) minutes in length
- Late and re-entries for the first (8) levels
- Optional add-on at the end of Level 8 ($20 for 10,000 units), 100% goes towards the prize pool)

6:00pm - Event 11 (Battles At The Beach) $130 No Limit Hold'em $20,000 GTD

- Players receive 18,000 in tournament chips
- All late registrants and re-entries receive a full stack
- Level are (20) minutes in length
- Late and re-entries for the first (8) levels

ICYMI: Official Battles At The Beach Event 9 Results

Event 8 (Day 2): It Wasn't Planned This Way, But Day 3 Tomorrow At 12:00pm

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 8 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $200,000 GTD)

Level 28 (Blinds 30,000/60,000/5,000)

Total Entries: 1,143

Players Remaining: 8

This event was scheduled to end this evening, but after the size of the field (along with the size of the field returning for Day 2), stacks were just too deep to see this tournament play out to a winner (before 2:30am).  The remaining eight players just finished up with Level 28, and will bag their chips for tomorrow's impromptu Day 3.  Action will get underway at 12:00pm, with live blogged coverage back again, updating followers on the "happenings" in regards to this event's final table.  Posted below are the chip counts (and seating assignments) for the players heading into Day 3:

1. Eddie Uehara - 4,640,000
2. Rifiki Brown - 1,640,000
3. Ariel Williams - 2,795,000
4. Patrick Peduto - 3,350,000
5. Jeffrey Kessler - 3,965,000
6. James Salmon - 1,795,000
7. Michael Amato - 3,925,000
8. Marty Mordechai - 6,255,000

Event 8 (Day 2): 9th Place - Gross ($4,517)

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 8 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $200,000 GTD)

Level 28 (Blinds 30,000/60,000/5,000)

Total Entries: 1,143

Players Remaining: 8

Sheldon Gross (Hillsboro Beach, FL) 9th Place - $4,517

Sheldon Gross (Hillsboro Beach, FL) was one of the shortest stacks at the final table, but still had some room to play with just under (17) big blinds.  After calling an open from Jeffrey Kessler, the two would see a flop of 3♠ 6♣ Q♠.  Kessler would check-call a 300,000 bet from Gross on the flop, and then announce himself all-in after the K♠ on the turn.

Gross made the quick call, with Jeffrey asking, "Did you turn the flush"  Before Gross could answer, Kessler rolled over 6♠ 6♦, having flopped middle set, and turned a spade draw.  Gross followed by turning over K♥ Q♥, and would need to make a full house to steal the pot away.  The 2♣ came on the river, and Gross would be the first players eliminated from this Event 8 final table.

Jeffrey Kessler - 3,100,000

Sheldon Gross - 9th Place ($4,517)

Event 8 (Day 2): Official Event 8 Final Table

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 8 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $200,000 GTD)

Level 28 (Blinds 30,000/60,000/5,000)

Total Entries: 1,143

Players Remaining: 9

After Marty Mordechai knocked out both Steven Bennet and William Napier (hand history to follow), Event 8 is down to it's final table.  Here are the new seating assignments post redraw:

1. Eddie Uehara - 3,400,00
2. Rifiki Brown - 2,600,000
3. Ariel Williams - 3,100,000
4. Patrick Peduto - 3,200,000
5. Jeffrey Kessler - 800,000
6. Sheldon Gross - 1,200,000
7. James Salmon - 1,000,000
8. Michael Amato - 5,800,000
9. Marty Mordechai - 7,000,000

Event 8 (Day 2): 10th-12th Places ($3,226)

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 8 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $200,000 GTD)

Level 27 (Blinds 25,000/50,000/5,000)

Total Entries: 1,143

Players Remaining: 9

The following players have been eliminated from Event 8 of the 2017 Battles At The Beach, and have cashed for $3,226:

10. Steven Bennett (Deerfield Beach, FL)

11. William Napier (Hollywood, FL)

12. Peter Garijanian (Atlanta, GA)

Event 8 (Day 2): 13th-15th Places ($2,513)

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 8 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $200,000 GTD)

Level 27 (Blinds 25,000/50,000/5,000)

Total Entries: 1,143

Players Remaining: 12

The following players have been eliminated from Event 8 of the 2017 Battles At The Beach, and have cashed for $2,513:

13. Guillermo Irving (Miami, FL)

14. Rafael Reis (Kent, WA)

15. Arnaldo Alzualde (Hialeah, FL)

Event 8 (Day 2): "He Keeps Check...Check," Leading To Reis's Elimination

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 8 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $200,000 GTD)

Level 27 (Blinds 25,000/50,000/5,000)

Total Entries: 1,143

Players Remaining: 13

Table 5 was caught a little off guard moments ago, as Rafael Reis (Curitiba, Brazil) was eliminated in 14th place ($2,513).  The hand (between Reis and Marty Mordecai) was already over when we walked over, with a board of K♦ 3♠ 10♥ 10♦ J♠, and the two player's hands face up.  Reis stood behind his A♠ 2♠, while Mordecai had 10♣ 9♣ in front of him.

Reis then replayed the hand for us, as he opened on the button, with Mordechai calling out of the big blind.  On the flop of K♦ 3♠ 10♥, Mordechai check-called Reis's continuation bet, with the two seeing the board pair with a 10♦ on the turn.  The action would go check-check, and after the river J♠, Mordechai would check once again.  This time Reis would announce himself all-in, with Marty calling fairly quickly.  The stacks were counted down, and Reis would head to the payout podium..."You couldn't win by checking," Mordechai said to Reis as they discussed how the hand played out.

Event 8 (Day 2): Chip Counts At Break, Schedule Update

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 8 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $200,000 GTD)

Level 27 (Blinds 25,000/50,000/5,000)

Total Entries: 1,143

Players Remaining: 15

Posted below are the updated chip counts from break, with two levels remaining in the night.  Once Level 28 ends, the remaining players will have to decide between returning tomorrow for a Day 3, or coming to an agreement in regards to a chop.

Table 5:

1. Rafael Reis - 1,200,000
2. Eddie Uehara - 1,350,000
3. Marty Mordechai - 2,000,000
4. Guillermo Irving - 1,100,000
5. Peter Garijanian - 900,000
6. Jeffrey Kessler - 800,000
7. Arnaldo Alzualde - 1,300,000
8. Steve Bennett - 2,500,000

Table 3:

1. Ariel Williams - 2,800,000
2. Patrick Peduto - 3,400,000
3. Raffia Brown - 1,200,000
4. Michael Amato - 4,300,000
5. James Salmon - 2,600,000
6. Bill Napier - 500,000
7. Sheldon Gross - 2,100,000