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The Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open Comes to a Close

With the conclusion of the 33rd event at the Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open, our series has come to an end. An amazing three weeks of poker here at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino saw incredible fields and prize pools that was highlighted by the $10 Million Guaranteed Main Event.Over 2,300 entrants meant that not only was the $10 Million Guarantee met, but it was crushed by almost $2 million. Some of the best poker players from around the world as well as South Florida’s grinders showed up for what ended up being one of the premiere stops in poker this year.

Blair Hinkle began the final table of the Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open $10M GTD Championship Event with the chip lead. With a World Series of Poker bracelet under his belt and seven figures in online earnings, Hinkle has shined on poker’s biggest stage before. Second in chips was Justin Bonomo, who has more than $6 million in tournament earnings to his name. It was little surprise that the two chipleaders would find themselves playing for the $1,745,245 first-place prize.

The final table began at a fast pace, as four players fell in the first 58 hands. What followed next was a 165-hand heads-up duel between Hinkle and Bonomo. With career tournament earnings of nearly $10 million between them, both top professionals gave it everything they had for nearly six hours before Hinkle emerged victorious, having fought back from several chip deficits.

On the final hand, with more than a 6-to-1 chip lead, Hinkle called Bonomo’s all-in raise after the turn. Bonomo held top pair with a queen-high straight draw, but was drawing dead against Hinkle’s king-high straight.

Congratulations again to Blair Hinkle, winner of the inaugural Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open Championship Event!

Thanks to all the players, staff and fans who made the Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open an unforgettable series.

Stay tuned to SeminoleHardRockPokerOpen.com and @SHRPO on Twitter for updates on all the exciting tournament poker action that will be coming your way in the future.

$10M GTD: Hands #53-57 – Break

Hand #53 – Justin Bonomo raises to 400,000 and wins the blinds and antes.

Hand #54 – Mukul Pahuja raises from the small blind to 500,000 and Bonomo calls from the big blind. The flop comes Ks Jc 6s and Pahuja fires 650,000. Bonomo mucks and Pahuja takes the pot.

Hand #55 – Bonomo limps from the small blind and Blair Hinkle checks his big blind. The flop comes Qd 4h 2s and Bonomo checks. Hinkle bets 300,000 and Bonomo mucks his hand.

Hand #56 – Bonomo raises to 400,000 from the button and Hinkle three-bets 1,300,000 from the small blind. Pahuja mucks his big blind and Bonomo quickly folds. Hinkle wins the pot.

Hand #57 – Hinkle raises to 500,000 from the button and Bonomo calls from the big blind. The flop comes Th 4s 3c and Bonomo checks. Hinkle fires 350,000 and Bonomo calls.

The turn is the 9d and Bonomo checks again. Hinkle checks behind and the river comes the 2s. Bonomo checks and Hinkle fires 925,000. Bonomo quickly folds and Hinkle wins the pot.

The players are now on a 15-minute break.

$10M GTD: Hands #46-50

Hand #46 – Blair Hinkle raises on the button and wins the blinds and antes.


Hand #47 – Hinkle raises from under the gun and wins the blinds and antes.


Hand #48 – Ray Qartomy moves all-in from under the gun for 2,425,000 and wins the blinds and antes.


Hand #49 – Justin Bonomo raises to 400,000 from the button and wins the blinds and antes.


Hand #50 – Hinkle raises from the button to 400,000 and wins the blinds and antes.

$10M GTD: Hands #41-45

Hand #41 – Mukul Pahuja raises from under the gun to 450,000 and Justin Bonomo three-bets to 1,125,000. Pahuja mucks and Bonomo takes the pot.


Hand #42 – Ray Qartomy raises from the small blind to 400,000 and Pahuja moves all-in from the big blind, having Qartomy covered.

Qartomy thinks for a few minutes before mucking his hand.


Hand #43 – Justin Bonomo gets a walk in his big blind.


Hand #44 – Mukul Pahuja raises from the button to 450,000 and wins the blinds and antes.


Hand #45 – Hinkle limps in from the small blind and Qartomy checks his option. The flop comes Th 2d 2s and both players check.

The turn is the Qc and Hinkle bets 200,000. Qartomy calls and the river is the 8s. Both players check and Hinkle show 10x-9x for a pair of tens.

Qartomy mucks and Hinkle wins the pot.

$10M GTD: Hands #36-40

Hand #36 – Justin Bonomo raises to 600,000 from the small blind and wins the blinds and antes.


Hand #37 – Blair Hinkle raises to 550,000 from the small blind and Ray Qartomy calls from the big blind. The flop comes Kh Jd 8d and Hinkle checks. Qartomy bets out 500,000 and Hinkle calls.

The turn is the Jh and Hinkle checks again. Qartomy fires 500,000 and Hinkle comes along.

The river is the Ks and Hinkle checks a third time. Qartomy slides out 1,500,000 in chips and Hinkle moves all-in, having Qartomy covered.

Qartomy mucks his hand and Hinkle takes the pot.


Hand #38 – Bonomo raises to 400,000 from the under the gun and Hinkle calls from the button. The flop comes Ad Tc Th and Bonomo leads out for 600,000. Hinkle raises to 1,400,000 total and Bonomo calls.

The turn comes the 5h and both players check. The river is the 3s and both players check again. Bonomo turns over As 9h for two pair. Hinkle mucks and Bonomo takes the pot.


Hand #39 – Ray Qartomy raises to 400,000 from the button and Bonomo calls from the big blind. The flop comes 9d 9s 4h and both players check.

The turn is the 7c and both players check again. The river comes the Js and Bonomo checks. Qartomy checks behind and turns over Qd 8d. Bonomo shows 10x-3x and mucks his hand. Qartomy takes the pot.


Hand #40 – Qartomy raises from under the gun to 400,000 and Blair Hinkle three-bets from the big blind to 850,000 total. Qartomy calls and the flop comes Qc 9c 7c.

Hinkle leads out for 1,000,000 and Qartomy quickly mucks his hand.

Seat 2. Justin Bonomo  – 28,175,000 (140 bb)
Seat 3. Blair Hinkle  – 31,500,000 (157 bb)
Seat 5. Ray Qartomy  – 3,675,000 (18 bb)
Seat 6. Mukul Pahuja  – 8,075,000 (40 bb)