2017 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino
Hollywood, Fla.
Event 7
$360 No Limit Hold’em Six-Max
Entries: 152
Prizepool: $45,600
March 22, 2017

Almedin Imsirovic has been traveling a lot lately. He’s been traveling all over playing live tournaments and was torn between heading across the Pacific to play in Macau or head east to South Florida.

Imsirovic chose to come down to South Florida and so far it looks like the right choice. The 22-year-old professional poker player won the $360 no limit hold’em six-max event in the early hours of Thursday morning. He bested a field of 152 entries to win $11,181.

“It feels great,” said Imsirovic after his win. “I’ve been traveling around playing poker a lot lately and I haven’t had any first places. So, it feels good to finally get one.”

He’s just 22, but Imsirovic picked up poker about six years ago. He cut his teeth playing online freerolls after an ankle injury put a halt to his basketball career.

“When I was like 16 or 15, I hurt my ankle really badly,” said Imsirovic. “I was really focusing a lot on basketball and then I needed a new hobby. I just bought some books and then got better.

“I was playing some freerolls online, but then there was Black Friday, so I couldn’t really play anymore. Then I played a few live tournaments and did really well at my nearby cardroom and just went from there.”

After the Vancouver, Washington native had a couple live scores under his belt, he found his way back online on a few of the U.S.-facing online poker sites.

He continued to cut his teeth on the virtual felt and grinded his way up the stakes in online cash games. Naturally, he gravitated towards the six-max version of the game online.

“I love six-max,” said Imsirovic. “I play a lot of online cash. It’s definitely my favorite by far.”

For most of Imsirovic’s life, he’s been in Washington state, but when he was a young child, his family fled Bosnia to have a better life for his family.

“I moved here when I was three,” said Imsirovic. “There was a war going on so we came here and I’ve been in Washington ever since.”

As far as his future plans, it’s more traveling for the young poker pro. With the win, he earned a seat into a freeroll with a $10,000 WPT Finale seat at stake. He’ll be here for that event, but after that, it’s all up in the air.

“I will definitely be here for about a week,” he said. “Then I might go to Vegas after. I’m unsure.”

Final Table Results:

1st: Almedin Imsirovic – $11,181
2nd: Sebastian Gallego – $7,570
3rd: Bob Tanner – $4,948
4th: Perry Shao – $3,954
5th: Sam Sayegh – $2,969
6th: Ricardo Eyzaguirre – $2,285

$360 No Limit Hold’em Six-Max
End of Level 23: 8,000/16,000 with a 2,000 ante
Players Remaining: 1 of 152

After a couple raises preflop, Sebastian Gallego moved all in preflop out of the big blind and Almedin Imsirovic called on the button. Imsorivic showed and was in the lead against Gallego’s .

The board ran out and Imsirovic wins the pot with a bigger full house. The dealer breaks down both stacks and Imsirovic has Gallego covered by just 3,000 chips.

Imsirovic wins the trophy, $11,181, a seat into the freeroll with a $10,000 WPT Finale seat at stake and the trophy. Gallego finished in second and earned $7,570 for his efforts.

A complete recap of the day’s action will be posted later tonight.

Almedin Imsirovic – $360 No Limit Hold’em Six-Max Champion
Sebastian Gallego – Eliminated

$360 No Limit Hold’em Six-Max
End of Level 23: 8,000/16,000 with a 2,000 ante
Players Remaining: 2 of 152

Bob Tanner moved all in on the button for about 55,000 and Almedin Imsirovic called out of the big blind. Imsirovic showed and needed a lot of help against Tanner’s .

“How do you have nines there?” asked Imsirovic with a laugh. “Nice hand.”

“It’s not over yet,” said Tanner.

Tanner must have had a premonition about the hand as the board ran out . Imsirovic rivered two pair to eliminate Tanner in third place.

Tanner picked up $4,948 for his third place finish and Imsirovic begins heads-up play about even in chips with Sebastian Gallego.

Almedin Imsirovic – 730,000 (45 bb)
Bob Tanner – Eliminated

$360 No Limit Hold’em Six-Max
End of Level 23: 8,000/16,000 with a 2,000 ante
Players Remaining: 3 of 152

Almedin Imsirovic gets all in preflop on the button for his last 325,000 against Bob Tanner in the small blind.

Tanner was in the lead with his and had Imsirovic’s in bad shape. The flop was , giving Imsirovic a pair of aces and the lead.

The turn was the , leaving Tanner with one out, and the river was the to give Tanner the double up and leaving Tanner with just a couple big blinds.

Almedin Imsirovic – 662,000 (41 bb)
Bob Tanner – 55,000 (3 bb)

$360 No Limit Hold’em Six-Max
End of Level 22: 6,000/12,000 with a 2,000 ante
Players Remaining: 3 of 152

The final three players are taking a 10-minute break and will come back to blinds of 8,000/16,000 with a 2,000 ante. Here is a look at the chip counts as they stand on the break:

Sebastian Gallego – 780,000
Bob Tanner – 360,000
Almedin Imsirovic – 330,000

$360 No Limit Hold’em Six-Max
Level 22: 6,000/12,000 with a 2,000 ante
Players Remaining: 3 of 152

Perry Shiao raised on the button and Sebastian Gallego defended his big blind.

The flop was and Gallego checked. Shiao bet and Gallego moved all in for about 230,000. Shiao quickly called. Shiao showed , good for ace-high, a straight draw, and a live over against Gallego’s , good for the same straight draw and a pair.

The turn was the and the river was the . Shiao hit the rail in fourth place to earn $3,954 and Gallego chipped up for the start of three-handed play.

Sebastian Gallego – 495,000 (41 bb)
Perry Shiao – Eliminated

$360 No Limit Hold’em Six-Max
Level 22: 6,000/12,000 with a 2,000 ante
Players Remaining: 4 of 152

Sebastian Gallego limped on the button and Sam Sayegh completed from the small blind. Almedin Imsirovic raised to 40,000 out of the big blind and is called by both Gallego and Sayegh.

All three players checked a flop of and the came on the turn. Sayegh led out for 55,000, Imsirovic called and Gallego folded.

The river was the and Sayegh checked. Imsirovic bet 25,000 and Sayegh moved all in for 110,000. Imsirovic snap-called. Sayegh showed and hit the rail in fifth place against Imsirovic’s .

Imsirovic wins the pot with aces full and extends his chip lead. Sayegh earned $2,969 for his final table appearance.

Almedin Imsirovic – 630,000 (52 bb)
Sam Sayegh – Eliminated

$360 No Limit Hold’em Six-Max
Level 21: 5,000/10,000 with a 1,000 ante
Players Remaining: 5 of 152

Bob Tanner limped in under the gun and Sam Sayegh moved all in on the button for 82,000. The blinds folded and Tanner called.

Tanner showed and needed help against Sayegh’s . The flop was , giving Sayegh the wheel and left Tanner drawing dead.

The turn was the and the river was the to secure Sayegh’s double up.

Sam Sayegh – 184,000 (18 bb)
Bob Tanner – 290,000 (29 bb)

$360 No Limit Hold’em Six-Max
Level 21: 5,000/10,000 with a 1,000 ante
Players Remaining: 5 of 152

Perry Shiao raised to 26,000 from middle position and Sebastian Gallego called from the small blind. Sam Sayegh called from the big blind and they are three-handed to a flop of .

Gallego checked and Sayegh bet 35,000. Shiao called and Gallego folded.

The turn was the and Sayegh bet 40,000. Shiao called. The river was the and both players checked. Shiao showed and won the pot against Sayegh’s .

Perry Shiao – 315,000 (31 bb)
Sam Sayegh – 75,000 (7 bb)

$360 No Limit Hold’em Six-Max
Level 20: 4,000/8,000 with a 1,000 ante
Players Remaining: 5 of 152

Bob Tanner raised under the gun and Almedin Imsirovic called on the button. Perry Shiao called out of the small blind and Ricardo Eyzaguirre moved all in for 62,000 out of the big blind. Tanner called and everybody else got out of the way.

Tanner showed and needed help against Eyzaguirre’s .

The flop was , giving Eyzaguirre the nut flush draw and putting him further into the lead. The turn was the , however, and Eyzaguirre would need a diamond or an ace on the river to double up and stay alive.

The river was the and Eyzaguirre was eliminated in sixth place for $2,285.

Bob Tanner – 295,000 (36 bb)
Ricardo Eyzaguirre – Eliminated