2019 Ante Up Poker Tour Tampa Bay Downs

Main Event
Day: 2
Event Info

2019 Ante Up Poker Tour Tampa Bay Downs

Final Results
Winner
Prize
$19,690
Event Info
Buy-in
$250
Entries
443
Level Info
Level
29
Blinds
50,000 / 100,000
Ante
100,000

Main Event

Day 2 Completed

Larry Negron Wins 2019 Ante Up Poker Tour Tampa Bay Downs Main Event

Level 29 : 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante
Larry Negron - Ante Up Tampa Champion
Larry Negron - Ante Up Tampa Champion

The 2019 Ante Up Poker Tour Tampa Bay Downs $250 Main Event attracted 443 entries over five starting flights – which surpassed the $60K GTD by creating an $89,503 prize pool – and on Sunday, 60-year-old Larry Negron, a regular at Tampa Bay Downs, was named champion after a three-way deal with Bill Melms and Landon Brown.

As the winner of Main Event, Negron, who won his way in via a $65 satellite investment, won $14,070 and will appear on the cover of Ante Up Magazine’s March issue. For finishing runner-up, Melms was awarded $13,958 while Landon Brown finished third for $12,990 plus a $1,650 prize package to the 2019 Ante Up World Championship Main Event.

Negron took up the game 10 years ago after he saw it on television and had his son teach him the rules at the kitchen table.

Final Table Payouts

PlacePlayerCountryPrize (USD)
1stLarry NegronUnited States$14,070*
2ndBill MelmsUnited States$13,958*
3rdLandon BrownUnited States$12,990 + $1,650 package*
4thJoao FigueiredoUnited States$6,601
5thDonald BrownUnited States$4,978
6thTroy BercotUnited States$3,810
7thAnthony DianatyUnited States$2,959
8thDonnie KidmanUnited States$2,331
9thHyndi KhomutetskyUnited States$1,862
10thNeil Lawson$1,507 

*denotes three-way deal.

Day 2 saw 79 players return to action but with only 45 of them slated to get paid 34 of them would leave empty handed including Brian Torok, Steve Rauchut, and James Wood, just to name a few.

Once Pat Buckley busted in 46th place, the result of his Big Slick failing to get there against Mike Taylor’s pocket queens, the in-the-money bustouts came quick. Among those to cash were WPTDeepstacks champ Anthony Astarita (14th - $1,237), Day 1e chip leader Ben Brown (17th - $1,029), Matt Quirk (26th - $640), Leif Oskarsson (32nd - $497), Marv “Duckman” Karlins (38th - $405), and Melissa Morvay (45th - $405).

Final Table Action

Neil Lawson was the first to fall from the final table after his ace-jack lost to Donald "Doc" Brown’s ace-seven, a result of a seven appearing on the flop. Day 1b chip leader Hyndi Khomutetsky followed him out the door in ninth after losing an all-in preflop flip holding tens against Joao Figueiredo’s ace-king, and then Donnie Kidman lost a race of his own pocket jacks to Brown’s ace-queen suited.

Troy Bercot busted out in sixth when he shoved a flop with bottom pair only to have Melms check-call with top pair. Bercot failed to get lucky and had to settle for $3,810 in prize money.

Doc Brown, the Day 1c chip leader, fell after getting it in with king-jack against Melms’ ace-jack, and Figueiredo bowed out in fourth place after dwindling down and shoving with queen-three, which did not improve against Landon Brown’s ace-ten.

Not long after the final three players struck the deal that would end the tournament. To solidify it, Brown agreed to throw $500 to each of his opponents for the Ante Up package.

The next Ante Up Poker Tour Main Event, which will also be live reported by PokerNews, will be the Ante Up Spring Poker Classic at Vee Quiva in Laveen, Arizona from March 23-31.

Tags: Bill MelmsLandon BrownLarry Negron

A Deal Has Been Reached!

Level 29 : 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante

After nearly 12 hours of play, the final three players have finally come to an agreement on an ICM deal. As it works out, Larry Negron will be declared the champion and will take home the largest sum of money of $14,070 along with the trophy. Bill Melms was awarded $13,958, while Landon Brown will take home $12,990. Brown will also be credited with the $1,650 Ante Up Poker Tour package but will have to throw $500 to each of his opponents.

With the tournament coming to an end, a full recap will be posted shortly.

Tags: Larry NegronLandon BrownBill Melms

Melms vs. Negron

Level 29 : 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante

Larry Negron raised to 300,000 from the small blind and Bill Melms called from the big.

Negron bet another 300K on the {8-Diamonds}{j-Spades}{7-Spades} flop, Melms called, and then both players checked the {K-Clubs} turn.

Negron checked again on the {8-Spades} river and tank-folded to a bet of 600K from Melms on the river.

Player Chips Progress
Larry Negron us
Larry Negron
4,100,000 -800,000
Bill Melms us
Bill Melms
4,000,000 740,000

Tags: Larry NerronBill Melms

Melms Doubles Through Brown

Level 29 : 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante

Landon Brown raised to 200,000 on the button and was called by Larry Negron in the small blind and Bill Melms in the big blind. The flop came {10-Diamonds}{5-Hearts}{2-Hearts} and the action checked to Brown who continued for 250,000. Negron folded and Melms moved all in for 1,280,000. Brown made a quick call and the cards were on their backs.

Bill Melms: {j-Clubs}{10-Clubs}
Landon Brown: {a-Hearts}{3-Hearts}

Melms currently held the best hand with top pair but had to fade Brown's combo draw. The {6-Spades} on the turn and the {10-Spades} on the river were good enough as Melms scored a double up.

Player Chips Progress
Bill Melms us
Bill Melms
3,260,000 1,560,000
Landon Brown us
Landon Brown
2,840,000 -1,720,000

Tags: Larry NegronLandon BrownBill Melms

Level: 29

Blinds: 50,000/100,000

Ante: 100,000

Melms on the Short Stack

Level 28 : 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante

Larry Negron raised to 180,000 in the small blind and Bill Melms called from the big blind. The flop came {k-Clubs}{5-Clubs}{2-Spades} and Negron led out for 250,000 which Melms called.

The {5-Diamonds} paired the board on the turn and Negron opted to check this time. Melms slid in a bet of 500,000 and Negron called. The river was the {10-Hearts} and both players knuckled the table. Negron showed {k-Diamonds}{4-Hearts} and that was enough to earn him the pot.

Player Chips Progress
Larry Negron us
Larry Negron
4,150,000 1,100,000
Bill Melms us
Bill Melms
2,220,000 -1,020,000

Tags: Larry NegronBill Melms

Joao Figueiredo Eliminated in 4th Place ($6,601)

Level 28 : 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante
Joao Figueiredo - 4th Place
Joao Figueiredo - 4th Place

The short-stacked Joao Figueiredo moved all in for 310,000 under the gun and Landon Brown isolated with a three-bet to 530,000 from the button. Both blinds folded and the cards were turned up.

Brown: {a-Spades}{10-Hearts}
Figueiredo: {q-Spades}{3-Spades}

Figueiredo held two live cards but he failed to get any help as the board ran out {j-Hearts}{8-Spades}{6-Hearts}{7-Diamonds}{9-Clubs} to improve Brown to a straight.

Player Chips Progress
Landon Brown us
Landon Brown
4,900,000 530,000
Joao Figueiredo us
Joao Figueiredo
Busted

Tags: Joao FigueiredoLandon Brown

Chipleaders Collide

Level 28 : 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante

Landon Brown raised to 175,000 on the button and Bill Melms three-bet to 400,000 from the big blind. Brown called and the flop came {10-Spades}{8-Spades}{3-Clubs}. Melms led out for 600,000 and Brown called.

The turn brought the {9-Diamonds} and both players checked to the {3-Spades} on the river. Melms checked again and Brown slid in a bet of 1,000,000. Melms thought for a minute but then flicked his cards to the muck.

Player Chips Progress
Landon Brown us
Landon Brown
4,370,000 1,755,000
Bill Melms us
Bill Melms
3,240,000 -1,260,000

Tags: Landon BrownBill Melms