$1,100 Main Event Day 1a | 2026 PokerStars Open Philadelphia

Mar 18, 2026

Tarantino Shows Down Sixes

Josh Noy

Level 2 : Blinds 100/200, 200 ante

Lee Ilagan limped in early position, with Tony Wu and Bartlomie Glab doing the same on his left. David Tarantino called in the cutoff, and Dennis Shamroni came along in the small blind.

George Niedzwicki then raised to 1,200 in the big blind, and only Tarantino called to see the 8♣8♠4♥ flop. Both players checked to the 10♣ turn, and another pair of checks followed.

Niedzwicki led out for 800 on the 4♠ river, and Tarantino tossed in a call. Niedzwicki tabled K♥Q♥ for two pair with a king, while Tarantino flipped over 6♣6♥ for a better two pair to claim the pot.

Tags: Bartlomie Glab David Tarantino Dennis Shamroni George Niedzwicki Lee Ilagan Tony Wu

Mar 18, 2026

Christopher Shoves in the Dark

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Josh Noy

Level 2 : Blinds 100/200, 200 ante

Action was heads up on the 5♥6♥8♦8♥ turn, with more than 5,000 already in the middle.

Steven Christopher led out for 6,000 in the big blind, and John Machen took some time before tossing in the call. Christopher then slid the rest of his stack into the middle in the dark, and the dealer flipped over the 4♥ river.

Machen did not take long to let his hand go, and Christopher collected the pot.

Tags: John Machen Steven Christopher

Mar 18, 2026

More Day 1a Entries

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Josh Noy

Level 2 : Blinds 100/200, 200 ante

Level: 2

Blinds: 100/200

Ante: 200

Mar 18, 2026

"Two Pair is Good"

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Josh Noy

Level 1 : Blinds 100/100, 100 ante

Krista Farrell opened to 400 in middle position, and Azamat Isakov made the call in the hijack. Michael Matrone came along in the cutoff, as did Martin Ryan in the small blind.

The dealer flipped over the 7♦J♠5♠ flop, where all four players checked. Ryan tapped the table again after the A♥ turn, and Farrell promptly slid out a bet of 800. Isakov called, with Ryan tossing in a call after Matrone folded.

Ryan checked again on the 6♥ river, and Farrell fired 1,500. Isakov answered with a raise to 6,600, producing a fold from Ryan. Farrell did not take long to make the call.

"Two pair," announced Farrell.

"Two pair is good," replied Isakov as he slid his cards into the muck and Farrell took down the pot without a showdown.

Tags: Azamat Isakov Krista Farrell Martin Ryan Michael Matrone

Mar 18, 2026

Semless Takes the Turn

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Josh Noy

Level 1 : Blinds 100/100, 100 ante

David Tarantino checked the 8♦7♠10♠ flop from the big blind, and David Semless did the same in middle position. Lee Ilagan fired a bet of 600 as next to act, and Bartlomie Glab made the call on the button.

Tarantino folded, while Semless came along to see the [6] turn. Semless then led out with a bet of 1,100, taking down the pot as Ilagan and Glab quickly folded.

Mar 18, 2026