Matthew Sabia Wins Event #36: $15K No-Limit Hold’em Freezeout for $155,515
Following a dominating display of aggression at the final table, Matthew Sabia has won Event #36: $15,000 No-Limit Hold’em Freezeout from the Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open to collect the $155,515 first-place prize.
The unusual freezeout format for a high roller tournament would see 27 individuals take a seat throughout the day as a prize pool of $388,800 was created that paid the top five finishers. PokerGO Tour regulars including Ali Imsirovic, Alex Foxen, Cary Katz, Sam Soverel, and Event #33 winner Chris Brewer were all casualties prior to dinner break, while Sean Perry, Jake Schindler, and John Riordan exited before the final table was reached.
Sabia entered the final table with 850,000 in chips which dwarfed his nearest rival Sergi Reixach who sat with 380,000. Vincent Pontrello exited in ninth before 20-year-old Zhuang Ruan who won Event #36 exited in eighth place. Dylan Linde exited in seventh place to put everyone on the money bubble, and unfortunately for Sean Winter, he would exit empty-handed when he ran his pocket tens into the pocket aces of Sabia to be eliminated on the money bubble in sixth place.
Christopher Fitzgerald exited shortly after in fifth place before Giuseppe Iadisneria’s second consecutive final table resulted in back-to-back fourth-place finishes when Sabia improved his two pair to a flush to best Iadisernia’s two pair. With Sabia holding the majority of chips in play, Reixach and Dan Smith traded all-ins back-and-forth before Smith would run into Sabia’s superior ace to fall in third place.
Sabia entered heads-up play with a nine-to-one chip advantage over Reixach, but immediately the Spaniard found a double and saw a few more pots head his way as his deficit was reduced to a two-to-three disadvantage. However, Sabia would dial up the aggression once more with a shove on Reixach before picking off his bluff to soon be back to where he began heads-up play – with a dominating lead. The final hand would see Reixach run into Sabia’s ace-queen following a preflop shove, and when no help came, Reixach was eliminated in second place. The $155,515 in prize money for Sabia more than doubles his lifetime tournament earnings that was just over $115,000 and included four WSOP cashes and a WPT cash.
| Event #36: $15,000 No-Limit Hold’em Freezeout Payouts | |||
| Place | Name | Prize | PokerGO Tour Points |
| 1st | Matthew Sabia | $155,515 | 156 |
| 2nd | Sergi Reixach | $97,200 | 97 |
| 3rd | Dan Smith | $62,210 | 62 |
| 4th | Giuseppe Iadisernia | $42,770 | 43 |
| 5th | Christopher Fitzgerald | $31,105 | 31 |
As for the PokerGO Tour leaderboard presented by Guaranteed Rate, there were no changes to the top ten, but Reixach moved into 11th place overall with 897 points while Smith climbed into 21st with 517 points.
| Updated PokerGO Tour Top 10 | ||||
| Rank | Name | Country | Total Earnings | PokerGO Tour Points |
| 1 | Ali Imsirovic | Bosnia and Herzegovina | $3,004,960 | 2,394 |
| 2 | Sean Perry | USA | $2,572,578 | 1,819 |
| 3 | Sean Winter | USA | $2,557,920 | 1,539 |
| 4 | Cary Katz | USA | $2,310,800 | 1,347 |
| 5 | Sam Soverel | USA | $2,073,296 | 1,305 |
| 6 | Andrew Moreno | USA | $1,460,105 | 1,200 |
| 7 | Clayton Maquire | USA | $1,443,757 | 1,200 |
| 8 | Toby Lewis | UK | $1,235,204 | 1,200 |
| 9 | Chris Brewer | USA | $1,615,520 | 1,095 |
| 10 | Alex Foxen | USA | $1,207,786 | 1,023 |
That concludes PokerGO News’ coverage of Event #36: $15,000 No-Limit Hold’em Freezeout. Next up for our coverage is the Event #39: $25,500 The Big 4 High Roller with a $2 million guarantee that starts on Monday, August 9, at 12 p.m. ET. Be sure to tune back in then for coverage from the tournament floor by the PokerGO News Live Reporting Team.
Connect with PokerGO.com on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Use code “HSDTOM” for $20 off an annual PokerGO subscription now!
Sergi Reixach Eliminated in 2nd Place ($97,200)
On the button, Sergi Reixach (pictured) jammed all in for 285,000. Matthew Sabia quickly called and tabled the [AsQh]. Reixach had the [7h5h]. The flop, turn, and river ran out [Kh6h6sJcQd] to mark the end of the road for Reixach. He fought hard during heads-up play, but ultimately Sabia proved too much to overcome.
Reixach finished in second place and took home $97,200 in prize money.
| Player | Chips | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Matthew Sabia | 2,025,000 |
270,000  |
| Sergi Reixach | Busted |
-270,000  |
Trips for Matthew Sabia
Sergi Reixach called on the button and Matthew Sabia checked his option in the big blind.
Both players checked the [KsQsJc] flop and the [2s] turn to see the [Qd] pair the board on the river. Sabia bet 65,000 and Reixach called. Sabia showed the [Qc7h] for trip queens and Reixach mucked.
| Player | Chips | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Matthew Sabia | 1,755,000 |
-15,000 |
| Sergi Reixach | 270,000 |
15,000 |
Matthew Sabia Bets Out Sergi Reixach
Sergi Reixach limped the button and Matthew Sabia checked his option in the big blind.
The flop landed [4d6sAs] and Sabia check-called a bet of 15,000 from Reixach.
The [Th] checked through on the turn as the [6h] completed the board on the river.
Sabia led out for 115,000 and Reixach folded.
| Player | Chips | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Matthew Sabia | 1,770,000 |
45,000 |
| Sergi Reixach | 255,000 |
-45,000 |
Sergi Reixach Is “Back To Square One”
On the button, Sergi Reixach made the call. Matthew Sabia checked and the flop fell [AhAc4c]. Sabia checked, Reixach bet 15,000, and Sabia check-raised to 55,000. Reixach stuck around with a call.
The turn was the [Jh] and Sabia checked. Reixach fired 110,000 and Sabia made the call.
The river was the [Th] and Sabia checked. Reixach bet 135,000 and Sabia made the call.
Reixach showed the [9c5c] for a busted flush draw. Sabia showed the [Ad7c] for winning trips.
“Back to square one,” said Reixach after the hand.
| Player | Chips | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Matthew Sabia | 1,725,000 |
315,000 |
| Sergi Reixach | 300,000 |
-315,000 |
Sergi Reixach Can’t Call Matthew Sabia’s River Shove
Matthew Sabia called on the button and Sergi Reixach checked from the big blind to see the flop come [Jc8d2s]. Reixach checked, Sabia bet 25,000, and Reixach called.
The turn was the [5c] and Reixach checked. Sabia fired 125,000 and Reixach made the call.
The river was the [As] and Reixach checked. Sabia moved all in, covering Reixach’s stack of 615,000. Reixach tank-folded.
| Player | Chips | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Matthew Sabia | 1,410,000 |
175,000 |
| Sergi Reixach | 615,000 |
-175,000 |
Sergi Reixach Closes the Gap
Matthew Sabia limped in from the button and Sergi Reixach raised to 60,000 on the button.
Sabia called as the flop landed [5cKs6h]. Reixach continued for 30,000 and Sabia called as the turn fell the [Kh].
Reixach checked, and Sabia bet out 110,000. Reixach called before both players checked the [Js] on the river.
Reixach revealed his [Kc3d] for trips, and Sabia mucked.
| Player | Chips | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Matthew Sabia | 1,235,000 |
-100,000 |
| Sergi Reixach | 790,000 |
100,000 |
One for Matthew Sabia
Matthew Sabia raised to 40,000 on the button and Sergi Reixach called from the big blind.
The flop was [QhJsTh] and both players checked. The two players also checked the [Qs] turn card to see the [4d] land on the river. After Reixach checked, Sabia bet 50,000, and Reixach folded.
| Player | Chips | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Matthew Sabia | 1,335,000 |
40,000 |
| Sergi Reixach | 690,000 |
-40,000 |
More for Sergi Reixach
On the button, Sergi Reixach called. Matthew Sabia checked his option in the big blind and the flop fell [9h3d2h]. Sabia checked, Reixach bet 15,000, and Sabia called.
The turn was the [5h] and Sabia checked. Reixach bet 25,000 and Sabia folded.
The next time he was on the button, Reixach limp-called a raise to 55,000 from Sabia. The flop was [JhTh2s] and Sabia bet 90,000. Reixach made the call.
Both players checked the [9h] turn to see the [2h] pair the board on the river. Sabia checked and Reixach bet 85,000. Sabia folded.
| Player | Chips | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Matthew Sabia | 1,295,000 |
-285,000 |
| Sergi Reixach | 730,000 |
285,000 |
You're all caught up!
No more pages to load
