Kyle Merron Leads Final 80 at WPT Seminole Rock ‘N’ Roll Poker Open

The World Poker Tour’s latest major title is up for grabs to just 80 potential winners. The Seminole Rock N Roll Poker Open is an annual tournament that always brings in the numbers, with a $3,500 entry and a $2 million guarantee. That means for each buy-in, you could be winning the top prize of $785,800 in 2022, life-changing money to anybody playing the game. Who’s winning after two days at the felt? Let’s look at the survivors.

Players Reach the Money

With a total of 1,541 entrants, Day 1a and Day 1b reduced the field dramatically. Just 513 players returned to the felt on Day 2, and would play to the money places, with 193 players making the money. After ten levels of play on Day 2, not only did the money bubble burst with the player in 194^th place going home with nothing, but the final 80 players were reached.

It was Sean Posner who became the unfortunate ‘bubble boy’ when he busted in 194^th place, and it was in a really unlucky fashion, too. Posner was all-in with ace-queen of spades and up against Nate Silver’s seven-four of spades, with a flop of J-T-9 with two spades looking like it favored the eventual loser. An offsuit four of diamonds on the turn meant Posner was heading to the rail and that he did after the river bricked, leaving with nothing.

That elimination meant everyone still in seats was also in profit, and those players soon began to flow towards the exit. Players such as Landon Tice (192^nd), Scott Davis (109^th), Jeremy Ausmus (184^th) and Adam Calabrese (181^st) all left for a min-cash of $5,600, with others such as Michael Wang (180^th), Brandon Caputo (176^th), Michael Jozoff (172^nd) and Lanny Vaysman (169^th) all making it to the next pay jump, cashing for $5,700.

Who Leads the Way?

With 80 players remaining, Kyle Merron leads the way with 2,415,000 chips, some way clear of Ted McNamara (2,275,000) in second place. Hitesh Patel (2,260000) completes the podium places at present, with Robel Andemichael (2,235,000) and Badr Imejjane (2,135,000) rounding out the top five places.

Plenty of huge poker stars will be taking their seats for Day 3, with Chad Eveslage (1,955,000), Brian Altman (1,680,000), Jeremy Joseph (1,220,000), Andrew Ostapchenko (1,040,000), four-time title-winning WPT record holder Darren Elias (720,000), Brock Wilson (520,000), multi-WPT winner Anthony Zinno (520,000), and Constantinos Psallidas (440,000) all still in with a great shout of victory.

There were plenty of big names who went far, but others missed out thanks to losing out on that little bit of luck that every tournament winner needs. The former WSOP Main Event winner Ryan Riess busted out in 146^th place as his pocket fours lost out to Elias Nassif’s ace-ten, a ten on the river dooming the Michigan based player’s chances.

Big Names Who Cashed

With all the 80 survivors guaranteed to win a minimum of $9,800, the eventual winner will take home $785,800 as well as a $10,400-entry WPT World Championship seat for December’s $15 million guaranteed event in Las Vegas which will be attended by Phil Ivey  .

A range of great players made the money but missed out on the Day 3 seat draw. Daniel Rezaei (166^th for $5,950), Joe Cheong (142^nd for $6,300), Natasha Mercier (130^th for $6,750), Tony Dunst (124^th for $6,750), Allen Kessler (119^th for $7,300) and Chance Kornuth (81^st for $8,850) all fell just short of the next day of action. Day 3 will see the 80 remaining players battle down to the official final table of six.

Last year, Gediminas Uselis won the Seminole Rock ‘N’ Roll Poker Open title for $778,000 as he got the better of Jacob Ferro heads-up. Who’ll win in 2022? We’re going to find out who reaches the final table in 24 hours time!