The 2020 running of the Bay 101 Shooting Star $5,200 buy-in no-limit hold’em main event drew 290 entries, building a $1,331,000 prize pool despite the growing concerns around the country regarding the spread of COVID-19. The field was narrowed down to stacked final ten that were set to return on Friday, March 13 to play down to a winner. Before play resumed, though, the remaining players negotiated a ten-way chop of the remaining prize pool based on ICM numbers. The Casino’s live bloggers covering the event explained that the decision was “due to circumstances surrounding the Coronavirus.”

World Poker Tour champion and World Series of Poker bracelet winner Craig Varnell held the chip lead at the time the deal was made, and was awarded the largest payout of $159,710 and the title. The score brought his career earnings to $2,643,430.

Two-time WSOP bracelet winner Kristen Bicknell was second in chips when the deal was made, and was awarded $141,520 as the second-place finisher in the final results listings. The cash was enough to see Bicknell surpass $5 million in career live tournament earnings, making her only the third female player to ever do so behind Vanessa Selbst and Kathy Liebert. After the deal was made, she took to Twitter to note how tough the situation was to assess.

One of the strangest chop situations I could have imagined. Would have loved to play it out and personally don't think ending play at this point would reduce any possible spread, but I could be wrong

After years of legal battles between San Jose and the Bay 101 casino, the City Council voted 10-1 Sept. 22 to approve a 2020 settlement agreement and put a series of suits to bed. Most notably, Bay 101 sued the city in 2013 for charging “unconstitutionally excessive” fees. As a compromise, the city will consider. While city law limits both Casino M8trix and Bay 101 to 49 gaming tables, the Bumb family reportedly plans to ask San Jose City Hall for 10 more tables. Known by longtime Bay 101 gamblers for its world-famous Shooting Star poker tournament, the popular event will continue at the new location, according to the news agency. The 10K buy-in was reduced 15% and free private jet travel from Los Angeles and Las Vegas was provided by Bay 101 Casino, as appearance fees for big shot pros. Phil Hellmuth (1989 WSOP Main Event Champion), Mike “The Mouth” Matusow, Freddy Deeb, Daniel “Kid Poker” Negreanu, Layne Flack, Matt Savage, Royal Flush Girls, and Vince Van Patten at the 2011 WPT Shooting Star at Bay 101 in San Jose, California. Day 2 at the Bay 101 Shooting Star $5,200 no-limit hold'em Main Event has come to a close with 10 players advancing to Day 3 on Friday from 290 entries after 106 returned to start the day. There are five Shooting Star bounties among the group of survivors. Also, two San Jose cardrooms, Casino M8trix and Bay 101 Casino, also closed. Bay 101 will be closed through at least April 4. Tribal Casinos Close in California, Too Pechanga Casino and San Manuel.

— Kristen Bicknell (@krissyb24poker) March 13, 2020

Bicknell also Tweeted that it was, “Unfortunate to not play this out, I hope all are safe and well! Thanks to [Bay 101 Casino] and [Tournament Director Matt Savage] for hosting another great event and handling this the best that they could.”

There were plenty of other highly accomplished players who were involved in the deal, including WPT and WSOP winner Tyler Patterson, who took home $113,860 for fourth place. Patterson described the result as a “Covid-19 induced ICM chop” on Twitter.

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Swedish poker pro Michael Tureniec was awarded $91,180 as the sixth-place finisher, while three-time WPT champion and two-time bracelet winner Anthony Zinno cashed for $55,600 as the eighth-place finisher. Bracelet winner and two-time WSOP Circuit ring winner Anthony Spinella earned $50,000 for ninth place, while Lexy Gavin earned her largest career cash of $41,060 for tenth place.

Here is a look at the payouts and POY points awarded to the final ten:

Winner photo via Bay 101 News’s tournament blog.

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