$85 All In or Fold
Day 1 Completed
2016 Run It Up Reno
$85 All In or Fold
Day: 1
Level 19
: 15,000/30,000, 5,000 ante
Winning competitions is an old hat for "Boston" Rob Mariano, who made his name as a champion on popular reality TV series Survivor. He added a poker victory to his résumé by taking down the $85 All In or Fold event here at Run It Up Reno for $5,051. Mariano eliminated the final six players in succession to take the win.
The wild format of the tournament called for an $85 initial entry and $50 rebuys, which were unlimited for the first six levels. The catch, of course, is that players were only allowed two actions — shove all in or fold. Action progressed with plenty of rebuys, and after Chad Holloway was eliminated on the bubble, the final 16 were in the money.
When the final table of nine was reached, Mariano was in the lead but had less than 20 big blinds, so it was anyone's game. He completely took over after the first couple of eliminations though, winning preflop all ins against Scott Hoffer, Kevin Barrett, Emily Johnson, Briann Fletcher, Andy Peplinski, and Rob Hamilton in that order to mow through his final six opponents.
Amazingly, the worst equity Mariano had in that run was when his 
outdrew the 
of Johnson.
Last year, Mariano took ninth in the 2015 Run It Up Reno $565 Main Event for $2,760. While winning world-renowned TV competitions may be his thing, Mariano's ability to "run it up" in Reno is quickly becoming a thing.
Also of note in the event, third-place finisher Peplinski was following up a seventh-place in the opening event.
That's all from the first day of Jason Somerville's 2016 Run It Up Reno. Two more events are on top for Wednesday — the $235 Survivor at 12 p.m. local time and the $125 Six-Max Four-Card Pot-Limit Omaha at 8 p.m. — and you can find coverage right here on PokerNews.com. Stay tuned.
Level 19
: 15,000/30,000, 5,000 ante
Rob Hamilton found an early double with aces after Rob Mariano flopped top pair with 
, but he found himself all in and dominated soon after with 
against Mariano's 
. The board ran out 
, and Mariano's rampage was complete.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
Busted |
Level 19
: 15,000/30,000, 5,000 ante
Another hand, another elimination courtesy of "Boston" Rob Mariano. This time, he got 
in there against the 
of Andy Peplinski, who is two-for-two on final tables today. His run ended in third this time when the sixes held up unimproved.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
1,170,000
245,000
|
245,000 |
|
|
250,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
Level 19
: 15,000/30,000, 5,000 ante
Briann Fletcher got her remaining 140,000 or so in with 
, but "Boston" Rob Mariano held 
. The kings held up easily as Mariano flopped a set, eliminating an opponent for the second straight hand.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
925,000
155,000
|
155,000 |
|
|
Busted |
Level 19
: 15,000/30,000, 5,000 ante
Rob Mariano splashed in about 200,000 from first position, and Emily Johnson called off 85,000 in the big blind.
Johnson:
Mariano:
Johnson failed to hold up with ace-high as the board ran out 
, giving Mariano a boat.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
770,000
90,000
|
90,000 |
|
|
Busted |
Level: 19
Blinds: 15,000/30,000
Ante: 5,000
Level 18
: 12,000/24,000, 4,000 ante
Emily Johnson raised to 50,000 and got called by both blinds. Everyone checked the 
flop and an made trips on board. Action checked to Johnson, who bet 60,000. Rob Mariano called in the small blind, and both players checked the 
river. Johnson showed 
but it was bested by the 
of Mariano.
Players are on break for 10 minutes.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
680,000
150,000
|
150,000 |
|
|
168,000
63,000
|
63,000 |
Level 18
: 12,000/24,000, 4,000 ante
Emily Johnson opened for a raise under the gun, and Briann Fletcher called off her 45,000 in the big blind.
"I've got two live cards," Fletcher said, showing 
.
Johnson, however, had 
, so Fletcher wasn't as live as she hoped. Nonetheless, she binked two pair on the river on a 
runout.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
122,000
-26,000
|
-26,000 |
|
|
105,000
-45,000
|
-45,000 |
Level 18
: 12,000/24,000, 4,000 ante
Kevin Barrett moved all in after it folded to his small blind, and Rob Mariano quickly called for about 90,000.
Barrett: 
Mariano: 
Barrett had live cards and each flopped a pair on but "Boston" Rob remained in front. The 
turn and river sealed it for Mariano with two pair.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
530,000
115,000
|
115,000 |
|
Busted |