2017 Seminole Hard Rock Lucky Hearts Poker Open 
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino 
Hollywood, FL 
Event 11
$300 Omaha Hi-Lo
Entries: 73 
Prizepool: $18,615
January 23, 2017 

Ronnie Morone earned his first career Hard Rock trophy on Monday night in the $300 Omaha Hi-Lo event. Morone topped a field of 73 players to win $5,584, but the win was sweeter for him because of who he had to beat to win.

Phillip Hui was the man that stood between Morone and a title. Hui won the $3,000 Omaha Hi-Lo event at the 2014 World Series of Poker and is a fixture in the high-stakes mixed events. Morone and Hui started off the heads-up battle dead-even in chips, but it was Morone who ended up victorious.

“It feels real good,” said Morone of the win. “Especially going against Phil heads-up. It’s pretty cool to beat him because he is an Omaha eight [or][better] wizard, you know?”

Morone doesn’t have the same type of resume that a seasoned professional like Hui has, but Morone has cashes dating all the way back to 2007 in mixed games on both coasts.

“I don’t get to play as much as Phil does, but I used to deal, so I know Phil from around the way and on the Circuit,” said Morone about his relationship with Hui. “It’s pretty special to beat him though because he just won an O8 ring, like what? Two years ago?”

Hui was the proverbial end boss that Morone had to get through, but the final table had plenty of other poker talent that didn’t make it easy on Morone. David Prociak was looking for his second title of the series, Jordan Chizick has won this event in an earlier series, and Robert Campbell made his second straight Omaha Hi-Lo final table after making this final table at the Rock n’ Roll Poker Open last November.

Morone wasn’t intimidated by the talent surrounding him and played solid poker en route to the victory. When asked about his play, he was humble in his response.

“I’m confident in my play,” said Morone. “But it was all in the cards for me. I got the hands and they were holding up, especially heads-up.”

Morone used to travel the tournament Circuit dealing, but has moved down to the South Florida area and continued his dealing career in the Sunshine State.

He’s continued dealing, but Monday’s performance shows he has plenty of skills on the other side of the table as well.

Here is a look at the results:

1st: Ronnie Morone – $5,584
2nd: Phillip Hui – $3,909
3rd: Leonard Germain – $2,513
4th: Jordan Chizick – $1,862
5th: David Prociak – $1,396
6th: Hoyt Verner – $1,117
7th: Robert Campbell – $931
8th: Lazaro Rodriguez – $745
9th: Al Green – $558

$300 Omaha Hi-Lo
Level 20: 10,000/20,000 Blinds, 20,000/40,000 Limits
Players Remaining: 1 of 73

Ronnie Morone limps in on the button and Phillip Hui raises out of the big blind. Morone announces a raise and Hui calls, all in about 50,000 which is less than a full raise.

Hui shows and is up against Morone’s .

The flop is , giving Hui trip sevens, but Morone has outs with a flush draw. The turn is the , keeping Hui in the lead, but the river is the and Morone makes his flush to eliminate Hui in second place.

Hui earns $3,909 for his runner-up finish, while Morone wins his first Hard Rock trophy and $5,584. A complete recap of the day’s action will be posted later tonight.

Ronnie Morone – $300 Omaha Hi-Lo Champion
Phillip Hui – Eliminated

$300 Omaha Hi-Lo
Level 19: 5,000/15,000 Blinds, 15,000/30,000 Limits
Players Remaining: 2 of 73

Ronnie Morone limps in on the button and Phillip Hui raises out of the big blind. Morone calls and the flop is .

Hui bets and Morone calls. The turn is the . Hui bets and Morone calls. The river is the and Hui checks. Morone bets, Hui lets out a sigh and then tosses his hand into the muck.

Morone drags the pot and opens up a sizable chip lead.

Ronnie Morone – 590,000
Phillip Hui – 140,000

$300 Omaha Hi-Lo
Level 19: 5,000/15,000 Blinds, 15,000/30,000 Limits
Players Remaining: 2 of 73

Heads-up play between Ronnie Morone and Phillip Hui starts out dead-even in chips.

Hui and Morone both have 365,000 on the nose, giving him each about 12 big bets.

$300 Omaha Hi-Lo
Level 19: 5,000/15,000 Blinds, 15,000/30,000 Limits
Players Remaining: 2 of 73

After getting scooped in a big pot by Ronnie Morone, Leonard Germain was down to just 25,000.

Morone limps in on the button, Germain moves all in for 25,000 out of the small blind, Phillip Hui calls from the big blind, and Morone calls as well.

Hui and Morone check it to the river as the board runs out . Hui checks and Morone bets. Hui folds.

Morone shows , giving him a flush and he scoops the pot. Germain is eliminated in third place and takes home $2,513 for his deep run in South Florida.

Morone and Hui will battle it out for the $5,584 first place money and the trophy.

Ronnie Morone – 365,000
Leonard Germain – Eliminated 

$300 Omaha Hi-Lo
Level 19: 5,000/15,000 Blinds, 15,000/30,000 Limits
Players Remaining: 3 of 73

Here is a look at current chip counts for the final three players:

Phillip Hui – 430,000
Ronnie Morone – 180,000
Leonard Germain – 130,000

$300 Omaha Hi-Lo
Level 19: 5,000/15,000 Blinds, 15,000/30,000 Limits
Players Remaining: 3 of 73

Phillip Hui completes the small blind and Jordan Chizick checks his option in the big blind.

The flop is and Hui bets. Chizick raises, Hui makes it three-bets and Chizick gets all in for about 50,000. Hui calls.

“You got the king?” asks Chizick, tabling .

Hui shows and has a bigger full house.

“I’m drawing dead,” says Chizick. “Give me my money.”

The turn is the and the river is the to officially eliminate Chizick and secure the pot for Hui. Chizick falls just shy of another Hard Rock Trophy and takes home $1,862 for his fourth place finish.

Phillip Hui – 370,000
Jordan Chizick – Eliminated 

$300 Omaha Hi-Lo
Level 18: 5,000/10,000 Blinds, 10,000/20,000 Limits
Players Remaining: 4 of 73

David Prociak was eliminated in fifth place for $1,396. The final four players are all guaranteed at least $1,862.

David Prociak – Eliminated 

$300 Omaha Hi-Lo
Level 18: 5,000/10,000 Blinds, 10,000/20,000 Limits
Players Remaining: 5 of 73

On a flop of , Leonard Germain checks from the small blind and Phillip Hui bets from the big blind. Hoyt Verner called from the cutoff and Germain check-raises. Hui makes it three bets, Verner calls and is all in for less. Germain calls as well and there is already a side pot  brewing between Germain and Hui.

The turn is the and Germain checks. Hui bets and Germain calls. The turn is the and and Germain checks. Hui bets and Hui calls.

Hui shows , good for the second nut low and the nut flush. Germain shows his hand briefly and then mucks it. Verner shows and is eliminated in sixth place. He takes home $1,396.

Phillip Hui – 270,000
Leonard Germain – 180,000
Hoyt Verner – Eliminated 

$300 Omaha Hi-Lo
Level 18: 5,000/10,000 Blinds, 10,000/20,000 Limits
Players Remaining: 6 of 73

When the final table started, Robert Campbell had just a little more than one big bet. He survived the money bubble and ran his stack up to almost 100,000 before being eliminated in 7th place.

He takes home $931 and the final six players are all guaranteed a four-figure payday.

Robert Campbell – Eliminated