$365 BPO Florida Championship
Day 1a Completed
2024 Bar Poker Open Florida World Championship
$365 BPO Florida Championship
Day: 1a
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 1a
2024 Bar Poker Open Florida World Championship
Buy-in
$365
Prize Pool
$114,550
Entries
395
Level
30
Blinds
100,000 / 200,000
Ante
200,000
Entries
264
Players Left
27
Level 18
: Blinds 6,000/12,000, 12,000 ante
A dramatic and action packed first day of play in the Bar Poker Open Florida World Championship left just 27 players from the original 264 entries. John Oneill was the unlucky player to bubble. The remaining players will return Monday for Day 2.
O’neill found himself forced all in with not enough chips to cover the big blind and ante. His suited nine fell to a similar hand with a higher kicker.
Patrick Martorella found himself as the chip lead while playing on the feature live stream table with 732,000. Rounding out the top five chip counts are Gerald McKinney Jr. (728,000), Brandon Strickland (698,000), Albert Harris (673,000) and Bill Sandiford (478,000).
The day’s 264 entries created a prize pool of $76,500, with Day 1b still to come Sunday. The winner is guaranteed at least a $30,000 first prize.
Play ended late in Level 18 with 17:15 remaining at blinds of 6,000/12,000 with a 12,000 big blind ante.
Day 1a Top Ten Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Patrick Martorella | United States | 732,000 |
| 2 | Gerald McKinney Jr. | United States | 728,000 |
| 3 | Brandon Strickland | United States | 698,000 |
| 4 | Albert Harris | United States | 673,000 |
| 5 | Bill Sandiford | United States | 478,000 |
| 6 | Domenic Armano | United States | 447,000 |
| 7 | Kandace Knichel | United States | 366,000 |
| 8 | John Sarappa | United States | 363,000 |
| 9 | Kevin Cronin | United States | 356,000 |
| 10 | Michael Frey | United States | 310,000 |
Among other notables surviving the day is Kenny Goff, who was contending for a chip lead position late into the day. Among the many female players in attendance, Kandace Knichel bagged a large stack after hitting a set with queens earlier in the day.
The day was full of spectacular hands, one of which belonged to last year’s winner Ian Auvil. The former champion managed to make a quad kings with a video crew present. Unfortunately his luck ran out later in the day as he fell around 50th place. He did mention that he would return to fire the 1b and that he wouldn’t go “quietly into the night.”
Next up is Day 1b on Sunday at 11 a.m. ET where players will be able to take another $365 shot at advancing to Mondays Day 2. With at least $30,000 up top for the winner, many players are sure to contend for their chance to make the final day.
Stay close to PokerNews for continuing coverage of the Bar Poker Open Florida World Championship from here at the Palm Beach Kennel Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Level 18
: Blinds 6,000/12,000, 12,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
732,000
205,000
|
205,000 |
|
||
|
728,000
728,000
|
728,000 |
|
698,000
403,000
|
403,000 |
|
673,000
643,000
|
643,000 |
|
478,000
-16,000
|
-16,000 |
|
447,000 | |
|
366,000
-4,000
|
-4,000 |
|
363,000
363,000
|
363,000 |
|
356,000
66,000
|
66,000 |
|
310,000
280,000
|
280,000 |
|
301,000
301,000
|
301,000 |
|
294,000
-271,000
|
-271,000 |
|
|
286,000
286,000
|
286,000 |
|
270,000
240,000
|
240,000 |
|
|
245,000
-20,000
|
-20,000 |
|
|
212,000
212,000
|
212,000 |
|
|
209,000
-286,000
|
-286,000 |
|
|
171,000
171,000
|
171,000 |
|
141,000
111,000
|
111,000 |
|
|
133,000
-29,000
|
-29,000 |
|
|
117,000
117,000
|
117,000 |
|
|
97,000
-65,500
|
-65,500 |
|
91,000
-139,000
|
-139,000 |
|
81,000
51,000
|
51,000 |
|
46,000
-25,000
|
-25,000 |
Level 18
: Blinds 6,000/12,000, 12,000 ante
An all in and call were made between Johnny Hernandez from under the gun and Domenic Armano in the big blind. Both players revealed their hands.
Johnny Hernandez: Q♦9♦ 
Domenic Armano: K♠9♠
The board ran out A♠9♥6♥10♥A♥ to burst the bubble and send the remaining players into the money.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
447,000
447,000
|
447,000 |
|
|
Busted |
Level 18
: Blinds 6,000/12,000, 12,000 ante
One elimination stands between the remaining players and the money. Play is hand for hand until the bubble bursts.
Level: 18
Blinds: 6,000/12,000
Ante: 12,000
Level 17
: Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante
Under the gun called and Brandon Martinez raised to 30,000 from middle position. His opponent made the call.
The flop came K♥10♣2♠ and both players checked their option.
After the 8♦ peeled off on the turn, under the gun checked. Martinez fired for 20,000 and was rewarded with the pot.
Hand Analysis
Brandon Martinez
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
230,000
188,000
|
188,000 |
Level: 17
Blinds: 5,000/10,000
Ante: 10,000
Level 16
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
The button raised to 25,000 and Kevin Cronin moved all in from the small blind. The small blind called for 90,000 total and both players revealed their holdings.
Button: A♦J♣
Kevin Cronin K♥K♣
The board ran out 8♥Q♦5♠J♥Q♠ for Cronin's cowboys to take the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
290,000
222,000
|
222,000 |
Level 16
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
Players are headed on a 15 minute break.