Qi Hu raised to 700 from the button and Matthew Emmel three-bet to 2,200 which Hu called.
The flop came 
, Emmel bet 1,000 and Hu called.
They both checked through the 
on the turn to the 
on the river. Emmel bet 3,500 which was enough for Hu to fold to.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
27,100
100
|
100 |
|
12,900
-100
|
-100 |
As expected, the chips are going back and forth the whole time but Matthew Emmel has just taken a bigger lead.
He raised to 500 on the button and Qi Hu called.
The flop came 
, Hu check-called the 400 bet of Emmel.
They both checked through the 
on the turn to the on the river. Hu bet 600 and Emmel quickly called. Hu tabled 
to play the board but Emmel held 
for the full house.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
27,000
7,000
|
7,000 |
|
|
13,000
-7,000
|
-7,000 |
There’s a new poker tour in town as a trio of MGM properties – MGM National Harbor, MGM Springfield, and Borgata – have joined forces to establish the MGM East Coast Poker Tour (ECPT).
The tour will consist of the following stops:
“MGM Resorts offers players the best poker product on the East Coast,” said Jorge Perez, Portfolio President. “Our East Coast Poker Tour is a great way for us to showcase three of our industry-leading properties while creating an exciting tournament series for our guests and poker enthusiasts.”
Linking the five events will be a leaderboard where players can earn points by participating in any qualifying events.
Leaderboard prizes consist of the following: the top 90 finishers on the leaderboard will earn entry into Borgata Fall Poker Open/MGM Resorts East Coast Poker Tour $2,000,000 Guaranteed Championship on November 15-20, 2020 ($3,500 value) including complimentary overnight stays. Others can win $250 room credits, Cartier watch ($2,500 value) and $500 MGM Resorts promotional gift cards.
Players can earn points in a variety of ways including “Participation Points” for buying into tournaments, “Entry Points” based on field sizes, and “Placement Points” for making the final table. Click here for more details on the point system.
The leaderboard will be posted to MGMECPT.com and updated daily when qualifying events are occurring. Points for the leaderboard will be finalized on August 25, 2020.
The upcoming Potomac Winter Poker Open at MGM National Harbor, which runs from February 5-17, 2020, will offer over $1,000,000 in guarantees over 14 events. It marks the first time a winter edition of the PPO has been held to complement its annual late-summer series.
Highlights on the schedule include the $400 buy-in, $500,000 guaranteed Opener and the $3,000 buy-in, $500,000 guarantee Main Event. What’s more, PokerNews is slated to be on-site to offer live updates from both of those events as well as the $400 Large Stack BB Ante from February 12-13.
Below is a look at the full schedule.
| Date | Time | Event | Buy-in | Starting Chips |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, February 5 | 5 p.m. | NLH Opener $500K GTD 1a | $400 | 25K |
| Thursday, February 6 | 5 p.m. | NLH Opener $500K GTD 1b | $400 | 25K |
| Friday, February 7 | 11 a.m. | NLH Opener $500K GTD 1c | $400 | 25K |
| Friday, February 7 | 5 p.m. | NLH Opener $500K GTD 1d | $400 | 25K |
| Saturday, February 8 | 11 a.m. | NLH Opener $500K GTD 1e | $400 | 25K |
| Saturday, February 8 | 5 p.m. | NLH Opener $500K GTD 1f | $400 | 25K |
| Sunday, February 9 | Noon | Opener Day 2 Restart | ||
| Sunday, February 9 | Noon | Event #2: NLH (One-Day) $50K GTD | $400 | 25K |
| Sunday, February 9 | 4 p.m. | Event #3: PLO 5-Card High | $400 | 25K |
| Sunday, February 9 | 7 p.m. | Main Event Super Satellite 3 seats GTD | $200 w/ $100 re-entries | 8K |
| Monday, February 10 | 11 a.m. | Event #4: NLH (One-Day) | $400 | 25K |
| Monday, February 10 | 4 p.m. | Event #5: 8-Game Mix | $600 | 30K |
| Monday, February 10 | 7 p.m. | Main Event Super Satellite 3 seats GTD | $200 w/ $100 re-entries | 8K |
| Tuesday, February 11 | 11 a.m. | Event #6: NLH Seniors (One-Day) | $250 | 20K |
| Tuesday, February 11 | 4 p.m. | Event #7: PL 5-Card Omaha High/Big O | $600 | 30K |
| Tuesday, February 11 | 7 p.m. | Main Event Super Satellite 3 seats GTD | $200 w/ $100 re-entries | 8K |
| Wednesday, February 12 | 11 a.m. | Event #8: Large Stack BBA Day 1a $100K GTD | $400 | 40k |
| Wednesday, February 12 | 5 p.m. | Event #8: Large Stack BBA Day 1b $100K GTD | $400 | 40k |
| Wednesday, February 12 | 7 p.m. | Main Event Super Satellite 3 seats GTD | $200 w/ $100 re-entries | 8K |
| Thursday, February 13 | 11 a.m. | Event #9: Multi-Flight NLH Day 1a $100K GTD | $400 | 25K |
| Thursday, February 13 | 4 p.m. | Event #10: Heads-Up (64-Player Max) | $600 | 15/30K |
| Thursday, February 13 | 7 p.m. | Main Event Super Satellite 3 seats GTD | $200 w/ $100 re-entries | 8K |
| Friday, February 14 | 10 a.m. | Megasatellite 5 Seats GTD | $600 | 20K |
| Friday, February 14 | 11 a.m. | Main Event Day 1a $500K GTD | $3,000 | 50K |
| Friday, February 14 | Noon | Event #9: Multi-Flight NLH Day 1b $100K GTD | $400 | 25K |
| Friday, February 14 | 4 p.m. | Main Event Super Satellite 5 seats GTD | $200 w/ $100 re-entries | 8K |
| Friday, February 14 | 8 p.m. | Megasatellite 5 Seats GTD | $600 | 20K |
| Saturday, February 15 | 10 a.m. | Megasatellite 5 Seats GTD | $600 | 20K |
| Saturday, February 15 | 11 a.m. | Main Event Day 1b $500K GTD | $3,000 | 50K |
| Saturday, February 15 | Noon | Event #9: Multi-Flight NLH Day 1b $100K GTD | $400 | 25K |
| Saturday, February 15 | 3 p.m. | Last Chance Megasatellite 5 Seats GTD | $600 | 15K |
| Saturday, February 15 | 6 p.m. | Main Event Day 1c $500K GTD | $3,000 | 50K |
| Sunday, February 16 | 11 a.m. | Event #9: Multi-Flight NLH Restart | ||
| Sunday, February 16 | Noon | Event #12: NLH (One-Day) $50K GTD | $400 | 25K |
| Sunday, February 16 | Noon | Flight C Main Event Restart (levels 10-13) | ||
| Sunday, February 16 | 3 p.m. | Day 2 Restart for Main Event | ||
| Sunday, February 16 | 5 p.m. | Event #13: 5-Card PLO Championship | $1,200 | 40K |
| Monday, February 17 | 11 a.m. | Event #14: NLH (One-Day) | $400 | 40K |
| Monday, February 17 | 1 p.m. | Main Event Final Table |
No deal has been agreed upon and the players have started their heads-up match. The level duration has been increased to 30 minutes for each level.
The winner will walk away with $67,512 while the runner-up takes home $33,756.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
20,000
-20,000
|
-20,000 |
|
|
20,000
-20,000
|
-20,000 |
Matthew Emmel and Qi Hu are both through to the final and have decided to discuss a deal.
At the same time that Sandeep Pulusani went all-in, in the other match, Jeffrey Hong limped in on the button. Matthew Emmel raised to 1,600 and Hong responded with a shove. Hong called for the 10,200 he had behind.
Jeffrey Hong: 
Matthew Emmel: 
The board ran out 
for Emmel to hold with the higher kicker to eliminate Hong in third place for $16,878.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
40,000
11,300
|
11,300 |
|
Busted |
Qi Hu raised to 700 on the button and Sandeep Pulusani called.
The flop came 
, Pulusani checked and Hu bet 1,400. Pulusani tanked for a while and then decided to shove for 5,600. Hu snap-called.
Sandeep Pulusani: 
Qi Hu:
The turn brought them the for Pulusani to hit a pair but still in desperate need of help.
The river completed the board with the 
for Hu to stay ahead and win the deciding game and head into the final while Pulusani takes third place for $16,878.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
40,000
7,300
|
7,300 |
|
Busted | |
|
||
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
32,700
2,100
|
2,100 |
|
|
28,700
8,700
|
8,700 |
|
|
11,300
-8,700
|
-8,700 |
|
|
7,300
-2,100
|
-2,100 |
|
|
||
Sandeep Pulusani raised to 500 from the button and Qi Hu three-bet to 2,200. Pulusani four-bet shoved with the bigger stack and Hu called for the 15,300 he had behind.
Qi Hu: 
Sandeep Pulusani: 
The flop came 
for Pulusani to hit a pair of jacks but keep Hu ahead.
"Don't do it," Hu pleaded.
The turn was the 
which didn't change things.
"Do it!" Pulusani asked.
The river completed the board with the 
to keep Hu ahead and secure him the double-up.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
30,600
10,600
|
10,600 |
|
|
9,400
-10,600
|
-10,600 |
|
|
||
Sandeep Pulusani called on the button and Qi Hu shoved. Pulusani called for the 15,000 he had behind.
Sandeep Pulusani: 
Qi Hu: 
The board ran out 
for Hu to hit the flop for top pair to claim the second game.
The two players have gone for a quick break before continuing the third and final game to decide who will go through to the final.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
20,000 | |
|
|
||
|
|
20,000 | |