The final three players in the World Poker Tour’s Tampa Bay Spring Main Event at the Hard Rock in Tampa agreed to chop, with Alan Percal of Weston being declared the champion March 10.
The $1,500 tournament drew 226 players to generate $300K prize pool.
From the final table’s first hand, the chips were flying, and it took about 90 minutes to get to three-handed. After a 10-minute break they played a couple of hands before talk of a chop ensued. Percal took home $55,449, the trophy and a guitar. Talish “T.K.” Patel and Srini Yarlagadda were the others to chop.
Carlos Loving of Sarasota, who finished runner-up at the Derby Lane WPT Regional Main Event in St. Petersburg last year, was fourth this time, earning $22,988. He was followed by David Grandieri of Danbury, Conn., ($17,069) and R. J. Sullivan of Bradenton, Fla., ($13,176).
DERBY LANE: Derby Lane in March was the mega capital of Florida, offering mega promotions and mega tournaments throughout the month. A series of five Day 1s for its series at the end of March resumed play March 31 for Day 2 to play for a minimum $100K prize pool after Ante Up went to press.
The series featured a black-chip bounty, a seniors event, two six-max tournaments and a split stud/8-Omaha/8 event. This series had a little something for everyone, without breaking the bank.
SARASOTA KENNEL CLUB: The One Eyed Jacks poker room continued with its car-giveaway promotions, and this time it was Mac Sartori who walked away with a new Jeep. The contest was the culmination of a six-week promotion where players earned drawing tickets for full houses, quads, etc. The poker room staff drew 10 names throughout the final day and each winner received five chips. They all sat at one table and each had to ante one chip per hand as poker manager Sam Minutello dealt 10 hold’em runouts. In the end, Sartori had the most chips and a new Jeep.
— Andrew Malowtiz is Ante Up’s Central Florida Ambassador. Email him at anteupanndrew@gmail.com.
