Who Will Take Home the $290,974 First-Place Prize Today in Tampa?
The three day $1,700 Main Event here in Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tampa is now winding down to an end as the final 25 return to play down to a champion, today at noon, who will be taking home the $290,974 first-place prize and a World Series of Poker Circuit Ring.
Entering the final day atop the leaderboard is live newcomer Isaac Kempton with a considerable lead as he starts with over double that of every other player with his 5,205,000 (130 bb) stack. Kempton started yesterday as the overall chipleader and saw no real hurdles en route to bagging the biggest stack yet again and is in a great position to make his first live cash a memorable one.
Starting the day second in counts is Canada's Patrick Serda with 2,600,00 (65 bb) after a pure-running Day 2 that his 315,000 starting stack instantly rocket to the top. Serda, like everyone else, will have his eye on the heavy top prize which will bring his career earnings over the two million mark and will also add a first WSOP ring to his finger.
Rounding out the top five are Robert Manjura (2,020,000), James Calderaro (1,900,000), and Paul Balzano (1,800,000). Other notable players left in the field that are worth a mention include David Jackson (1,580,000), Nathan Russler (1,315,000), Mike Shin (730,000), and Kevin Javier (590,000).
Day 3 Seat Assignments
| Table | Seat | Player | Chips | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | 1 | Empty | N/A | |
| 25 | 2 | Ioannis Patsourakis | 1,450,000 | 36 |
| 25 | 3 | David Jackson | 1,585,000 | 40 |
| 25 | 4 | Cameron Marshall | 810,000 | 20 |
| 25 | 5 | Christopher Hyden | 595,000 | 15 |
| 25 | 6 | Robert Manjura | 2,020,000 | 51 |
| 25 | 7 | John Ott | 1,365,000 | 34 |
| 25 | 8 | John O'Neal | 1,510,000 | 38 |
| 25 | 9 | Mike Shin | 730,000 | 18 |
| 26 | 1 | Brad Sailor | 1,125,000 | 28 |
| 26 | 2 | Nathan Russler | 1,315,000 | 33 |
| 26 | 3 | Jason Klapman | 365,000 | 9 |
| 26 | 4 | Isaac Kempton | 5,205,000 | 130 |
| 26 | 5 | Francisco Gomez | 1,280,000 | 32 |
| 26 | 6 | Michael Cohen | 370,000 | 9 |
| 26 | 7 | Brian Ray | 1,465,000 | 37 |
| 26 | 8 | John Dwyer | 1,390,000 | 35 |
| 26 | 9 | James Calderaro | 1,900,000 | 48 |
| 30 | 1 | David Berman | 1,550,000 | 39 |
| 30 | 2 | Kevin Gavier | 590,000 | 15 |
| 30 | 3 | Thomas Boyden | 925,000 | 23 |
| 30 | 4 | Fares Santana | 425,000 | 11 |
| 30 | 5 | Empty | N/A | |
| 30 | 6 | Serge Dergham | 1,700,000 | 43 |
| 30 | 7 | Ronald Rosenberg | 910,000 | 23 |
| 30 | 8 | Paul Balzano | 1,800,000 | 45 |
| 30 | 9 | Patrick Serda | 2,600,000 | 65 |
Play begins at 12 p.m. on Level 26 and will continue until a champion is determined. Breaks will be every two levels with a dinner break at the discretion of the tournament director.
PokerNews will provide all of the live updates throughout the remainder of this event so stay tuned as the action unfolds.
flop and then threw his remaining 5,000 in on the flop, Kempton called.
runout did not help Kempton's hand and he sent over a stack to Cohen who secured his second double of the day.
. The turn was the 
and the river came the 
to eliminate Dwyer as the first casualty of the day.
turn brought some straight outs but the 
river did not alter a thing as Balzano pulled in the pot, sending Dergham to the payout desk.
river sealed the deal for Calderaro who scooped, shipping Russler out the door.
. Ott bet 175,000 and Jackson quickly folded.
while Ott had the 
to send Shin away in 22nd place.
and action checked to the 
turn card. Ott bet and Marshall ducked out, leaving just two. 
against the 
on the flop, leaving Manjura in the lead as Boyden needed to pair up or was going to be eliminated.
