Seminole Hard Rock Lucky Hearts Poker Open
$1,650 Buy-In Eight Handed No Limit Hold’em (Freezeout)
January 25 – January 26, 2014
Total Entries: 68
Total Prize Pool: $102,000
> Download complete list of event results.
Recap:
The final table of eight from Event 6 returned to determine a champion at 3 p.m. this afternoon at the Seminole Hard Rock Lucky Hearts Poker Open, and despite the deep stacks that players held thanks to the blind structure it didn’t take too long to determine a champion. That was thanks in large part to the fact that the final three players decided to chop the prize pool shortly after reaching three-handed play. That chop made Zack Goodman the winner, and he took home the largest portion of the prize pool along with the Seminole Hard Rock guitar pick trophy.
Florida professional Victor Figueroa took second place and Sam Panzica was awarded third place in the agreement. The last player to bust out of the tournament due to an elimination was Michael Laake. He was forced to move all in on a short stack with 
in the hole against Panzica, who held pocket jacks. The board ran out 
and Laake was eliminated in fourth place to bring the field down to the final three.
All the players at the final table kept commenting about how deep the stacks were at the final table, and play was slow and measured to kick off the action as a result. “The tournament actually has a pretty good structure, which is one of the reasons I decided to play it. Everyone was deep, I think the average stack the entire tournament today was 40 bigs,” said Goodman about the blind structure. A notable elimination from the early going was Abbey Daniels, who exited the field in sixth place.
Goodman survived two all-ins during the early going at the final table, and that gave him the chips when it mattered the most when it was time to discuss a chop. Goodman now has an eye on the events coming up later this week, and ultimately the Lucky Hearts Poker Open Main Event. “I think they run a pretty good circuit, they have a great staff here and they run the tournament right. I will probably play the $350, and I will for sure play the $3,500,” said Goodman after the victory.
Final Table Results:
1st: Zack Goodman – $34,680
2nd: Victor Figueroa – $19,278
3rd: Sam Panzica – $13,311
4th: Michael Laake – $10,200
5th: Justin Swilling – $7,650
6th: Abbey Daniels – $5,712
7th: Michael Masella – $4,437
8th: Zoltan Czinkota – $3,570