2022 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Hollywood, Florida
Event 5
$600 Limit Omaha 8 (Re-Entry)
Entries:  109
Prize Pool:  $57,225
July 28, 2022

“I’ve been playing Omaha hi-lo since I was a kid,” said Aaron Kupin. “It’s one of my favorite games.”

So it’s fitting that Kupin won his first poker trophy at his home casino (Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood) in Event 5, $600 Limit Omaha 8.

“I used to live near Seminole Coconut Creek,” said Kupin, “and they always had this $110 Omaha-8 tournament on Wednesdays. I would go and play and I was the youngest person there, usually by about 40 years.”

Kupin began this final table with a massive chip lead — he had about 39% of all the chips in play with nine players left. His stack didn’t change much as the next five players were knocked out, but Kupin still held onto the lead with four players left.

“I had one big hand against Donny [Rubinstein],” said Kupin, “where he three-bet aces in the big blind and I just flopped and turned the world. I feel like that was the pivotal hand, and I just ran away with it from there.”

Kupin went on to eliminate Rubinstein in third place, and began heads-up play with a 2.6-to-1 lead over eventual runner-up Matthew Wolfson. But Wolfson couldn’t pick up any momentum, and 10 minutes later, the tournament ended when Kupin spiked a king on the river to win the final hand with two pair.

“I’ve definitely wanted a trophy for a while,” said Kupin. “I was a runner-up once, so I came close. Every series I play the majority of tournaments, and I’ve been hunting for one for a while. Not to sound arrogant, but I knew it was coming. I’m just happy; I feel blessed.”

Poker isn’t the only thing going well for Kupin at the moment.

“I appreciate everything going on in my life right now,” said Kupin. “I feel comfortable with my friends, my relationship, my hobbies. Everything’s going great.”

Final Results: