2016 Coco Poker Open
Seminole Casino Coconut Creek
Coconut Creek, FL
Event #9
$360 No Limit Hold’em Heads Up
Entries: 52
Prize Pool: $20,000
September 27, 2016

Day 7 of the 2016 Coco Poker Open presented players with the popular Heads Up tournament in The Pavilion. The $360 buy-in event drew 52 entrants and whoever was able to win six straight matches would be crowned the next champion. That player just so happened to be local regular Elliott Zaydman.

Zaydman had a difficult path to victory that saw him defeat defending champion Howard Mash heads up. The pair frequents South Florida poker tournaments and had a friendly championship duel that kicked off with a pre-match meal at NYY Steakhouse. In the end, it took just 45 minures for Zaydman to come out on top to the tune of an $8,000 score. Mash, meanwhile, was sent home with a $4,000 consolation prize

Several players had a bye in the first round giving them a little breather while the rest battled away. Many of Coconut Creek’s regulars took a shot including Nancy Birnbaum, Daniel Genachte, John Holley, 2015 SHRP Player of the Year Ory Hen and, of course, defending Coco Poker Open Heads Up champion, Mash.

The early matches were over quickly and the second round was almost as fast. They were soon down to the Quarterfinals after Charlemagne Benjamin won a long match against Jorge Gomez. All eight remaining players were in the money but looking up at the $8,000 top prize.

Mash was still around with a chance for back-to-back titles after he outlasted friend and STAX Poker regular Omar Diaz. Mash booked his seat in the finals after a quick dispatch of Frank Giordano in the Semifinals.

The longest match of the day was the Semifinal tilt between Benjamin and Zaydman. The two traded the lead several times and Zaydman came out ahead after two and a half hours of play to set up the Finals match with Mash.

For Zaydman, the victory adds to a laundry list of accomplishments. He now owns four tournament wins and claims over $480,000 in career earnings. He was born in Russia but now resides right here in Coconut Creek.

Event 9 final results:

1st: Elliott Zaydman – $8,000
2nd: Howard Mash – $4,000
3rd: Charlemagne Benjamin – $2,000
4th: Frank Giordano – $2,000
5th: Omar Diaz – $1,000
6th: Kyle Taddei – $1,000
7th: Michael Lewin – $1,000
8th: John Holley – $1,000

$360 No Limit Hold’em Heads-Up (64 Max Players)
Level 3: 1,000/2,000
Players Remaining: 1 of 52

With Howard Mash down to 30,900, Elliott Zaydman limped the button. Mash raised, Zaydman shoved and Mash called off.

Zaydman:
Mash:

Runout:

Zaydman’s ace-king held and he denied Mash back-to-back Coco Poker Open heads up titles. For the win, Zaydman pocketed $8,000 while Mash was sent home with a $4,000 consolation prize.

A full report will be posted shortly. In the meantime, here’s a look at the tournament’s final results:

1st: Elliott Zaydman – $8,000
2nd: Howard Mash – $4,000
3rd: Charlemagne Benjamin – $2,000
4th: Frank Giordano – $2,000
5th: Omar Diaz – $1,000
6th: Kyle Taddei – $1,000
7th: Michael Lewin – $1,000
8th: John Holley – $1,000

$360 No Limit Hold’em Heads-Up (64 Max Players)
Level 1: 600/1,200
Players Remaining: 2 of 52

Howard Mash and Elliott Zaydman are back in their seats following a quick recess to grab some grub. The pair dined together at NYY Steakhouse in the casino and now shares a table again. Mash eyes his second Coco Poker Open heads up title in as many years while Zaydman looks to add to an impressive South Florida resume.

They’re sitting down to 60,000-chip starting stacks and will log 20-minute levels throughout their match.

Here’s a look at what they’re playing for:

1st: $8,000
2nd: $4,000

$360 No Limit Hold’em Heads-Up (64 Max Players)
Players Remaining: 2 of 52

Howard Mash began his Semifinal match an hour after the Elliot Zaydman/Charlemagne Benjamin match and finished an hour before them.

After two and a half hours of back and forth, Zaydman outflopped Benjamin to finally lock up a spot in the Finals against Mash.

The two exchanged big leads throughout with some monster hands. Benjamin stormed ahead when his against Zaydman’s saw a crazy flop. The lead didn’t last long and Zaydman moved back in front by a few hundred units with the average stack at exactly ten big blinds.

The chips went in the middle with Benjamin ahead holding against until Zaydman flopped trip kings on the board. The dealer finished with the turn and river to send Benjamin out in 3rd place after a long battle.

3rd: Charlemagne Benjamin – $2,000

$360 No Limit Hold’em Heads-Up (64 Max Players)
Players Remaining: 3 of 52

It was the last Semifinal to start but the first to finish. Howard Mash and Frank Giordano took turns with the lead until Mash grabbed it for good in a big all-in hand.

Mash was behind 44,000 to 56,000 when Giordano moved all-in with after the flop and Mash called with the nutflush/wheel draw . Ace-high was winning for Mash, the turn did not help Giordano, and Mash paired the river for good measure.

Giordano lasted a few more hands but shipped his straight into Mash’s kings to end the match.

This is the second straight Heads Up Finals appearance for Mash and he’s looking for back-to-back titles.

4th: Frank Giordano – $2,000

$360 No Limit Hold’em Heads-Up (64 Max Players)
Players Remaining: 4 of 52

The final match of the Quarterfinals came to an end with Howard Mash defeating his friend Omar Diaz. The two went back and forth for an hour with Mash eventually taking the final lead.

Diaz had to make a move but his ran into the of Mash. The board ran out to send all the chips to Mash and put Diaz out in 5th place.

Mash will take a short breather than get his Semifinal match underway against Frank Giordano.

5th: Omar Diaz – $1,000

$360 No Limit Hold’em Heads-Up (64 Max Players)
Players Remaining: 5 of 52

Charlemagne Benjamin and Elliot Zaydman wasted no time getting their match underway. Benjamin took a quick break after defeating Kyle Taddei but he’s back at Table 2 as they each look for a seat in the Finals.

Meanwhile, Frank Giordano has taken a seat opposite the Howard Mash/Omar Diaz match, scoping out the opposition.

$360 No Limit Hold’em Heads-Up (64 Max Players)
Players Remaining: 5 of 52

The first Quarterfinal match to start is the third to finish. Charlemagne Benjamin and Kyle Taddei were holding similar stacks when they put them in the middle with a coin flip.

Benjamin:
Taddei:

“You did it to me again,” Taddei said when the flop came . The turn and river changed nothing and Benjamin booked a Semifinal appointment against Elliott Zaydman.

6th: Kyle Taddei – $1,000

$360 No Limit Hold’em Heads-Up (64 Max Players)
Players Remaining: 6 of 52

Two of the four Quarterfinal matches were over in a blink.

Elliott Zaydman made quick work of his match against John Holley when Zaydman’s pocket jacks held against Holley’s pocket tens.

Frank Giordano’s win over Michael Lewin was a little more exciting. The chips went flying after the flop and Giordano’s was ready to crack Lewin’s . There was still a spade sweat for Lewin but the turn and river were no help.

Howard Mash/Omar Diaz and Charlemagne Benjamin/Kyle Teddei are still grinding away.

7th: Michael Lewin – $1,000
8th: John Holley – $1,000

$360 No Limit Hold’em Heads-Up (64 Max Players)
Players Remaining: 8 of 52

We had two Quarterfinal matches already underway and now the last two have kicked off. SHRP regulars John Holley and Elliot Zaydman are battling on Table 1 while Michael Lewin and Frank Giordano are on Table 3.