Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open
Charity Series of Poker
$300 Big Stack Turbo No Limit Hold’em
August 27, 2014
Entries: 105
Total Prize Pool: $29,400
Prize Pool: $14,700
Charity: $14,700
Nick Yunis
RECAP
A total of 105 players ante’d up for today’s Charity Series of Poker event, where half of each player’s buy-in went to charity (Habitat For Humanity International and Habitat For Humanity of Broward), while the other half went to the prize pool. CSOP events are the brainchild of poker pro Matt Stout, who worked closely with Seminole Hard Rock Poker to raise awareness of the charity and provide the opportunity to give back to the community and the world by helping to provide affordable housing for those deserving and in need.
The participants created a prize pool of $14,700, with the top 9 finishers getting paid. The event drew celebrities such as NBA Champs and Miami Heat players Udonis Haslem and Norris Cole; Real Housewives of Miami stars Joanna Krupa and Karent Sierra; music sensations Nate Morris (Boyz II Men) and Ryan Cabrera, in addition to many poker professionals and enthusiasts.
Reality star Joanna Krupa made a nice showing by cashing in 9th place, as did local radio personality Andy Slater in 7th place. But when the dust settled after a fun-filled night, it was professional poker player Nick Yunis that ended up taking the grand prize. The poker professional Yunis’ biggest hand in the tournament was when he went head to head with fellow poker pro Chance Kornuth. They’ve had a lot of history lately and this final table was no different. Kornuth had been raising a lot, and Yunis decided to take a stand with KQ. The flop came all low cards, Kornuth fired out a bet and Yunis called. The turn brought an Ace and both players checked. The river brought another low card, and Kornuth fired out an overbet that was about twice the total pot. The bet was for a big portion of Yunis’ stack. Yunis smelled something fishy, however, and tanked for quite a while before making the correct call with King high. That pot gave him the momentum he needed to charge towards the end.
Yunis says that he loves charity events, and that this win probably confirms that he should be participating in more events like these. Yunis mentioned that since poker is usually such a self-centered and self-serving lifestyle, it is good to give back and play for something other than oneself.
Many of the players in tonight’s event were eating and drinking, having a good time in the name of charity. In addition to Yunis’ cash win of $4,997, he took home the customized guitar trophy, along with the added 5,300 entry into the $10 Million Guaranteed Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open Championship event. Second place finisher Mark Hoke (Las Vegas, NV) ended up with $2,925 in cash along with the added $5,000 LAPT Bahamas package, courtesy of PokerStars.net.
FINAL RESULTS
1. NICOLAS YUNIS (PALMETTO BAY, NV): $4,997
2. MARK HOKE (LAS VEGAS, NV): $2,925
3. DANIEL WEINMAN (ALPHARETTA, GA): $1,911
4. ZOLTAN CZINKOTA (DAVIE, FL): $1,397
5. DEBORAH MITCHELL (SUMMERFIELD, FL): $1,044
6. CHANCE KORNUTH (LAS VEGAS, NV): $809
7. ANDREW SLATER (MIAMI, FL): $647
8. JOSEPH GALLOWAY (SAINT CHARLES, MO): $529
9. JOANNA KRUPA (MIAMI, FL): $441