Gene Spruck is one of a large contingent from the New York City area who've traveled to West Palm Beach to represent at the BPO Florida World Championship.

The retiree from Brooklyn splits his leisure time with poker and horse racing, where he'd love to see a PokerNews-style presence for live reporting at National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) tournaments that he participates in.

Spruck met his wife Sherry through horse racing, and the couple loves to travel the world and attend races together.

Spruck is a longtime recreational poker player, having had a home game with friends for 45 years. He also plays online and of course at BPO events back home.

Spruck has returned to the Palm Beach Kennel Club for Day 1b, looking again to add a third career BPO cash to his resume after making the money in 2019 and 2022 at their summer events in Las Vegas.

Several players that bagged last night have been spotted in the field this morning, looking to find another bag along with a $1,000 bonus.

Also back in the field is defending champion Phil Hoff, who was the unfortunate bubble boy in Day 1a. He's back for another chance to defend his title.

Their entry into both opening flights of the event also gets them a seat in ther $150 buy-in Charity Series of Poker Event at 5 p.m. this afternoon.

Pieter Arundel	30,000	-15,000
Phil Hoff	30,000	30,000
Ronald Kaepernick	30,000	-210,000
Raymond Lizzol	30,000	-130,000
Matthew McGuire	30,000	-600,000
David Phillips	30,000	-320,000

With about 6,000 in the middle, four players went to the turn and a board of was in the center of the table.

After a bet of 2,200 from middle position, Bob Carswell called in late position and Nicholas Pacheco called on the button.

The trio saw a river fall and after a check, Carswell bet 5,000. Pacheco then raised to 16,000, which got a fold from the middle position player, but Carswell called, asking to see the seven.

Pacheco did better than that, turning over for a flopped eight-high straight to take the latest in a series of pots that's seen him build a healthy six-figure stack already.

Nicholas Pacheco	140,000	140,000
Bob Carswell	11,000	11,000

Day 1b of the Bar Poker Open Florida World Championship is underway with 91 entries taking another shot at joining the 29 players who advanced from Day 1a.

Defending champion Phil Hoff is going to have to unload the proverbial clip if he's to defend his title.

After busting on his first entry early on Day 1a and then bubbling it, his first bullet of Day 1b has been sent to Paul Cassella.

Cassella told PokerNews that he flopped a set of tens versus Hoff's overpair of queens and the defending champion shoved his stack into him to eliminate Hoff and score an early double-up.

Hoff is off to the registration desk to buy in for his final attempt at defending his title.

Paul Cassella	56,000	56,000
Phil Hoff	30,000	0

One of the highlights of the weekend's events here at the Bar Poker Open Florida World Championship is the Charity Series of Poker (CSOP) Celebrity Charity tournament taking place Sunday night here at the Palm Beach Kennel Club.

"Folding for the Families" will be the 56th CSOP event in its history, with all public donations going to benefit Folded Flag, a non-profit organization dedicated to honoring the U.S. military by aiding the families of fallen servicemen and women with financial support for continued education.

The event comes with a $5,000 first prize, along with other final table and silent auction prizes, plus several player bounties including Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi.

The event gets underway at 3:30 p.m. ET for a cocktail reception, followed by cards in the air at 5 p.m.

The $150 buy-in gets you into the reception as well as your tournament entry. For those just wishing to come to the cocktail reception, the cost of that is $75.

The tournament buy-in gets players 10,000 chips to start. Unlimited $50 rebuys for another 10,000 chips are available until the start of Level 9, so long as a player is below their original starting stack. In the break before the end of registration, a $50 add-on for an additional 20,000 chips is available.

If you're in the South Florida area and haven't already headed to the Palm Beach Kennel Club for the Bar Poker Open Florida World Championship, this is a great opportunity to play some poker for a great cause and have an incredible time in one of the most fun and entertaining tournament settings you could ask for.

Several players that bagged last night have been spotted in the field this morning, looking to find another bag along with a $1,000 bonus.

Also back in the field is defending champion Phil Hoff, who was the unfortunate bubble boy in Day 1a. He's back for another chance to defend his title.

Their entry into both opening flights of the event also gets them a seat in ther $150 buy-in Charity Series of Poker Event at 5 p.m. this afternoon.

Pieter Arundel	30,000	-15,000
Phil Hoff	30,000	30,000
Ronald Kaepernick	30,000	-210,000
Raymond Lizzol	30,000	-130,000
Matthew McGuire	30,000	-600,000
David Phillips	30,000	-320,000

Day 1b of the Bar Poker Open Florida World Championship is underway with 91 entries taking another shot at joining the 29 players who advanced from Day 1a.

The second of two opening flights for the Florida World Championship of the Bar Poker Open gets underway at 11 a.m. ET with players looking to join the 29 who advanced from a frantic Day 1a on Saturday.

While players qualified for Day 1a through Bar Poker Open events throughout the season, Saturday's Day 1b acts as a second chance for any of those 281 entries. For $365 they can hop in again Sunday with one re-entry available to them.

The enticement of bonuses is also prevalent, as any of the 29 players that bagged up for Day 2 in the money can fire again to try to build a bigger stack. If they bag a second time, along with their larger stack going forward, they'll also receive a $1,000 bonus.

Players Sunday will have their sights set on Day 1a chip leader Charles Olson's 725,000 chips, as he bagged the biggest stack of the day.

As with Day 1a, players will start with 30,000 chips at blinds of 100 / 100 with a 100 big blind ante, and the final 10% of the field will advance to Day 2 and be in the money with a shot at Monday's top prize of $50,000. Levels will be 30 minutes in length.

While the Florida World Championship is limited to those who've qualified throughout the year at BPO stops across the United States and Canada, open side events continue Sunday and Monday, including Sunday's $150 Charity Series of Poker event at 5 p.m. Players that take part in both Day 1a and 1b of the Florida World Championship Main Event will receive a free entry into this tournament as well.

It's going to be another great day of fun and exciting poker action at the Palm Beach Kennel Club and PokerNews is here to bring you all the action until a champion is crowned on Monday.

The second of two opening flights for the Florida World Championship of the Bar Poker Open gets underway at 11 a.m. ET with players looking to join the 29 who advanced from a frantic Day 1a on Saturday.

While players qualified for Day 1a through Bar Poker Open events throughout the season, Saturday's Day 1b acts as a second chance for any of those 281 entries. For $365 they can hop in again Sunday with one re-entry available to them.

The enticement of bonuses is also prevalent, as any of the 29 players that bagged up for Day 2 in the money can fire again to try to build a bigger stack. If they bag a second time, along with their larger stack going forward, they'll also receive a $1,000 bonus.

Players Sunday will have their sights set on Day 1a chip leader Charles Olson's 725,000 chips, as he bagged the biggest stack of the day.

As with Day 1a, players will start with 30,000 chips at blinds of 100 / 100 with a 100 big blind ante, and the final 10% of the field will advance to Day 2 and be in the money with a shot at Monday's top prize of $50,000. Levels will be 30 minutes in length.

While the Florida World Championship is limited to those who've qualified throughout the year at BPO stops across the United States and Canada, open side events continue Sunday and Monday, including Sunday's $150 Charity Series of Poker event at 5 p.m. Players that take part in both Day 1a and 1b of the Florida World Championship Main Event will receive a free entry into this tournament as well.

It's going to be another great day of fun and exciting poker action at the Palm Beach Kennel Club and PokerNews is here to bring you all the action until a champion is crowned on Monday.

A fast-paced and dramatic first day of play in the Bar Poker Open Florida World Championship left just 29 players from the original 281 entries, with defending champion Phil Hoff the last man out the door on the bubble for the money and Day 2.

Hoff was eliminated on the second hand of hand-for-hand play when he shoved his last 130,000 in with two pair and ran into Matthew McGuire who held a Broadway straight.

The hand gave McGuire the second-largest stack to end the night behind chip leader Charles Olson, who bagged 725,000. Rounding out the top five chip counts are Paul Chamberlain (535,000), Steve Mayer (510,000), and Chris Davis (490,000).

The day's 281 entries created a prizepool of $80,928, with Day 1b still to come Sunday. The winner is guaranteed a $50,000 first prize.

Play ended late in Level 18 with 3:12 remaining at blinds of 10,000 / 15,000 with a 15,000 big blind ante.

Day 1a Top Ten Chip Counts

The Day's Action

Among other notables surviving the day is Will Unruh, who was at or near the top of the leaderboard most of the day, finishing with 380,000. A solid contingent of female players in the field was led by Angela Ford and her 280,000 chips. Samantha Skelly battled with a short stack for most of the day before bagging up 170,000.

The day was full of dramatic hands, including a wild set over set over set flop that saw the elimination of Bill Murphy early in the day at the hand of Linda Fuchs. Unfortunately though for Fuchs and Jolanda Tedford, the other player in the hand, none were able to advance to Day 2.

Tedford's husband Frazier Tedford however did make it through the day, though with far less chips than he had hoped, as a late hand vs John Purdy saw his kings cracked by Purdy's ace-queen that flopped trips and then rivered quads.

Some other players that will have to fire again on Day 1b with hopes of advancing are Bob Carswell, Amanda Nissman, Deby Goldfarb, and Richard Anderson, whose journeys to the BPO Florida World Championship were profiled here on PokerNews.

Day 1b Sunday and Beyond

Next up is Day 1b on Sunday at 11 a.m. ET where players will be able to take another $365 shot at advancing to Monday's Day 2 where a champion will be crowned $50,000 richer. Players will also have a single re-entry available should they wish.

Stay close to PokerNews for continuing coverage of the Bar Poker Open Florida World Championship from here at the Palm Beach Kennel Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.

A fast-paced and dramatic first day of play in the Bar Poker Open Florida World Championship left just 29 players from the original 281 entries, with defending champion Phil Hoff the last man out the door on the bubble for the money and Day 2.

Hoff was eliminated on the second hand of hand-for-hand play when he shoved his last 130,000 in with two pair and ran into Matthew McGuire who held a Broadway straight.

The hand gave McGuire the second-largest stack to end the night behind chip leader Charles Olson, who bagged 725,000. Rounding out the top five chip counts are Paul Chamberlain (535,000), Steve Mayer (510,000), and Chris Davis (490,000).

The day's 281 entries created a prizepool of $80,928, with Day 1b still to come Sunday. The winner is guaranteed a $50,000 first prize.

Play ended late in Level 18 with 3:12 remaining at blinds of 10,000 / 15,000 with a 15,000 big blind ante.

Day 1a Top Ten Chip Counts

The Day's Action

Among other notables surviving the day is Will Unruh, who was at or near the top of the leaderboard most of the day, finishing with 380,000. A solid contingent of female players in the field was led by Angela Ford and her 280,000 chips. Samantha Skelly battled with a short stack for most of the day before bagging up 170,000.

The day was full of dramatic hands, including a wild set over set over set flop that saw the elimination of Bill Murphy early in the day at the hand of Linda Fuchs. Unfortunately though for Fuchs and Jolanda Tedford, the other player in the hand, none were able to advance to Day 2.

Tedford's husband Frazier Tedford however did make it through the day, though with far less chips than he had hoped, as a late hand vs John Purdy saw his kings cracked by Purdy's ace-queen that flopped trips and then rivered quads.

Some other players that will have to fire again on Day 1b with hopes of advancing are Bob Carswell, Amanda Nissman, Deby Goldfarb, and Richard Anderson, whose journeys to the BPO Florida World Championship were profiled here on PokerNews.

Day 1b Sunday and Beyond

Next up is Day 1b on Sunday at 11 a.m. ET where players will be able to take another $365 shot at advancing to Monday's Day 2 where a champion will be crowned $50,000 richer. Players will also have a single re-entry available should they wish.

Stay close to PokerNews for continuing coverage of the Bar Poker Open Florida World Championship from here at the Palm Beach Kennel Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Picking action up on the flop in a raised pot, the board read . Phil Hoff bet 35,000 from the small blind and got called by Matt McGuire on the button.

The turn brought the and Hoff moved all in for about 130,000.

"Oh don't do that, I've got the straight," said McGuire as he happily called and showed his .

Hoff could only show for two pair, and after the fell on the river, the defending champion's day was done, with the final 29 players all in the money and onto Day 2.

Matt McGuire	630,000	445,000
Phil Hoff	0	-260,000