Main Event
Day 2 Completed
Southern Poker Open
Main Event
Day: 2
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Southern Poker Open
Buy-in
$420
Entries
1,138
Level
31
Blinds
100,000 / 200,000
Ante
200,000
Level 31
: 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
Matt Stroud took the top spot in the first-ever Southern Poker Open at the Bossier City Horseshoe. He won $47,737 after topping a field of 1,138 entrants who queued up over five starting flights in the $420 buy-in tournament.
Stroud was almost knocked out of the tournament with 11 players remaining. Richard Morris shoved from early position and Huey Hulin called on the button. Stroud jammed for 3 million and Hulin reluctantly folded pocket queens face up. Stroud had pocket tens and held on to eliminate Morris. Both players would have lost to Hulin had he stayed in.
“I just jammed all in automatically thinking I was good,” Stroud said, “I did not expect him to make that fold.”
Regardless if his tournament would have ended there, Stroud was confident he made the correct play.
“I felt like I played it right in that moment, so I wouldn’t have cared either way," he said.
Shortly after, Arthur Collins was eliminated in tenth place and the final table began.
“My main strategy when I came to the final table was kind of let people knock each other out,” Stroud explained. “I was lucky enough the first two hands to gain about 2-3 million in chips.”
Stroud held the lead for the final table, winning a few big pots against Mike Vardeman and Hulin.
When the players returned from their last break, the final six agreed to an ICM chop and Stroud took home the most cash and the specially-crafted Southern Poker Open card protector.
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Prize(USD) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Matt Stroud | $47,734* |
| 2 | Jeremy Tinsley | $40,942* |
| 3 | Huey Hulin | $34,196* |
| 4 | Nate Wheeler | $33,426* |
| 5 | Ben Markway | $29,286* |
| 6 | Robert Provine | $24,525* |
| 7 | Stuart McMahen | $11,471 |
| 8 | Tim Harris | $9,041 |
| 9 | Mike Vardeman | $7,209 |
*Denotes six-way ICM chop.
Final Table Action
The final table started with Mike Vardeman being eliminated in ninth place. He busted to Tim Harris who had ace-high against Vardeman's king-high. Vardeman flopped a flush draw but it didn't come and he hit the rail.
Next to go was Harris, who was eliminated by Nate Wheeler when Wheeler shoved over a turn bet. Harris called and both players turned top pair, though Wheeler held the better kicker.
Stuart McMahen was the seventh-place finisher. He was left short after losing a race to Ben Markway. His short stack was busted when he had half a big blind and was eliminated by Hulin, who flopped Broadway.
The day started with 235 players returning to action and the top 117 made the money. Terry Griffith thought he was the stone bubble, but it turned out he was the first player to make the money. From there the eliminations mounted and included RunGood Ambassador Mina Greco, who finished in 87th place ($836), and two-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner Keith Lehr, who finished in 12th ($5,815).
Several more familiar faces found a cash including Grant Hart (15th - $4,740), Jeff Wyatt (30th - $1,992), and Mark "Milkman" Burford (28th - $1,992). Finally, Ben Mintz found a min-cash for $757 and was a big supporter of the event all weekend long. He even recorded his popular radio show from the floor on Friday afternoon.
The Southern Poker Open almost doubled its $200,000 Guarantee and brought all sorts of fun and a big crowd to the Riverdome at the Bossier City Horseshoe for their first land-based tournament.
Congratulations again to Matt Stroud the winner of the first-ever Southern Poker Open!
Level 31
: 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
The remaining six players returned from break and negotiated a six-way ICM chop. We'll bring you more details shortly.
Level: 31
Blinds: 100,000/200,000
Ante: 200,000
Level 30
: 80,000/160,000, 160,000 ante
The players are taking a short 10-minute break. When they return, the blinds will increase to 100,000/200,000 with a 200,000 ante.
Level 30
: 80,000/160,000, 160,000 ante
Matt Stroud opened under the gun to 400,000 and Huey Hulin defended the big blind.
The flop was 
and Hulin checked. Stroud bet 400,000 and Hulin made it 1,000,000 to go. Stroud called.
The turn was the 
and both players checked.
The river was the 
and Hulin checked again.
"I have an ace," Stroud said.
"That's good," Hulin said showing the 
then mucking.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
8,100,000
1,700,000
|
1,700,000 |
|
3,200,000
-1,680,000
|
-1,680,000 |
Level 30
: 80,000/160,000, 160,000 ante
Stuart McMahen's exit is a tale of two hands. In the first McMahen moved all in for 1,155,000 and was called by Ben Markway with 1,120,000.
Ben Markway: 
Stuart McMahen: 
The flop came 
, giving Markway a set and all but ending the hand. McMahen would need running cards to avoid being crippled, but they didn't come when the board ran out 
.
Two hands later, McMahen moved all-in for his last 35,000. Huey Hulin shoved in late position for 4,500,000 and everyone else got out of the way.
Huey Hulin: 
Stuart McMahen: 
Once again the flop connected with McMahen's opponent in a big way, 
. And again, McMahen would need running cards to stay alive.
The turn ended things when it came the 
. A meaningless 
completed the board.
McMahen went out in seventh place and will receive $11,471 for his performance in the Southern Poker Open.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
4,880,000
1,680,000
|
1,680,000 |
|
|
2,640,000
2,640,000
|
2,640,000 |
|
Busted |
Level 30
: 80,000/160,000, 160,000 ante
Nate Wheeler moved all-in from under-the-gun for 5,000,000. Stuart McMahen, next to act, moved all-in for 1,580,000. Two seats later, Robert Provine moved all-in for 620,000. Everyone else folded and the hands were turned up.
Nate Wheeler: 
Stuart McMahen: 
Robert Provine: 
The rail was on its feet as the board was dealt 
.
Provine took down the main pot while McMahen made a profit from the side pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
3,260,000
-1,440,000
|
-1,440,000 |
|
2,120,000
880,000
|
880,000 |
|
|
1,920,000
200,000
|
200,000 |
Level 30
: 80,000/160,000, 160,000 ante
Nate Wheeler had been raising repeatedly to 350,000. In fact, he raised three hands in a row, but this time he made it 375,000. Tim Harris called from the big blind.
The flop came and both players checked.
The turn was the and Harris led for 500,000. Wheeler quickly moved all in and Harris called. Harris was at risk with against the of Wheeler.
The river was the 
and Wheeler won the hand, eliminating Harris in eighth place.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
4,700,000
3,250,000
|
3,250,000 |
|
Busted |
Level: 30
Blinds: 80,000/160,000
Ante: 160,000