The 2015 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Player of the Year competition kicked off its second year starting with the CoCo Poker Open, which took place September 25 – October 6, 2014 at Seminole Casino Coconut Creek.
The Player of the Year race incorporates Seminole Hard Rock Poker tournament events during these major series:
- Coco Open at Seminole Casino Coconut Creek
- Seminole Hard Rock “Rock ‘N’ Roll Poker Open” (November 13–December 3, 2014) at Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood
- Seminole Hard Rock Lucky Hearts Poker Open (January 22-February 11, 2015) at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood
- Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown (April 2-April 22, 2015) at the Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood
- Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open (August 2015) at the Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood
Angel Vu from Daytona Beach, won the 2014 Seminole Hard Rock Player of the Year title. Vu only started playing tournament poker seriously earlier this year. She came to the United States from Vietnam in 2006, knowing very little English and even less about poker. After four years of working six days a week at a nail salon for minimum wage, Vu was introduced to poker and wanted to learn the game well enough to deal it. She started as a chip runner in Daytona Beach and eventually became a dealer, all while playing the game recreationally. “I feel like I’m living the American dream,” said Vu during the 2014 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open.
Players earn base points for participating in any event during a qualifying tournament series and earn bonus points based on cashing and place finished, buy-in amount and total number of entries. Points will be tracked online at hardrockpoker.com/2015-shrp-player-of-the-year-standings. The POY winner will receive a prize package valued at over $35,800 that features entries and casino-based incentives for Seminole Hard Rock Poker’s most prestigious poker events throughout the following year including:
- $2,500 entry into Coco Poker Open Championship
- $3,500 entry into Seminole Hard Rock “Rock ‘N’ Roll Poker Open” Championship
- $3,500 entry into Seminole Hard Rock Lucky Hearts Poker Open Championship
- $3,500 entry into Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Championship
- $5,300 entry into Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open Championship
- $2,500 entry into a Seminole Hard Rock Championship even
- $10,000 cash for entry into Main Event
- $3,000 cash
- $2,000 in benefits for hotel accommodations and dining
While there can only be one Player of the Year winner, Seminole Hard Rock Poker is making sure to take care of other players competing in the Player of the Year race. All 2015 Player of the Year prize packages are even more lucrative that last year. The second-place finisher will win two championship entries including a $3,500 entry into any Seminole Hard Rock Championship event and a $5,300 entry into the Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open, plus $1,200 in room and dining credits. Third through fifth place finishers earn a $5,300 championship entry into the Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open.