2018 Lucky Hearts Poker Open
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino 
Hollywood, Florida
$3,500 WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open Championship
$2,000,000 Guarantee
Entries: 911
Prize Pool: $2,915,200
January 19-24, 2018

The two-week 2018 Lucky Hearts Poker Open closed out the series at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino with the $2 Million guaranteed World Poker Tour Championship and a final table played out in front of live stream cameras. After a long heads-up battle, Darryll Fish defeated Aleksandr Shevelev to capture his first career WPT title for more than $500,000.

The win moved Fish, a Florida local, over $3,730,000 in career earnings. Impressively, it marked his third final table appearance and fourth cash in the property’s last five majors. He previously finished runner-up in the 2017 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Championship for $453,185, 33rd in the World Series of Poker Circuit Main Event for $6,034, third in last November’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Poker Open Championship for $168,920 and, of course, first in yesterday’s LHPO Championship for $511,604. In all, he’s earned $1,139,743 at the Seminole Hard Rock dating back to April of 2017.

The $3,500 buy-in LHPO Championship had two starting flights and drew 911 entries to nearly hit a $3,000,000 prize pool. The last 114 players earned a piece of that money but first, they needed to survive the first flight.

Of those 911 starters, there were still 343 players around for Day 2 including chip leader Joey Couden, three-time WSOP bracelet winner Vanessa Selbst, 2017 RRPO Champ Michael Newman, and three-time WPT Champion Darren Elias.

Day 2 played down into the money after the dinner break and it ended after a strong run from Ben Yu. The two-time WSOP winner was down to 80,000 in the last level of the day but ran it up over 1.3 million in 60 minutes.

That run was good enough for the Day 3 chip lead and it carried Yu to a 16th place finish. The Championship reached the final table six and Shevelev brought his lead over to the last day. Ness Reilly booked her seat at a live-streamed final table for the second time in a week; her first occurred during the opening WPTDeepStacks event.

The final table action was fast at the beginning with Alan Krockey and Brett Bader going out in the first level followed shortly by Reilly. WPT Champions Club member Andy Frankenberger began the final table with the shortest stack but battled back, including three double-ups, but had to exit in third place.

The heads-up match had Shevelev holding the lead over Fish but the advantage switched soon after the match kicked off. They continued to trade the lead over 122 hands before the match was settled.

Schevelev earned $331,116 for his runner-up finish while Fish banked $511,604 inclusive of a $15,000 seat into the season-ending WPT Tournament of Champions. After winning titles around the world, Fish can now call himself a World Poker Tour champion.

“It’s a relief. I’ve said before that I don’t play for the title but it doesn’t mean I don’t want one and doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate it.” Fish said about his WPT title run. “It’s been a lot of years playing the WPT so it feels really really good.”

Fish spends a lot of time playing at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood and considers it his home.

“It feels like home. Every poker player has their home casino and the one they feel most comfortable playing in.” Fish said. “From the chips to the tables to the dealers, everything kind of adds to that to make it feel more comfortable. It felt like the natural progression to winning one here.”

“I’ve played poker here since I was 18 years old. (Tournament Director) Tony Burns is a long time friend of mine,” he continued. “For him to get a job here and me to win a tournament, just feels like it came full circle. For it to happen here more than anywhere is extra special for sure.”

Congratulations to Darryll on a great run and his first WPT title.

Final table results:

1st: Darryll Fish – $511,604 *
2nd: Aleksandr Shevelev – $331,116
3rd: Andy Frankenberger – $244,342
4th: Ness Reilly – $182,249
5th: Brett Bader – $137,440
6th: Alan Krockey – $104,784
* – Includes WPT Tournament of Champions seat

• Download: Final Results (PDF)

$3,500 WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open Championship
$2,000,000 Guaranteed | Live Stream | Payouts
Level 35: 150,000/300,000 with a 50,000 ante
Players Remaining: 2 of 911

Darryll Fish and Aleksandr Shevelev are taking a 10-minute break from the table. They will return with elevated blinds and Fish holding a big lead.

Darryll Fish – 21,150,000 (71 bb)
Aleksandr Shevelev – 6,175,000 (21 bb)

$3,500 WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open Championship
$2,000,000 Guaranteed | Live Stream | Payouts
Level 31: 60,000/120,000 with a 20,000 ante
Players Remaining: 2 of 911

After a short break to set up the table, the Championship heads up match is underway with Aleksandr Shevelev holding the lead.

Seat 2: Darryll Fish – 11,440,000 (95 bb)
Seat 4: Aleksandr Shevelev – 15,875,000 (132 bb)

$3,500 WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open Championship
$2,000,000 Guaranteed | Live Stream | Payouts
Level 30: 50,000/100,000 with a 15,000 ante
Players Remaining: 4 of 911

Players are on a 15-minute break with four players remaining and Aleksandr Shevelev holding a big lead. Tournament staff introduced the 500,000 plaques into play and they will be back underway shortly.

Seat 1: — Empty —
Seat 2: Darryll Fish – 6,175,000 (62 bb)
Seat 3: — Empty —
Seat 4: Aleksandr Shevelev – 12,950,000 (130 bb)
Seat 5: Andy Frankenberger – 1,050,000 (11 bb)
Seat 6: Ness Reilly – 7,140,000 (71 bb)

$3,500 WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open Championship
$2,000,000 Guaranteed | Live Stream | Payouts
Level 28: 30,000/60,000 with a 10,000 ante
Players Remaining: 6 of 911

After player introductions and instructions, cards are in the air for the 2018 WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open Championship final table.

Seat 1: Brett Bader – 3,160,000 (53 bb)
Seat 2: Darryll Fish – 5,920,000 (99 bb)
Seat 3: Alan Krockey – 2,810,000 (47 bb)
Seat 4: Aleksandr Shevelev – 6,960,000 (116 bb)
Seat 5: Andy Frankenberger – 2,170,000 (36 bb)
Seat 6: Ness Reilly – 6,295,000 (105 bb)

Chip counts:

1. Aleksandr Shevelev – 6,960,000 (116 bb)
2. Ness Reilly – 6,295,000 (105 bb)
3. Darryll Fish – 5,920,000 (99 bb)
4. Brett Bader – 3,160,000 (53 bb)
5. Alan Krockey – 2,810,000 (47 bb)
6. Andy Frankenberger – 2,170,000 (36 bb)

Remaining payouts:

1st: $511,604 *
2nd: $331,116
3rd: $244,342
4th: $182,249
5th: $137,440
6th: $104,784
* – Winner receives seat into WPT Tournament of Champions

$3,500 WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open Championship
$2,000,000 Guaranteed | Live Stream | Payouts
Level 28: 30,000/60,000 with a 10,000 ante
Players Remaining: 6 of 911

Only six players remain. Six out of the starting 911 entries have a chance to win the WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open Championship sometime during this final day.

Aleksandr Shevelev returns to the final table with the chip lead followed by Ness Reilly making her second live-streamed final table in a week. Darryll Fish is making his second consecutive Championship final table and will return in the third position.

SHRP regular Brett Bader, Alan Krockey, and WPT Champions Club member Andy Frankenberger round out the final table lineup. It is still anyone’s game.

Cards go back in the air at noon and the WPT live-stream cameras will broadcast all the action on a 30-minute delay with hole cards.

Seat 1: Brett Bader – 3,160,000 (53 bb)
Seat 2: Darryll Fish – 5,920,000 (99 bb)
Seat 3: Alan Krockey – 2,810,000 (47 bb)
Seat 4: Aleksandr Shevelev – 6,960,000 (116 bb)
Seat 5: Andy Frankenberger – 2,170,000 (36 bb)
Seat 6: Ness Reilly – 6,295,000 (105 bb)

Chip counts:

1. Aleksandr Shevelev – 6,960,000 (116 bb)
2. Ness Reilly – 6,295,000 (105 bb)
3. Darryll Fish – 5,920,000 (99 bb)
4. Brett Bader – 3,160,000 (53 bb)
5. Alan Krockey – 2,810,000 (47 bb)
6. Andy Frankenberger – 2,170,000 (36 bb)

Remaining payouts:

1st: $511,604 *
2nd: $331,116
3rd: $244,342
4th: $182,249
5th: $137,440
6th: $104,784
* – Winner receives seat into WPT Tournament of Champions

The WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open series is set to wrap up today and we will award our Championship trophy later this evening.

The spotlight event drew 911 entries but only six players remain. They will play it out today in front of the WPT live-streamed cameras and the final table has plenty of talent.

They have combined for nearly $7.5 million in career earnings with Darryll Fish and Andy Frankenberger the two most experienced players. Aleksandr Shevelev is the least experienced but he will enjoy the chip lead to start. Ness Reilly is making her second big final table of the series with SHRP champ Brett Bader and Alan Krockey rounding out the final table six.

Seat 1: Brett Bader
Chip Count – 3,160,000

A regular face in SHRP games, Bader has more than $600,000 in career earnings including two WSOP Circuit wins. He won a 2013 SHRPO Deep Stack event and finished fourth in the opening event of the 2014 SHRPO series for nearly $80,000.

Seat 2: Darryll Fish
Chip Count – 5,920,000

“Fish” is becoming a regular member major SHRP Championship final tables. This is his second straight SHRP Championship final table and third in the last four series. He has $3.2 million in career earnings, a WSOP Circuit Main Event ring, and he won the Aussie Millions Tournament of Champions in 2016.

Seat 3: Alan Krockey
Chip Count – 2,810,000

From Chicago, Krockey is our elder statesman at the final table. He’s been playing poker for 50 years and appeared on two televised final tables on the Heartland Poker Tour. Krockey also has two WSOP Circuit final tables among his nearly $70,000 in career earnings.

Seat 4: Aleksandr Shevelev
Chip Count – 6,960,000

Shevelev comes to the final table with the chip lead and the most traveled of his competitors. Hailing from Siberia, he’s played in our games before and won a Turbo trophy during the 2016 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown. Shevelev won his entry via a $390 satellite is already guaranteed to bank the biggest cash of his career.

Seat 5: Andy Frankenberger
Chip Count – 2,170,000

Frankenberger is one of the most experienced players at the final table and has more than $3.1 million in career earnings. He owns two WSOP bracelets; one from a 2010 WSOP $1,500 event and the second in the 2012 WSOP $10,000 Pot Limit Hold’em Championship. This is Frankenberger’s fourth WPT title and he’s looking for his second WPT title (2010 WPT Legends of Poker Championship).

Seat 6: Ness Reilly
Chip Count – 6,295,000

Reilly is closing out a great run this series. She went deep and made the final table in the opening WPTDeepStacks Lucky Hearts Poker event and finished in eighth place for nearly $30,000. Reilly will be playing on her second live-streamed final table in less than a week and this result will push her career total over $450,000 no matter where she finishes.

Primary Event Schedule

12PM: Final Table – $3,500 WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open Championship

• Championship Final Table Counts and Seats
• Championship Payouts

5PM: Event 22 Day 2 – $150 No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)

• Event 22 Day 2 Chip Counts
• Event 22 Day 2 Table/Seat Assignments
• Event 22 Payouts

$3,500 WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open Championship
$2,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Returning to Level 28: 30,000/60,000 with a 10,000 ante
Players Remaining: 6 of 911

Day 4 of the WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open Championship came to an end with six remaining and they are set to play for the title tomorrow in front of the WPT live-stream cameras.

Aleksandr Shevelev began the day with the chip lead and he ended the day with the chip lead. Ness Reilly was the big stack for a good portion of Day 4 and she will return with the second biggest stack.

Darryll Fish is making his second straight SHRP Championship final table (and third in four series) and will sit in third. SHRP trophy winner Brett Bader will return in fourth place followed by Alan Krockey and two-time WSOP bracelet winner Andy Frankenberger rounding out the final table.

All four are guaranteed at least $104,784 but they all want the top prize of $511,604 along with the LHPO trophy and $15,000 WPT Tournament of Champions seat.

Cards are scheduled to go back in the air at noon with the live-stream coverage on a 30-minute with hole cards.

Seat 1: Brett Bader – 3,160,000 (53 bb)
Seat 2: Darryll Fish – 5,920,000 (99 bb)
Seat 3: Alan Krockey – 2,810,000 (47 bb)
Seat 4: Aleksandr Shevelev – 6,960,000 (116 bb)
Seat 5: Andy Frankenberger – 2,170,000 (36 bb)
Seat 6: Ness Reilly – 6,295,000 (105 bb)

Chip counts:

1. Aleksandr Shevelev – 6,960,000 (116 bb)
2. Ness Reilly – 6,295,000 (105 bb)
3. Darryll Fish – 5,920,000 (99 bb)
4. Brett Bader – 3,160,000 (53 bb)
5. Alan Krockey – 2,810,000 (47 bb)
6. Andy Frankenberger – 2,170,000 (36 bb)

Remaining payouts:

1st: $511,604 *
2nd: $331,116
3rd: $244,342
4th: $182,249
5th: $137,440
6th: $104,784
* – Winner receives seat into WPT Tournament of Champions

$3,500 WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open Championship
$2,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 28: 30,000/60,000 with a 10,000 ante
Players Remaining: 6 of 911

Nick Schwarmann open/shoved for 940,000 from the cutoff and Alan Krockey called in the small blind. Aleksandr Shevelev released his big blind and it was another race, this time for the live-stream final table seat.

Krockey:
Schwarmann:

Schwarmann was ahead until Krockey flopped trip aces on the board. Schwarmann had two outs twice, picked up a flush draw on the turn, then blanked river to head to the payout desk.

Tournament staff paused the clock with 31:11 remaining in Level 28. The six remaining players will return tomorrow to play it out for the Championship.

Alan Krockey – 2,810,000 (47 bb)
Nick Schwarmann – Eliminated in 7th place ($80,771)