Dennis Blieden Can’t Convince Chris Hunichen to Double Him Up
Chris Hunichen raised to start the hand to 9,000 and then it folded over to Dennis Blieden in the big blind. He opted to three-bet to 24,000 and his opponent called.
The flop was [5dAs8h]. Blieden led out for 22,000 and Hunichen called. The turn was the [4c]. Blieden bet 55,000, leaving just one 5,000 chip behind. Hunichen paused for a few seconds before Blieden said, “you owe me a double up.”
“I don’t think I can do it on this one,” Hunichen responded just before releasing his hand.
| Player | Chips | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Chris Hunichen | 870,000 | - |
| Dennis Blieden | 107,000 |
8,000  |
Nick Schulman Rivers Flush to Eliminate Cary Katz
Nick Schulman raised to 8,000 from middle position and both Chris Hunichen and Cary Katz called from the blinds.
The flop landed [Jc7s5c] and after Hunichen checked, Katz bet his last 8,000. Schulman called, and Hunichen responded with a check-raise to 30,000.
Schulman called, and after the turn fell the [7d], Hunichen checked. Schulman bet out 22,000, and Hunichen called as the [6c] completed the board on the river.
Hunichen checked, Schulman announced he was all in for roughly 130,000, and Hunichen folded.
Katz tabled his [Js3d] for jacks-up, but Schulman revealed his [Qc9c] for a flush to win both the side and main pots.
| Player | Chips | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Chris Hunichen | 870,000 |
25,000 |
| Nick Schulman | 270,000 |
11,000 |
| Martin Zamani | 175,000 |
-16,500  |
| Dennis Blieden | 99,000 |
-31,000 |
| Cary Katz | Busted |
-46,500 |
Jake Schindler Scores Double Up Against Sean Winter
We caught the action with Jake Schindler all-in for his tournament life against Sean Winter.
Winter: [KxKx]
Schindler: [AcTs]
Schindler got lucky as the board ran out [Ax3x9x5x6x] and he doubled up.
Nick Petrangelo vs. Ali Imsirovic
Ali Imsirovic opened the hijack to 9,000 and Nick Petrangelo three-bet the button to 28,000.
Imsirovic called, and on the [6s9d6d] flop, he checked to Petrangelo who continued for 40,000.
Imsirovic folded, and Petrangelo collected the pot.
| Player | Chips | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Nick Petrangelo | 477,000 |
296,000 |
| Ali Imsirovic | 160,000 |
-40,000 |
Sean Winter Takes Aces into Jason Koon’s Kings
Sean Winter raised to 10,000 and Alex Foxen called from the button. From the big blind, Jason Koon three-bet to 52,000, and when the action returned to Winter, he moved all in for 234,000. Foxen folded, but Koon called.
Koon: [AcKd]
Winter: [AsAd]
The dealer spread the [6hJd5hJc9c] board and Winter secured a huge double.
| Player | Chips | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Sean Winter | 482,000 |
200,500 |
| Jason Koon | 211,000 |
11,000 |
Keith Tilston Takes It on the Turn
It was a battle between two healthy stacks after David Peters raised to 8,500 from the button and Keith Tilston defended from his big blind.
After both players checked to the turn on a board of [Ad7sJhTc], Tilston led out for 13,000 and was called by Peters.
Both players then checked the [6d] river and tabled their hands, with Peters folding after being shown the [Ah9d] from Tilston.
| Player | Chips | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Keith Tilston | 444,000 | - |
| David Peters | 375,000 |
145,000 |
Player Spotlight: Jake Schindler
It has quietly been a productive U.S. Poker Open for pro Jake Schindler.
Though he wasn’t won any events, the 30-year old poker pro has two cashes for a combined $327,000. That money stems from a 9th place finish in Event #1 and a runner-up finish to Bryn Kenney in Event #7. To say that Schindler enjoys the series might be an understatement.
Schindler has six career cashes at the USPO in the series’ second year of play. During the 2018 debut Open, Schindler placed 2nd twice and added a 4th and 9th place finish. He made nearly $700,000 during the week.
The Florida native got his start by grinding online and in mid-stakes tournaments. He logged sever five-figure cashes from 2009 through 2013, including winning the 2013 World Championship of Online Poker under the name “CaLLitARUSH”. Early in 2014, his breakthrough tournament win came.
Schindler won the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure $25,000 High Roller, taking home $1.1 million from his first banner victory. He did so by edging former World Series of Poker Main Event champion Greg Merson and now-retired poker pro Vanessa Selbst.
Schindler’s largest payday came from a 2nd place in the $300,000 High Roller Bowl buy-in at ARIA in 2017 that paid $3.6 million. He has earned nearly $24 million throughout his career, good for 13th on the all-time money list. He’s currently the sixth rated player in the world, according to Global Poker Index.
This year’s USPO is wrapping up and Schindler will have to wait another 12 months to play the series that has treated him so well. Before that happens, Schindler is aiming to add the tournament’s Main Event title to his list of career accomplishments.
Dan Smith Eliminated by Justin Bonomo
Dan Smith raised from under the gun to 7,000.
Action then folded around to Justin Bonomo, who re-raised to 25,000.
Smith then counted out his chips, announced he was all in and was met by a snap call from Bonomo.
The players then tabled their hands.
Smith: [8c8d]
Bonomo: [JsJd]
The board ran out [Qd3sAs3h5h], which was no help to Smith.
| Player | Chips | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Justin Bonomo | 568,000 |
133,000 |
| Dan Smith | Busted |
-119,500 |
The Big Sweat! Who’s Left in Contention for the U.S. Poker Open Championship?
There’s only one event left to be completed, but there are still plenty of big names in contention for the U.S. Poker Open Championship! After his big win, Koray Aldemir is now among the contenders while Sean Winter and Stephen Chidwick are tied for the lead.
If none of the players listed below score points in the $100,000 Main Event, the trophy and the $100,000 top prize will go to Sean Winter, who’s cashed for more than Stephen Chidwick has with an equal amount of points.
As of right now, the names marked in italics below are currently playing in the $100,000 Main Event. There is still roughly one hour of late registration left at the time of this post.
| 2019 U.S. Poker Open Championship Standings | |||
| Name | Points | Cash | |
| 1 | Sean Winter (5) | 540 | $747,900 |
| 2 | Stephen Chidwick (4) | 540 | $705,950 |
| 3 | Nick Schulman (2) | 410 | $390,000 |
| 4 | Brandon Adams (3) | 365 | $314,750 |
| 5 | Koray Aldemir (2) | 340 | $897,200 |
| 6 | Cary Katz (3) | 340 | $580,200 |
| 7 | Bryn Kenney (2) | 240 | $477,000 |
| 8 | Lauren Roberts (2) | 240 | $263,400 |
| 9 | Jordan Cristos (2) | 240 | $206,200 |
| 10 | Ali Imsirovic | 200 | $442,500 |
| 11 | David Peters (2) | 200 | $264,800 |
| 12 | Ben Yu (3) | 200 | $262,800 |
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