2020 Lucky Hearts Poker Open
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Hollywood, Florida
Event 2
$400 Limit Omaha 8 (Re-Entry)
$25,000 Guaranteed
Entries:  88
Prize Pool:  $29,920
January 9, 2020

David Shmuel is a regular here at Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood, and he has the hardware to show for it, with a SHRPO trophy and two RRPO trophies in the last couple of years. On Thursday night, Shmuel won Event 2 ($400 Limit Omaha 8) in a heads-up chop with Yuval Bronshtein to claim the first trophy of the 2020 Lucky Hearts Poker Open.

“It always feels great to win another trophy,” said Shmuel after his victory. “I’ve been very, very dry lately in mixed games. Doing alright in hold’em, but in mixed games, the last year was not so good.”

With three players remaining, Claudangelo Beaudouin got it all in on the river with three fives on the board, and he was holding pocket tens for the top full house. Only one card could beat him, and unfortunately for him, Bronshtein had the remaining five to win the pot with quads. Beaudouin finished third, and heads-up play was set to begin with Shmuel holding about 40% more chips than Bronshtein (615K vs. 440K).

At that point, the final two players agreed to chop the remaining prizepool evenly, and as chipleader, Shmuel was declared the winner, receiving the title and the trophy.

“It was a very tough field,” said Shmuel, “and Yuval is an amazing player. I saw him playing before, and I think he is one of the specialists in this game.”

Shmuel has been coming to Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood since it opened, and before that he was going to the original Seminole casino located across the street. The first game Shmuel played in that original casino 25 years ago? Omaha 8.

When asked why he keeps coming back, Shmuel said, “The atmosphere here is great, and the people here are very professional. I like it here. This is the only place I am playing poker.”

Final Results:

1st:  David Shmuel  –  $7,742* + LHPO Trophy
2nd:  Yuval Bronshtein  –  $7,741*
3rd:  Claudangelo Beaudouin  –  $3,628
4th:  Peter Dirksen  –  $2,453
5th:  Bob Mangino  –  $1,870
6th:  Chuck Jacoby  –  $1,496
7th:  Bryce Fox  –  $1,242
8th:  Lazaro Rodriguez  –  $1,047
9th:  Ricardo Quintero  –  $965
10th:  Michael Marx  –  $898
11th:  George Fountoulakis  –  $838

* Indicates a heads-up chop.