2026 Eastern Poker Open

$35,000 Championship
Day: 1
12
Event Info
2026 Eastern Poker Open
Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
a4
Prize
$10,000
Event Info
Prize Pool
$35,000
Total Entries
343
Level Info
Level
37
Blinds
100,000 / 200,000
Ante
200,000
Players Info - Day 1
Entries
250
Players Left
16
Players Left 1 / 343
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Cooper Coolers Flinton

Level 8 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 0 ante

Mike Flinton bet 3,200 from the big blind on a flop of 474 and a player in early position called. Joe Cooper then raised to 20,000 on the button, and Flinton moved all in for 28,500. The early-position player got out of the way, but Cooper snap-called.

Mike Flinton: 104 All in
Joe Cooper: J4

Both players had flopped trips, but Cooper was in the lead with his jack-kicker. The rest of the board ran out A2 and Flinton was sent to the rail.

Tags: Joe CooperMike Flinton

Colon Building a Big Stack

Level 8 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 0 ante
Wilmer Colon
Wilmer Colon

A player in the big blind moved all in for 8,000 and Wilmer Colon called under the gun.

All-In Player: KQ All in
Wilmer Colon: AK

Colon had his opponent dominated and improved to top pair on the A57 flop. The rest of the board ran out 37 and Colon scored the knockout to increase his stack up around 200,000.

Tags: Wilmer Colon

Merlino, DiCruttalo Score Back-to-Back Knockouts

Level 8 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 0 ante

A player under the gun moved all in for his last 8,000 on a flop of 103J and Hugh Merlino called in the small blind.

All-In Player: Q10 All in
Hugh Merlino: Q5

The at-risk player was ahead with his top pair, but Merlino ended up making a flush as the board ran out K5 to earn him the knockout.

"You better win this tournament so I'm going to come find you. Nice playing with all of you, except lucky there," the eliminated player joked with his tablemates on his way to the exit.

The next hand at this table, three players limped in before Joe DiCruttalo raised to 10,000 in the small blind. The hijack then moved all in for 21,800, and DiCruttalo called.

All-In Player: A9 All in
Joe DiCruttalo: 33

The K26J7 board offered no help to the at-risk player, and DiCruttalo stayed in the lead with his threes to send his opponent to the rail.

Tags: Hugh MerlinoJoe DiCruttalo

Level: 8

Blinds: 1,000/2,000

Ante: 0

Shankman on Right Side of Ultimate Cooler

Level 7 : Blinds 800/1,600, 0 ante
Dave Shankman
Dave Shankman

A player in the big blind three-bet to 11,000 before Dave Shankman moved all in for 69,000 in early position. His opponent quickly called.

Dave Shankman: AA All in
Opponent: KK

Shankman could barely look at the board despite having his opponent crushed with his aces. The dealer turned over 5Q992, and Shankman held on to secure the big double up.

Tags: Dave Shankman

Keizo Doubles Off Power

Level 7 : Blinds 800/1,600, 0 ante

Brandin Power moved all in from middle position on a flop of 589 and Rob Keizo called for 29,000 in the cutoff.

Rob Keizo: 77 All in
Brandin Power: 74

Keizo was ahead with his sevens, while both players had a straight draw. The 9 turn and 10 river kept Keizo in the lead, and he earned the double up.

Tags: Brandin PowerRob Keizo

Updated Chip Counts

Level 7 : Blinds 800/1,600, 0 ante

Young Turns an Ace

Level 7 : Blinds 800/1,600, 0 ante

A player in middle position limped in before Bob Young raised to 5,000 in the small blind. His opponent then moved all in for 12,000, and Young called.

All-In Player: J10 All in
Bob Young: AJ

The 1084 flop gave the at-risk player the lead with top pair, but Young hit the A on the turn to move back in front. The river was the 5 and Young sent his opponent to the rail.

Tags: Bob Young

Rob Keizo Pulling Double Duty on Day 1

Level 7 : Blinds 800/1,600, 0 ante
Rob Keizo
Rob Keizo

Rob Keizo headed off to the lunch break with a stack of around 40,000, but his focus today isn't on this tournament just yet.

Keizo is still alive and at the final table of the $1,200 New England Poker Championship, where he and seven others are chasing the $30,000 top prize and Jordan Fishman Cup. For the Boston local, the last few days have been quite a ride.

"I'm having the time of my life. I'm really enjoying it. Lots of great players. The final table is just stacked with some good people," Keizo, who is sixth of eight to begin the final table, said.

Keizo runs an education company, leading a group of teachers based in the United States who have students in Asia. He started playing poker online during the Moneymaker boom, but just started taking live poker seriously within the last year. He qualified for the $35,000 Championship through charity events a few times a week.

For someone with an educational background, the strategy and camaraderie of the game appeal to him the most. "The game is just amazing. You're constantly learning. Obviously, I run an education company so learning is very important to me. The camaraderie is a very close second. A lot of different characters. A lot of smart people. A lot of funny people. It's really enjoyable," he said.

Tags: Rob Keizo

Level: 7

Blinds: 800/1,600

Ante: 0

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