button in SafariTen Remain in Contention for $627k Prize in the Arizona State Poker Championship
The 20th Anniversary Edition of the $1,130 Arizona State Poker Championship attracted a record-breaking field, with 4,018 hopefuls making their way to the Talking Stick Resort for what has become the largest mid-stakes tournament in the country.
After four starting flights, ten hours of Day 2 play, and eight hours battling in Day 3, the colossal field has been reduced to its final ten contenders, all of whom will have their eyes on the first-place prize of $627,050, while a minimum cash of $25,801 has already been secured.
The final table will get underway at 10:15 a.m. this morning and will continue until a champion is crowned in what has become the largest tournament in Arizona poker history.
Leading the pack into the final day is Evan Sandberg with 36,600,000. The Bay Area native pro has accumulated a number of strong results over the past five years, but a top two finish will secure a new career-best cash.
Following close behind Sandberg are Brandon Conrad (31,000,000) and Sergio Segura (30,400,000), both of whom wielded the big stack with aggression yesterday as they have put themselves in position for a life-changing result.
Final Table Seat Draw and Chip Counts
| Seat | Player | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | John Riordan | 10,200,000 | 17 |
| 2 | Sergio Segura | 30,400,000 | 51 |
| 3 | Jared Rogers | 9,600,000 | 16 |
| 4 | Jonathan Roeder | 8,600,000 | 14 |
| 5 | Hill Kerby | 11,200,000 | 19 |
| 6 | Moussa Haddad | 8,800,000 | 15 |
| 7 | Ronnie Bardah | 4,200,000 | 7 |
| 8 | Evan Sandberg | 36,600,000 | 61 |
| 9 | John Phan | 8,000,000 | 13 |
| 10 | Brandon Conrad | 31,000,000 | 52 |
After the top three, the seven other remaining players will all begin the final day with under 20 big blinds in what will likely be a cagey and strategic affair with such massive pay jumps.
The other final participants include poker media veteran Hill Kerby (11,200,000), high-stakes crusher John Riordan (10,200,000), local grinders Jared Rogers (9,600,000), Moussa Haddad (8,800,000), and Jonathan Roeder (8,600,000), as well as Los Angeles-based experienced pros John Phan (8,000,000) and Ronnie Bardah (4,200,000).
Remaining Payouts
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1 | $627,050 |
| 2 | $369,937 |
| 3 | $224,804 |
| 4 | $140,214 |
| 5 | $91,498 |
| 6 | $63,495 |
| 7 | $47,133 |
| 8 | $37,143 |
| 9 | $30,566 |
| 10 | $25,801 |
Play will begin at 10:15 a.m. with with 38:00 remaining in Level 34 with blinds of 300,000/600,000 and an average stack of 16,075,000 (27 bb). Play will continue in 60-minute levels until a winner is crowned.
Stay tuned to PokerNews for live updates throughout the final table as we find the next Arizona State Champion, and see who will take home the first-place prize of $627,050.