Week 16: The Founding Fathers Make Their Move!
With just four weeks remaining in our high-stakes season, Week 16 delivered the dramatic shake-up we’ve been anticipating. In a stunning turn of events, the league’s founding fathers Steve Trizis and Dave Bennett chopped first place, making a definitive statement that they won’t be left on the sidelines when the WSOP Main Event seats are awarded.
The victory catapulted the duo from 9th and 10th place into 7th and 8th respectively, putting them within striking distance of the coveted top six positions that earn those $10,000 WSOP packages. Meanwhile, Jack Bittker continued his remarkable mid-season surge, securing third place and leapfrogging Ryan Johnson for the second position on our leaderboard with an impressive 84 points.
The race for the six WSOP seats has never been tighter. While Juan Rodriguez and Aaron Thivyanathan maintain their commanding lead with 93 points, positions two through six are separated by just 11 points. Jack Bittker (84), Ryan Johnson (77), Karl Manouchakian (76), Ray Mancini (74), and Mohamed Lahlou (73) currently occupy these precious spots, but Dave Bennett and Team Trizis/Wiseman are now close enough to smell the Las Vegas felt.
As our players took their seats at the final table this week, the tension was palpable. Dave Bennett’s chip stack told the story – he was crushing it all night. From eliminating Twitch Anderson in 5th place to eventually knocking out Jack Bittker in 3rd, Dave’s aggressive play and timely cards set the stage for the eventual chop with Steve Trizis. Let’s break down the key hands that defined the evening…
Our final table!
Mark Winchell was 9th vs Jack Bittker A7cc<Qx board 789TJ ouch
Will McMillan was 8th vs Jack Bittker
Dave Bennett was crushing the final table!
Steve Trizis’ Q3>Jackie’s A4 Jackie 7th
A nice double for Twitch! Quads vs Dave!
Andra’s A3<Steve’s flush on the river. Andra Zachow 6th
Dave Bennett>Twitch, Scott “Twitch” Anderson 5th
Steve Trizis >Ray Mancini, Ray 4th
A double for Steve through Dave Bennett
Dave Bennett>Jack Bittker
Jack 3rd
A first place chop for Steve Trizis & Dave Bennett
As we enter the final four weeks of our season, the battle for WSOP Main Event seats couldn’t be more exciting. The strategic implications of this week’s results have transformed our leaderboard, with Dave Bennett and Steve Trizis making their championship intentions clear. Their first-place chop not only rewarded them with crucial points but sent a message to the field – nobody’s position is safe.
With 56 Final Table points still up for grabs this season, even players currently outside the top ten have mathematical chances to make miraculous runs. Team Juan/Aaron may seem comfortable at the top with 93 points, but as we’ve seen with Jack Bittker’s meteoric rise from 16 points mid-season to 84 points now, anything is possible when the cards are flying.
The Elite Tampa Bay Poker League continues to showcase not just exceptional poker talent, but the camaraderie and competitive spirit that make our community special. As players jockey for position in these final weeks, expect the strategy to intensify, the bluffs to get bolder, and the celebrations (or commiserations) to grow more emotional.
One thing is certain – with seats to the World Series of Poker Main Event on the line, our final four weeks will feature some of the most compelling poker we’ve seen all season. Who will secure their tickets to poker’s biggest stage? The only way to find out is to join us at the tables or follow along here each week as the drama unfolds.
Visit TampaBayPoker.com for the complete leaderboard and full season information. See you at the felt for Week 17!
Our current top six on the leaderboard:
The final table in order of finish was:
1 Steve Trizis/Dave Bennett chop
2
3 Jack Bittker
4 Ray Mancini
5 Twitch Anderson
6 Andra Zachow
7 Jackie Torres Rivers
8 Will McMillan
9 Mark Winchell
