2018 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino 
Hollywood, Florida
Event 22
$1,100 No-Limit Hold’em Turbo
Entries: 93
Prize Pool: $93,000
April 17, 2018

Joseph Cheong busted just a few spots shy of the $3,500 WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown main event on Tuesday afternoon. Despite the heart break of finishing in 11th place and missing out on a six-figure score, Cheong rebounded for a title int he final event of the series.

The high-stakes tournament pro, most famous for his third place finish in the 2010 World Series of Poker Main Event, defeated 93 entries in the $1,100 no-limit hold’em turbo event. He took home $29,503 and his first hard rock trophy.

“It’s great. I got like one extra pay jump by winning this tournament,” said Cheong in jest, referencing a missed pay jump in the main event. “I got a trophy, but I’m kind of disappointed that it’s not guitar shaped.”

Cheong puts in some of the most volume of anybody you could find. Throughout the final table, he was discussing his upcoming travel plans with the other players at the table. He plans on hitting multiple tournaments going up the east coast.

When asked if there was anybody who loves it more, Cheong immediately had one name in mind.

“Ari. Ari Engel,” said Cheong. “But he doesn’t drink, so he’s not as fun as me.”

Just like every other higher buy-in postlim event at the series, the final table was filled with laughs, good times and a few adult beverages.

“It was a good time,” Cheong simply put it.

With 93 entries in the field, the top 12 finishers left with extra money in their pocket. Cheong defeated Jose Reyes heads-up. Here are a look at the results:

1st: Joseph Cheong – $29,503
2nd: Jose Reyes – $17,670
3rd: Brian Green – $11,160
4th: Joseph Elpayaa – $7,208
5th: Brian Powell – $5,580
6th: Michael Kopjanski – $4,418
7th: Jeff Rodriguez – $3,720
8th: Dylan Wilkerson – $3,255
9th: Steven Bennett – $2,951
10th: Evan Teitelbaum – $2,697
11th: Scott Clements – $2,511
12th: Ari Engel – $2,327