Daytona Beach Poker Open Event 1: Almighty Stack Day 2 Updates

23:00 – Level 31 (500,000/250,000/500,000)

Both players get all in after a flop of 7♠ 6♥ K♦. Blake Ellinghaus shows K♣ 3♠, while Zach McCabe tables Q♠ 7♣. The turn brings the 8♦, leaving McCabe with five outs, but the 9♦ on the river seals the pot for Ellinghaus. McCabe finishes in 2nd place, earning $23,971 for his runner-up finish.

 

22:54 – Level 30 (400,000/200,000/400,000)

Blake Ellinghaus opens the button to 800,000 and is called by Zach McCabe. The flop comes 6♥ J♠ 2♠ and checks through. The turn brings the A♥ and both players check again. The river is the J♥, bringing fireworks. McCabe leads out for 1.2 million, Ellinghaus raises to 2.5 million, and McCabe moves all in. Ellinghaus snap-calls, showing J♦ 2♦, while McCabe turns over 6♠ 6♣.

(Ellinghaus 45,000,000/McCabe 1o.5M)

22:40 – Level 30 (400,000/200,000/400,000)

Zach takes the lead after a leveling war that yields no showdown. McCabe ads 4.5 to his stack.
(Ellinghaus 26.5M/McCabe 28.5M)

22:30 – Level 30 (400,000/200,000/400,000)

In a blind-versus-blind battle, Kirk Chui gets it all in from the big blind for his remaining 2.4 million against Zach McCabe. Chui shows K♣ 8♦, while McCabe tables Q♦ 7♣. Chui is left needing runner-runner kings after the flop comes Q♣ Q♥ 7♦. The turn and river offer no help, and McCabe holds to eliminate Chui in 3rd place in this remarkable event. Chui, a fan favorite with a cheering section throughout the room, takes home $15,423 after a hard-fought run deep into the tournament.

Final Table
Seat	Last Name	First Name	Chip Count
6	Ellinghaus	Blake	31,000,000
8	McCabe	Zachary	24,000,000

22:25 – Level 30 (400,000/200,000/400,000)

Larry Johnson rips it from the button for his remaining stack of about 3 million and is called by Blake Ellinghaus, who shows A♠ 8♦. Johnson tables K♥ 4♦ but cannot improve as the board runs out 9♣ 2♦ A♥ 8♣ 7♣. Johnson is eliminated in 4th place, earning $10,978 for his run.

22:15 – Level 30 (400,000/200,000/400,000)

22:10 – Level 29 (300,000/150,000/300,000)

Blake Ellinghaus raises to 600,000 preflop and is called by Zach McCabe and Kirk Chui. The flop comes 8♥ K♠ 6♣ and the action checks to Ellinghaus, who bets 1 million. McCabe folds and Chui makes the call. The turn brings the 10♣ and Chui checks again. Ellinghaus then shoves all of his cranberry chips—13,000,000. Chui goes deep into the tank before ultimately finding a fold. The pot is pushed to Ellinghaus, who says, “We’ll show one for the blog,” and tables A♣ A♥.

(Ellinghaus 30,000,000)

22:00 – Level 29 (300,000/150,000/300,000)

John Hoffman limps in preflop and is raised by Zach McCabe in the small blind. Kirk Chui folds, and the action returns to Hoffman, who moves all in for 2.3 million. McCabe makes the call and shows A♠ 10♣, while Hoffman tables A♦ Q♠. The flop comes 2♠ 9♣ Q♦, leaving McCabe needing runner-runner help. The turn is the J♠, giving McCabe hope, and the river delivers a devastating K♠ to complete McCabe’s straight, sending Hoffman to the rail in 5th place. Hoffman earns $8,422 for his deep run after playing a strong game throughout the week.

(McCabe 19,000,000)

21:44 – Level 29 (300,000/150,000/300,000)

In the first hand coming off break, Guy Caudill departs the tournament in 6th place taking home $6,928 for his efforts.

21:42 – Level 29 (300,000/150,000/300,000)

Final Table
Seat	Last Name	First Name	Chip Count
1	Johnson	Larry	5,500,000
4	Hoffman	John	5,500,000
5	Caudill	Guy	1,250,000
6	Ellinghaus	Blake	25,000,000
8	McCabe	Zachary	12,000,000
9	Chui	Kirk	6,400,000

21:42 – Level 28 (250,000/125,000/250,000)

Larry Johnson opens to 700,000 and is called by Blake Ellinghaus in the big blind. The flop comes 6♠ 6♣ 3♥ and Ellinghaus checks. Johnson bets 1.3 million and Ellinghaus calls. The turn is the Q♦ and both players check. The river brings the K♣ and Ellinghaus checks again. Johnson fires 2.3 million, sending Ellinghaus into the tank. After several minutes, Ellinghaus makes the call. Johnson tables A♣ J♣, but Ellinghaus excitedly shows 5♦ 5♥ to take down the pot.

(Johnson 5,500,000/Ellinghaus  25,000,000)

21:35 – Level 28 (250,000/125,000/250,000)

Blake Ellinghaus opens to 600,000 from late position and Kirk Chui calls from the small blind. Larry Johnson folds. The flop comes 6♥ 3♥ 2♥ and Chui checks to Ellinghaus, who bets 550,000. Chui check-raises to 1,400,000 and Ellinghaus folds.

(Ellinghaus 19,00,000/Chui 6,600,000)

21:31 – Level 28 (250,000/125,000/250,000)

Chui picks up a couple of pots and builds his stack to 5,000,000.

21:21 – Level 28 (250,000/125,000/250,000)

On chip life support Keith Romanovit gets his remaining chips into the center good preflop with A2 but fails to hold and exits in 7th place with an extra $5,723 for his efforts.

21:20 – Level 28 (250,000/125,000/250,000)

Kirk Chui shoves all in from the button for 2,350,000. Larry Johnson folds the small blind, and Keith Romanovit goes deep into the tank from the big blind with 500,000 already committed to the pot. Romanovit eventually makes the call and tables A♣ 10♥  while Chui shows J♣ 6♣. The board runs out 6♠ 5♣ Q♥ 2♣ 7♠, and Chui secures the double-up.

(Chui 4,700,000/Romanovit 1,000,000)

21:15 – Level 28 (250,000/125,000/250,000)

The action folds to Blake Ellinghaus in the small blind, who limps in, and Zach McCabe checks his option. The flop comes K♥ J♦ Q♥. Ellinghaus bets 350,000 and McCabe calls. The turn brings the 7♦. Ellinghaus fires again for 1.1 million, and McCabe makes the call. The river is the 9♥. Ellinghaus bets 2.5 million, and McCabe folds.

(Ellinghaus 20,500,000/McCabe 13,200,000)

21:00 – Level 28 (250,000/125,000/250,000)

Caudill Raises to 500k, Chui all in 1850000. Caudill tanks for multiple minutes and folds. Chui shows pocket kings.

(Caudill 4,200,000/Chui 3,000,000)

20:55 – Level 28 (250,000/125,000/250,000)

Final Table
Seat	Last Name	First Name	Chip Count
1	Johnson	Larry	6,200,000
3	Romanovit	Keith	3,100,000
4	Hoffman	John	4,500,000
5	Caudill	Guy	4,700,000
6	Ellinghaus	Blake	18,000,000
8	McCabe	Zachary	14,000,000
9	Chui	Kirk	2,000,000

20:55 – Level 27 (200,000/100,000/200,000)

Blake Ellinghaus opens to 550,000 on the button and is called by Zach McCabe. The flop comes 8♦ 5♠ 6♠. McCabe checks, Ellinghaus bets 600,000, and McCabe raises to 1.5 million. Ellinghaus calls. The turn brings the 2♠ and both players check. The river is the 5♥. McCabe leads out for 1,000,000. Ellinghaus tanks and says, “I have an eight,” before thinking it over and making the call. McCabe tables Q♠ 8♠ to take the pot.

(Ellinghaus 18,000,000/McCabe 14,000,000)

20:39 – Level 27 (200,000/100,000/200,000)

Blake Ellinghaus opens to 450,000 and Mike Fine moves all in for his remaining 1,250,000. Kirk Chui calls, and Ellinghaus also calls to take the hand three ways to the flop. The flop comes 9♣ A♠ 3♠, and both Ellinghaus and Chui check. The turn brings the Q♣, and once again both players check. The J♠ falls on the river, and Ellinghaus bets 750,000. Chui is visibly frustrated with the decision and eventually folds. Ellinghaus then shows 7♠ 5♠ for a rivered flush, sending Fine to the rail in 8th place for $4,553.

(Ellinghaus 21,000,000)

20:38 – Level 27 (200,000/100,000/200,000)

Eric Sandhaus opens to 500,000 and Blake Ellinghaus three-bets to 1.3 million. Sandhaus moves all in, and Ellinghaus snap-calls. Sandhaus tables A♦ Q♦, while Ellinghaus shows A♠ Q♣. Two spades appear on the flop, and running spades seal the hand for Ellinghaus, sending Sandhaus to the rail in 9th place with $3,419.

(Ellinghaus 19,500,000)

20:33 – Level 27 (200,000/100,000/200,000)

Eric Sandhaus opens from UTG+1 and is called by Zach McCabe and Kirk Chui. The flop comes 10♦ 2♠ 7♠. Both McCabe and Chui check to Sandhaus, who bets 575,000. McCabe calls and Chui folds. The turn brings the 2♦, and McCabe moves all in, putting Sandhaus to the test for his remaining 2,000,000. After a minute of contemplation, Sandhaus sends his hand to the muck.

(McCabe 14,500,000/Sandhaus 2,000,000)

20:25 – Level 27 (200,000/100,000/200,000)

A battle of the big stacks reaches the river with Zach McCabe deep in the tank on a board of K♣ 3♣ 5♣ 2♣ 9♦. Blake Ellinghaus has bet 425,000 into a pot of roughly 1 million. McCabe eventually tosses in the call and tables 3♦ 3♠ for a set, while Ellinghaus shows 10♥ 8♣.

(McCabe 14,000,000/Ellinghaus 13,000,000)

20:20 – Level 27 (200,000/100,000/200,000)

Blinds are up with our final table sporting an average stack of a little over 6,000,000. Each player is now guaranteed $3,419.

Final Table

Final Table
Seat	Last Name	First Name	Chip Count
1	Johnson	Larry	7,000,000
2	Sandhaus	Eric	3,200,000
3	Romanovit	Keith	4,600,000
4	Hoffman	John	4,850,000
5	Caudill	Guy	6,100,000
6	Ellinghaus	Blake	13,200,000
7	Fine	Mike	1,700,000
8	McCabe	Zachary	9,000,000
9	Chui	Kirk	4,500,000

 

20:05 – Level 26 (150,000/100,000/150,000)

The final table bubble has burst. Cameron Harris opens from UTG to 325,000, and Zach McCabe three-bets to 850,000. Harris calls. The flop comes Q♠ 5♦ 5♠. Harris checks, and McCabe moves all in. Harris says, “I can’t call the flop and fold top pair,” before putting in the call. Harris shows Q♥ 10♥, while McCabe tables A♥ A♠. The board runs out blanks, and Harris is eliminated in 10th place, earning $2,843.

19:45 – Level 26 (150,000/100,000/150,000)

Blake Ellinghaus opens from UTG to 350,000, and it folds to Kirk Chui. While in the tank, Ellinghaus jokes, “Are you the one that’s going to try to take me down, Chui?” As Chui puts in the call, he replies, “I think I have to.” The flop comes 2♣ K♠ 8♣ and checks through. The turn is the 7♣. Chui checks and Ellinghaus bets 250,000. Chui calls. The river brings the 5♣ and Chui checks again. Ellinghaus bets 900,000, and Chui puts in the call. Ellinghaus tables 6♠ 6♦, but Chui shows Q♠ 10♣ to take the pot.

(Ellinghaus 10,000,000/Chui 4,000,000)

19:30 – Level 26 (150,000/100,000/150,000)

We have reached level 26 and we are hand for hand to the final table. The average player has 5,500,000 and is guaranteed $2,843 as they try to take down the title of DBPO Almighty Stack Champion.

Table 44
Seat	Last Name	First Name	Chip Count
2	Chui	Kirk	3,175,000
3	Ellinghaus	Blake	11,300,000
6	Harris	Cameron	2,500,000
8	Fine	Mike	3,600,000
9	McCabe	Zachary	7,925,000
Table 42
Seat	Last Name	First Name	Chip Count
1	Sandhaus	Eric	3,900,000
2	Johnson	Larry	7,825,000
5	Romanovit	Keith	4,850,000
6	Caudill	Guy	4,875,000
8	Hoffman	John	5,025,000

19:15 – Level 25 (125,000/75,000/125,000)

The tournament sees competitors David Fowler, Tyler Denson, and Caleb Powell hit the rail.

Fowler- $2,267

Denson-$2,843

Powell-$2,843

18:50- Level 25 (125,000/75,000/125,000)

A picture is worth a thousand words. Cameron Harris gets it in good against Zach McCabe… and then…
(McCabe 7,300,000/Harris 3,700,000)

18:45 – Level 25 (125,000/75,000/125,000)

Zach McCabe opens to 225k, and Kirk Chui three-bets to 650k. The action folds to Cameron Harris, who four-bets to 1.4 million. Chui tanks before ultimately folding, prompting Harris to table his bluff of A♦ 4♥ and announce, “Solver approved!”

18:45 – Level 25 (125,000/75,000/125,000)

Play enters level 25 with 13 players remaining. The average stack is now 4,250,000.

Table 44
Seat	Last Name	First Name	Chip Count
2	Chui	Kirk	4,900,000
3	Ellinghaus	Blake	8,700,000
4	Caudill	Guy	4,300,000
6	Harris	Cameron	5,300,000
8	Fine	Mike	5,300,000
9	McCabe	Zachary	2,300,000
Table 42
Seat	Last Name	First Name	Chip Count
1	Sandhaus	Eric	2,000,000
2	Johnson	Larry	3,900,000
4	Powell	Caleb	7,000,000
5	Romanovit	Keith	2,800,000
6	Denson	Tyler	900,000
7	Fowler	David	3,000,000
8	Hoffman	John	4,500,000

18:36 – Level 24 (100,000/75,000/100,000)

Zach McCabe opens to 225,000 from UTG, and Joel Jenkins shoves all in for 425,000. Blake Ellinghaus calls, and McCabe comes along as well. The flop comes 10♦ 2♥ 5♥. McCabe bets 450,000, and Ellinghaus calls. The turn is the J♣. McCabe checks, Ellinghaus bets 750,000, and McCabe folds. Ellinghaus shows Q♥ J♥, while Jenkins reveals 8♦ 8♠. The river is the 5♦, sending Jenkins to the rail in 14th place, earning $2,267.
(Ellinghaus 10,700,000)

 

18:30 – Level 24 (100,000/75,000/100,000)

Tournament Director Byron Rodriguez introduces the 1,000,000 chip into play for Blake Ellinghaus.

18:20 – Level 24 (100,000/75,000/100,000)

Kirk Chui opens from late position to 200,000. Vincent White shoves from the small blind for 700,000, Cameron Harris flats, and Chui goes over the top for 3,175,000. Harris folds, and the hands are tabled with Chui showing A♥ K♣ and White revealing 4♥ 4♣. The flop of 7♣ 2♦ 9♣ keeps White ahead, but the A♦ on the turn leaves him with just two outs. The Q♣ on the river sends White to the rail in 15th place, earning $2,267.

 

18:05 – Level 24 (100,000/75,000/100,000)

Seth Bobet is eliminated in 16th place for $1,890 when he ran into Larry Johnson’s aces-up.

(Larry Johnson- 4,400,000)

 

18:03- Level 24 (100,000/75,000/100,000)

Level 24 is underway with 16 players remaining in Event 1: Almighty Stack. The average stack sits at 3.7 million as the field closes in on the final table.

Table 44
Seat	Last Name	First Name	Chip Count
1	Jenkins	Joel	1,000,000
2	Chui	Kirk	2,000,000
3	Ellinghaus	Blake	8,700,000
4	Caudill	Guy	4,300,000
5			900,000
6	Harris	Cameron	5,300,000
8	Fine	Mike	5,300,000
9	McCabe	Zachary	2,300,000
Table 42
Seat	Last Name	First Name	Chip Count
1			2,000,000
2	Johnson	Larry	3,900,000
4			5,000,000
5	Romanovit	Keith	2,800,000
6	Denson	Tyler	900,000
7			3,000,000
8	Hoffman	John	4,500,000

18:00 – Level 23 (100,000/50,000/100,000)

Bill Farnan is eliminated in 17th place exiting the tournament with a $1,890 pay day.

 

17:32 – Level 23 (100,000/50,000/100,000)

Cara Swayze shoves all in from middle position and is followed by an all-in from John Hoffman. Seth Bobert folds, and Austin Stewart also moves all in. Swayze shows A♣ Q♥, Hoffman tables J♦ J♣, and Stewart reveals A♠ Q♣. The board runs out 5♠ 2♦ 3♥ 7♦ 8♦, and Hoffman scoops the pot, eliminating Stewart in 20th place and Swayze in 19th place. Hoffman now sits with 4.7 million in chips.

 

17:20 – Level 23 (100,000/50,000/100,000)

Players have returned from break leading into level 23. Our minimum cash has increased to $1,602 with players fighting for the trophy and the $34,147 first place prize.

Table 46
Seat	Last Name	First Name	Chip Count
2	Harris	Cameron	4,700,000
3			1,200,000
4	Fowler	David	3,500,000
6			3,900,000
7	Sandhaus	Eric	2,800,000
8	Denson	Tyler	2,200,000
Table 44
Seat	Last Name	First Name	Chip Count
1	Jenkins	Joel	1,900,000
2	Chui	Kirk	2,700,000
3	Ellinghaus	Blake	5,550,000
4	Farnan	Bill	900,000
7	Slay	Kelley	1,700,000
8	Fine	Mike	7,100,000
9	McCabe	Zachary	1,400,000
Table 46
Seat	Last Name	First Name	Chip Count
1	Stewart	Austin	3,000,000
2	Johnson	Larry	2,900,000
3			2,550,000
5	Romanovit	Keith	4,400,000
6	Swayze	Cara	1,400,000
8	Hoffman	John	1,980,000
9	Bobet	Seth	1,400,000

16:15 –

The field in Event 1: $400 Almighty Stack No Limit Hold’em has been trimmed down to the final 27 players as the tournament continues to march toward the final table.

Players are currently in Level 21 (60,000/30,000 with a 60,000 big blind ante) with 5 minutes and 10 seconds remaining in the level. The remaining players are all guaranteed at least $1,134, while the eventual champion will take home $34,147.

With 556 total entries generating a $186,260 prize pool, the stacks are beginning to deepen as the field shrinks. The average stack sits at approximately 2,060,000 chips as players battle to secure a spot at the final table.