2017 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino
Hollywood, FL
$300 Turbo No Limit Hold’em
Entries: 133
Prize Pool: $33,915
April 5, 2017

It was an anniversary of sorts on Wednesday for Ty Akbasli. Four years ago to the day, Akbasli won a tournament at the Hard Rock. On the four-year anniversary of his win, he came back to the Hard Rock to win another tournament.

Akbasli defeated a field of 133 entrants to take home $9,582 and a title in the $300 turbo no limit hold’em.

“I woke up this morning and I’m checking my Facebook and it said four years ago on this exact day, I won a tournament here at the Hard Rock,” said Akbasli. “I think it was a bounty and that was awesome.

“That got me riled up to play today, so I just hopped in the car and saw there was a tournament running and I got lucky again.”

Akbasli had to work hard for the title in the final preliminary event of the series. After coming into the final table in the middle of the pack, he found himself heads-up against Sean Perry with a huge chip deficit to overcome.

“I basically just waited it out,” said Akbasli. “I had a few favorable spots, nothing major. Just grinded it and then ended up coming in with a five-to-one chip deficit against a young hot shot guy that said he was 98% to win it. That gave me more motivatoin to show him what we do.”

What Akbasli did was deny Perry his second title of the series. Perry, who is only 20-years-old, had a monster series in South Florida. He had five cashes throughout the series, with two runner-up finishes and a win in the $570 no limit hold’em.

Akbasli and Perry were engaging in some back-and-forth banter heads-up, but Akbasli said that the minor trash talk was all in good spirits.

“It was all in good fun,” said Akbasli. “He was a big talker and had been talking the whole tournament. I told him with four tables to go that I was going to bust him and then somehow I ended up heads-up with him.”

Akbasli’s second Hard Rock trophy won’t be going far. Akbasli is a recreational player who lives in the area. He owns an internet marketing company, which allows him the freedom to get down to the poker room and put in some hours on the felt when he can.

The turbo format was appealing for Akbasli’s business life. It enabled him to come in and play for some good money without having to commit multiple days to the tournament.

“It’s very efficient,” said Akbasli. “I don’t want to sit around for two or three days. It’s good to just get one in and be able to finish in one day and get back to business afterwards.

After growing up in the Washington DC area, he moved down to South Florida five years ago. He’s been “loving life” ever since.

“I play poker for fun,” said Akbasli. “I play a lot, but I only play for fun. I’m not a pro or anything. I just wanted to get one for the good guys.”

Results:

1st: Ty Akbasli – $9,582
2nd: Sean Perry – $6,026
3rd: Andrey Plotnikov – $3,595
4th: Justin Conley – $2,204
5th: Dreyson Parker – $1,679
6th: Richard Katz – $1,424
7th: David Zemel – $1,238
8th: Seth Gilson – $1,085
9th: Ory Hen – $958
10th: Norman Zapcynski – $848
11th: Patrick Heneghan – $848
12th: Spencer Champlin – $848
13th: Adam Goldberg – $746
14th: Nicholas Baurichter – $746
15th: Ronald Magers – $746
16th: Angelo Castaldi – $653
17th: Ryan Dunn – $653

$300 Big Stack Turbo No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Level 20: 5,000/10,000 with a 1,000 ante
Players Remaining: 9 of 133

There was a knockout simultaneously on both of the two remaining tables in the last turbo event of the series to leave the field with its final nine players.

They have redrawn for seats at the final table and here is a look at the seating arrangement and chip counts for the final table players:

Seat 1: Richard Katz – 78,500
Seat 2: Sean Perry – 90,000
Seat 3: Seth Gilson – 93,500
Seat 4: David Zemel – 140,500
Seat 5: Andrey Plotnikov – 521,500
Seat 6: Dreyson Puridero – 467,000
Seat 7: Justin Conley – 368,000
Seat 8: Ory Hen – 49,500
Seat 9: Ty Akbasli – 186,500

Here are the remaining payouts:

1st: $9,582
2nd: $6,062
3rd: $3,595
4th: $2,204
5th: $1,679
6th: $1,424
7th: $1,238
8th: $1,085
9th: $958

$300 Big Stack Turbo No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Level 16: 2,000/4,000 with a 500 Ante
Players Remaining: 30 of 133

Registration is closed in today’s 12pm $300 Big Stack Turbo, the final open event of the 2017 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown. In all, the field topped out at 133 entries generating a $33,915 prize pool. The top 17 players finish in the money with a min-cash worth $653. Payouts escalate from there and top out in the form of a $9,582 first prize.

Full prize pool info:

1st – $9,582
2nd – $6,062
3rd – $3,595
4th – $2,204
5th – $1,679
6th – $1,424
7th – $1,238
8th – $1,085
9th – $958
10th-12th – $848
13th-15th – $746
16th-17th – $653

The clock currently shows 30 players remaining toward the middle of Level 16. Among those still in are Seminole Hard Rock Poker team member Matt Affleck and Ryan Dunn.

With 15-mintue levels, play is expected to continue moving along at a good clip. We will provide another update when they reach the 10-handed final table.

$300 Big Stack Turbo No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Level 1: 25/50

Wednesday afternoon presents the last open tournament on the 2017 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown schedule. Event 30 is a quick, $300 Big Stack Turbo tournament with a $25,000 guaranteed prize pool. A nice series closing event as the WPT events unwind.

Each entrant will sit down to 15,000 starting stacks and play 15-minutes levels all day long. Late registration is available until the start of Level 15 at 4pm with unlimited re-entries throughout. The tournament is scheduled to play out in one day and we will crown one of our last champions later this evening.

The tournament starts at noon and we’ll supply occasional highlights during their run.

• $25,000 Guaranteed Prize Pool
• Players begin with 15,000 in chips and 15-minute levels
• Late registration/re-entry available until start of Level 15
• This is a one-day tournament and plays until completion
• Event 30 Structure Sheet

Main Event Schedule

12PM: Final Table – $3,500 WPT Showdown Championship

• Championship Final Table Chip Counts and Seats
• Championship Payouts

12PM: Event 28 Day 2 – $25,500 High Roller No Limit Hold’em

• High Roller Chip Counts
• High Roller Table/Seat Assignments
• High Roller Payouts

12PM: Event 30 – $300 Big Stack Turbo NLH (Re-Entry)

• $25,000 Guaranteed Prize Pool
• Players begin with 15,000 in chips and 15-minute levels
• Late registration/re-entry available until start of Level 15
• This is a one-day tournament and plays until completion
• Event 30 Structure Sheet

2PM: Event 26 Day 12 – $150 No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)

• Event 26 Day 2 Chip Counts
• Event 26 Day 2 Table/Seat Assignments
• Event 26 Payouts

2PM: Event 29 Day 1 – $2,200 Deep Stack PLO (Re-Entry)

• Event 29 Day 2 Chip Counts and Seats
• Event 29 Payouts

Secondary and Satellite Schedule

3PM: Event 100 – $200 Turbo No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)

• Players begin with 10,000 in chips and 15-minute levels
• Late registration/re-entry available until start of Level 9
• This is a one-day tournament and plays until completion
• Event 100 Structure Sheet

6PM: Event 101 – $130 Survivor No Limit Hold’em (1-in-10)

• 1-in-10 players will win $1,000 cash
• Players begin with 10,000 in chips and 15-minute levels
• Late registration/re-entry available until start of Level 9
• This is a one-day tournament and plays until completion
• Event 101 Structure Sheet

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Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood Property Update

Preparations are underway for the development of an iconic hotel tower and resort:

• Parking – Poker players are encouraged to park in Winner’s Way Garage to access both the Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown tournament space and The Poker Room

• The Poker Room – Players may access the poker room by entering through the main lobby or via the exterior entrance on the opposite end of Winner’s Way Garage.

• Inside hotel – Services and amenities inside the hotel will remain open along with regularly scheduled events and entertainment.

For additional construction updates, please visit TheNewHardRock.com