Main Event
Day 1a Completed
Southern Poker Open
Main Event
Day: 1a
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Southern Poker Open
Buy-in
$420
Entries
1,138
Level
31
Blinds
100,000 / 200,000
Ante
200,000
First Ever Southern Poker Open Hits 200 Entries on Day 1A, Gerald Kelley Bags Lead
Level 12
: 1,500/2,500, 2,500 ante
The opening flight of the RunGood Events Southern Poker Open was filled with drinks, flips, and giveaways. Of the 200 entrants who played the opening flight, 125 of them were in their seats when the first cards were dealt.
At the end of the flight, Gerald Kelley, Paul Espinoza (265,000), and Clark Craft (262,500) bagged the biggest stacks — each bringing more than 200,000 into Day 2. A total of 38 players moved on and will restart Sunday at noon. Kelley led the way with 279,500.
There was quite the buzz in the room throughout the evening with flip satellites during each break, where one player would win another entry into the SPO. There were sit-and-gos throughout the day, a giveaway for the high hand from level one, and a bounty placed on two-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner Keith Lehr’s head.
George Green claimed the bounty and will play Lehr heads up for another seat in the SPO. Lehr rebought and ran up one of the biggest stacks late in the day. Eventually, he fell back into the middle of the pack and bagged 93,000.
Jonell Whitstine didn’t find a bag, but played most of the day while her husband Samuel sat and watched. Samuel tried his hand at one of the satellites and couldn’t find a seat, but Jonell entered and just missed out on bagging the opening flight. Ross Bybee was also eliminated on Day 1A.
A few players who have found RunGood Poker Series success also bagged with Jacob Seale (136,000) and Jeremy Tinsley (98,500) also advancing. Ben Mintz, a local radio host and a regular face at all RunGood Bossier City events, bagged 96,000. Local player Jeff Wyatt bagged up 150,500 after being down to his last 1,100 in Level 7.
There will be two more flights Friday, one at 11 a.m. and another at 6 p.m.
Complete coverage of the first-ever Southern Poker Open at the Horseshoe Bossier City will be on PokerNews.com all weekend until the champion is crowned.
End of Day Chip Counts (full)
Level 12
: 1,500/2,500, 2,500 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
279,500 | 138,500 |
|
265,000 | 105,000 |
|
262,500 | 262,500 |
|
187,500 | 187,500 |
|
|
180,000 | 35,600 |
|
|
172,000 | 172,000 |
|
168,500 | 4,500 |
|
150,500 | 109,500 |
|
136,000 | 69,000 |
|
118,500 | 46,500 |
|
|
116,500 | 116,500 |
|
|
115,000 | 115,000 |
|
|
111,500 | 111,500 |
|
108,500 | 108,500 |
|
|
102,500 | 40,500 |
|
99,500 | 14,500 |
|
98,500 | 50,500 |
|
96,500 | 20,500 |
|
96,000 | -1,800 |
|
93,500 | 93,500 |
|
93,000 | -71,000 |
|
90,000 | -21,000 |
|
|
90,000 | -41,000 |
|
81,000 | 81,000 |
|
80,500 | 43,800 |
Four Hands Left Before Bagging
Level 12
: 1,500/2,500, 2,500 ante
The clock has been stopped on Flight A with 9:58 left to go in Level 12. The players will be dealt four more hands at each table, after which the bags will come out. Upon completion of the bagging process, we'll bring you the official end-of-flight chip counts.
A More Timely Shove
Level 12
: 1,500/2,500, 2,500 ante
With around 20,000 in the pot and the board reading 
, the player in Seat 5 bet 5,000 and Jacob Seale moved all-in for 42,000. Seat 5 had around 65,000 left in his stack and went into a deep think.
Two minutes pass in silence and then Seale gives his opponent a look, who stares back with no particular expression.
"When they look back at me like that it means I got 'em!" Seale exclaims.
Another two minutes pass and finally Seale calls for a clock. A minute later, Seat 5 folds his hand face-up, revealing 
.
"Did he have you?" another player asked Seale.
"No," Seal replied, turning over 
for a worse two pair, "He should have called a minute ago."
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
67,000 | 23,000 |
Two Shoves for Coffman, One Double
Level 12
: 1,500/2,500, 2,500 ante
Grant Coffman was in the big blind. A player in early position opened to 5,500 and another called.
Coffman moved all-in for 40,500 and the initial raiser called. The third player folded and Coffman showed two queens, 
.
His opponent held 
.
The board ran out 
and Coffman doubled up.
The next hand he three-bet shoved over an early position open and his opponent folded.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
85,000 |
Level: 12
Blinds: 1,500/2,500
Ante: 2,500
A Timely Shove
Level 11
: 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
The action folded to Michael Patterson in middle position and he raised to 7,000. One player called from the small blind and everyone else folded.
The flop came 
and the small blind checked. Patterson continued for 12,000 and his opponent began to think. After checking his hole cards, the small blind raised to 25,000. Patterson took little time to move all-in for around 100,000 more.
The small blind showed his hand to his neighbor and then mucked, sending the pot to Patterson. Patterson turned his hand up to reveal .
"I had ace-king," the small blind said.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
144,400 | 32,400 |
Hoover Shoves on Lehr
Level 11
: 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
The board read 
and Logan Hoover bet 10,000 and Lehr called.
The river paired the board again, with the 
.
Hoover stacked up his remaining 36,300 and moved all-in.
Lehr thought for a moment after getting a count. He counted out calling chips and then lifted the stack of the felt. At the same time he mucked his cards.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
164,000 | -32,000 |
|
|
76,000 |
Mintz More Than Doubles
Level 11
: 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
Five players limped and then Ben Mintz raised in late position. One player called and the next player shoved for around 40,000. The action folded back to Mintz and he reshoved for around the same amount. The final opponent thought for a minute and then folded.
Mintz - 
Opponent - 
Mintz was in great shape until the flop came 
, giving his opponent a set. With the percentages suddenly reversed on Mintz, the turn brought the . It's set-over-set the fun way, with the completing the board on the river.
When the stacks were counted down, it was Mintze with 41,200 against his opponent's 39,000.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
97,800 | 78,400 |