All posts by Jeff Shurilla

Living the American Dream

Angel Vu Player Profile

Angel Vu, Playing Flight D
Angel Vu, Playing Flight D

Firing a fifth bullet in the opening event of the Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open, is a minor obstacle for Angel Vu (Daytona Beach, FL) in her pursuit of Player of the Year (POY).

“I feel like I’m living the American dream,” says Vu who only started playing tournament poker seriously earlier this year. This after coming to the United States from Vietnam in 2006, knowing very little English and even less about poker.

The current 2014 SHRP POY points leader is back tonight for another try at bagging chips after four failed attempts.

“I got real close last night (to bagging chips) at Level 14 with 100k, but my 2 pairs got beat by a flush and knocked me out. ” says Vu, who is as unlikely of a POY contender as you’ll find.

“People that come from my country, a third world country, we all pretty much have the American dream,” says Vu.

“We think of America as a different life, to take us to a new land of life,  living in air conditioning, driving in cars. In my country we have no air conditioning and riding a scooter. Just to be able to come to America and live my dream of making my life and my family’s life better is extraordinary.”

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.

Poker Dreams Come True

Angel Vu Wins at Hollywood, Tampa
Angel Vu Wins at Hollywood, Tampa

While the leaderboard standings features a WSOP bracelet winner in Marsha Wolak and current WPT Champion Mukul Pahuja, Vu is still learning the game.

Vu’s hobby became a bankroll builder earlier this year in the Seminole Hard Rock, Tampa Little Slick. She turned a $125 entry into a five-figure score as part of a final table chop.

Vu took the winnings and played the $560 opening event of the WPT Seminole Hard Rock Showdown, Hollywood (April series), where she finished in fourth place for $63,000. An event she wouldn’t have played without the windfall.

“I was playing scared,” says Vu about her game prior to Little Slick. “I was playing tight and trying to min cash.”

Since then, Vu’s been on a tear.

During the June series in Tampa Vu learned she was in the running for the points lead after agreeing to a four person chop. Vu earned another $70,000 and was declared the winner, her second career win.

“I feel fortunate,” says Vu, “I’m running good the first time you guys have the points system.”

August Heat

Angel Vu
Angel Vu, Feeling Lucky

“Sometimes you go on a hot run and I believe luck comes in a bundle,” says Vu, “that’s why I want to really try and push it to the top this year.”

Vu says luck is only a small part of her success, and that aggression and women’s intuition are a big part of her game.

“Sometimes I don’t have the winning hand, but I would be able to use my skills to turn it into the winning hand,” she says. “So it’s not just luck the whole way through. Of course I have the luck on my side, the cards are going my way when I need it to, but I feel like I’m playing well too.”

Vu says this summer she’s gotten some coaching and that she’s working on the game’s math to improve her play. She also has a strategy for making a a run at POY.

“I will play every single event,” she says, “If it’s a HORSE event, I don’t know much about mixed games, I will play every event and I will play two, three bullets each event.

“My strategy will be playing very aggressive and try and build up chips very early and if I didn’t make it then I’ll just rebuy.”

Vu has taken a leave of absence from dealing and is focusing solely on playing. And no matter what happens this series, or the rest of her career, she sees herself as a winner.

“Whether or not I’m successful at poker, I feel that I’m lucky enough to be in this country and to have the opportunity to learn and to improve myself in whatever I’m doing,” says Vu, while appreciating, “the opportunity to prove yourself, to work hard and get rewarded for your effort.”

Turning a $125 Little Slick entry into the Seminole Hard Rock POY, would be both the American dream and a poker player’s dream.

But first things first, advancing to Day 2 of this opening event.

“I believe I will bag, it’s just matter of time,” says Vu.

SHRPO Points Race Heats Up in August

Player of the Year Tournament Leaderboard Promotion

The Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open is underway and while the buzz is about the $10 Million Guaranteed Championship Event, the Player of the Year (POY) race will also get lots of attention.

This is the final series for players to earn points leading towards the $30,000 prize package* as the 2014 SHRP POY Winner. The 70 events over 21 days offers players plenty of chances to claim the top spot.

“My game plan is to play as much as I can,” says Ngoc “Angel” Vu (Daytona Beach, FL), the current points leader after the first three tournament series.

Vu, who is relatively new to the game, knows the competition will be tough over the next three weeks.

The Contenders

Current Standings
Position-Name-Points

1 Angel Vu 1120
2 Tim Kegel 1073
3 Marsha Wolak 1051
4 Greg Marcus 976
5 Mukul Pahuja 956

Not only will the competition be tough, but the race will be tight.

The top three spots are within 69 points of each other, while reigning WPT Player of the Year Mukul Pahjua (Coconut Creek, FL) is fifth in the standings and easily within striking distance.

“This is exciting,” says WSOP bracelet holder Marsha Wolak (Fort Lauderdale, FL), who is currently third overall. “If I can win the whole thing that would be amazing.”

“The top ten (prizes) is worth playing for,” says Greg Marcus (Miami Beach, FL), who starts the series in fourth place. “The top five is really nice and winning would cover my whole year.”

The top five also includes Tim Kegel (Hollywood, FL), who is in second place, less than 50 points behind Vu. And any player with a strong August showing has a shot at winning a prize as a top ten finisher.

“I’m going to work as hard as I can, if it happens it happens,” says Vu about earning the top prize. “If there’s something I cannot control, then I cannot control. But if it’s in my ability to make it happen I will do whatever it takes.”

*Prize Package Includes: $30,000 worth of entries and casino-based incentives for Seminole Hard Rock Poker’s most prestigious poker events throughout the following year including:

  • $3,500 entry into Seminole Hard Rock N Roll Poker Open Championship (Nov 2014)
  • $3,500 entry into Seminole Hard Rock Lucky Hearts Poker Open Championship (Feb 2015)
  • $3,500 entry into Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Championship (Apr 2015)
  • $5,300 entry into Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open Championship (Aug 2015)
  • $10,000 cash for entry into Main Event
  • Wild Card Elite status for following year along with additional benefits (including preferred access to hotel accommodations, dining and entertainment)

Full List of POY Prizes

Championship Recap

Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown

Event 15: $3500 WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poke Showdown Championship
No Limit Hold’em
April 10-16, 2014

Entries: 1,795
Total Prize Pool: $5,788,875

Eric Afriat (Montreal, Canada) $1,081,184
Eric Afriat (Montreal, Canada)
$1,081,184

RECAP
Eric Afriat (Montreal, Canada), an amateur player from North of the Border, came to South Florida and beat five poker pros to win the Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open Championship.

Afriat defeated Mukul Pahuja (Coconut Creek, FL) the hottest player on the World Poker Tour to take the title and the $1,081,184 first place prize.

“I always envisioned it, always felt I was going to win, but the fact after everything is over, it just sunk in that it’s ridiculous what I just accomplished,” said Afriat with tears in his eyes. “The biggest WPT in history, winning the tournament, having just magical cards for five, six hours, just can’t get better than this.”

On the final hand, Afriat won a coin flip when his 8d8h held against Pahuja’ Kh9s, denying Pahuja his first WPT title in his third TV final table of the season.

“It was a roller coaster day and to end up in second isn’t the worst thing in the world,” said Pahuja who earned $691,965 as runner-up. “It just hurts because it’s the closest you can get to getting the title. Another close call, another big score though, so nothing to be too upset about.”

Third place finisher James Mackey (Kansas City, MO) played a pivotal role in three-handed play, which was a marathon and saw each player hold the chip lead and become the short stack at various points.

Mackey earned $441,128 and was knocked out by Pahuja who began heads up play with a 2-1 chip deficit.

The toughest beat at the final table came against fourth place finisher Jacob Bazeley (Cincinnati, OH) who had his pocket Aces cracked by Afriat who flopped two pairs.

“Brutal, what are you going to do,” said Bazeley who earned $371,931. “It’s an unavoidable spot and 99.9% of pros go broke there.”

The day began with the two short stacks eliminated first. Chance Kornuth (Hollywood, FL) was knocked out in 6th place ($247,954) by Mackey (KQ < AT), while Matt Stout (Las Vegas, NV) finished 5th when his QT didn’t improve against Pahujas A8.

The Poker Showdown Championships began with a WPT record turnout of 1,795 entries that created a prize pool of $5,788,875. The field featured a mix of poker stars, celebrities and recognizable faces.

Hall of Famer Scotty Nguyen led the poker contingent that included 2013 WSOP Main Event Champon Ryan Riess, WPT broadcasters Mike Sexton and Tony Dunst, as well as poker couple Phil Laak and Jennifer Tilly. Former NFL All-Pros Bubba Franks (Green Bay Tight End) and Hollywood Henderson (Dallas Super Bowl winner) also played, but none of these players made the money.

The most impressive run of the 170 players who cashed came from “Hangover” Actress Sasha Barrese who finished 22nd for $25,372. “I’m actually relieved it’s over,” said Barrese who is expecting twins in August, “because it’s so exhausting.”

Notables who made even deeper runs included Day 1 chip leader Justin Young (13th), Jeff Gross (10th), Matt Glantz (9th), Barry Hutter (8th) and Blake Purvis (7th) who bubbled the TV final table.

Once Afriat had the big chip lead, he never relinquished it or gave Pahuja a chance to double-up.

“Everything was just magical,” said Afriat who had the most vocal rail, as Canada was well represented. “You can’t fight faith and it was my time.”

FINAL RESULTS

PLACENAMEFROMWINNINGS
1ERIC AFRIATSAINT-LAURENT, QC$1,081,184
2MUKUL PAHUJACOCONUT CREEK, FL$691,965
3JAMES MACKEYLAS VEGAS, NV$441,128
4JACOB BAZELEYCINCINNATI, OH$371,931
5MATTHEW STOUTLAS VEGAS, NV$308,501
6CHANCE KORNUTHLAS VEGAS, NV$247,954
7BLAKELY PURVISMONTGOMERY, AL$193,174
8BARRY HUTTER IIHOLLYWOOD, FL$141,276
9MATTHEW GLANTZLAFAYETTE HL, PA$100,912
10JEFFERY GROSSANN ARBOR, MI$66,313
11MICHAEL GARRAWAYNASSAU$66,313
12ORON UNGERSUNNY ISLES BEACH, FL$66,313
13JUSTIN YOUNGHENDERSON, NV$43,248
14CHRISTOPHER OROURKETAMPA, FL$43,248
15JORDAN SCOTTHALF MOON BAY, CA$43,248
16RAJEEV NASTAPEMBROKE PINE, FL$29,985
17FRANK RUSSOPOMPANO BEACH, FL$29,985
18ELLIOTT ZAYDMANCOCONUT CREEK, FL$29,985
19GLENN BECKERBOCA RATON, FL$25,372
20TYLER REIMANMORTON, IL$25,372
21PETER STRIANO IIIPARKLAND, FL$25,372
22SASHA BARRESELOS ANGELES, CA$25,372
23JUSTIN WARNERNAPLES, FL$25,372
24MICHAEL LAROCCABOYNTON BEACH, FL$25,372
25HYON KIM$25,372
26DAVID LEELIVE OAK, FL$25,372
27JOHN HOLLEY IIINICEVILLE, FL$25,372
28SHAWN CUNIXDELAWARE, OH$21,336
29JULIAN THOMASBERLIN$21,336
30JEFF METAJANSEFFNER, FL$21,336
31JOSE GONZALEZBUENOS AIRES$21,336
32GREGORY HYMANTEXAS$21,336
33MATTHEW JARVISVANCOUVER, CAN$21,336
34TALESH PATELST AUGUSTINE, FL$21,336
35RYAN ERIQUEZZODANBURY, CT$21,336
36MOHSIN CHARANIADES PLAINES, IL$21,336
37AYMAN QUTAMIREDWOOD CITY, CA$18,164
38DONALD NICHOLSONOAK RIDGE, TN$18,164
39DANIEL MUKTANSCARACAS$18,164
40ARDIT KURSHUMIWELLINGTON, FL$18,164
41GEORGE HORTELANOWESTON, FL$18,164
42MELAD MARJIONEIDA, NY$18,164
43MATTHEW WEBERELK GROVE, CA$18,164
44JOSHUA KAYBOCA RATON, FL$18,164
45GARY SEWELLANZA, CA$18,164
46EUGENE TODDBROOKLYN, NY$15,569
47PUNEETH MODHALEES SUMMIT, MO$15,569
48RALPH PORTERCOTTAGE LAKE, WA$15,569
49AYAZ MAHMOODSUGAR LAND, TX$15,569
50RICHARD KIRSCHPLANTATION, FL$15,569
51SIVA GANTA$15,569
52FEDERICO SOUZABUENOS AIRES$15,569
53EDWARD SABAT JRLANCASTER, CA$15,569
54DAPREESCH SCATESSTERLING HEIGHTS, MI$15,569
55PREECHA TAEPAKDEESUNRISE, FL$13,263
56JEREMY KOTTLERLOS ANGELES, CA$13,263
57ANDREW SCHWARTZDELRAY BEACH, FL$13,263
58CHRISTOPHER DOMBROWSKIWESLEY CHAPEL, FL$13,263
59VICTOR FIGUEROAMIAMI BEACH, FL$13,263
60PAUL BALZANOSUNRISE, FL$13,263
61BRANDON SHANEMACEDONIA, OH$13,263
62KOBI RIBAKBOCA RATON, FL$13,263
63THOMAS MCCORMICKFARGO, ND$13,263
64JESSE COHENARDMORE, PA$11,533
65JERMAINE PHANGDEERFIELD BEACH, FL$11,533
66VINCENT IMBRIANI JRTE QU ES TA, FL$11,533
67RILEY FULLERBOCA RATON, FL$11,533
68IARAN LIGHTBOURNELONDON, ENG$11,533
69TRISTAN WADEBOYNTON BEACH, FL$11,533
70GARRETT GREERHEMET, CA$11,533
71JACK TOWELLCAMDEN, SC$11,533
72BRYAN GREENMIAMI, FL$11,533
73SCOTT WRIGHTNOBLESVILLE, IN$10,668
74DANIEL MOORMANCHICAGO, IL$10,668
75JONATHAN KAMHAZI AGHAICARACAS, $10,668
76JAMES CALDERAROVENICE, FL$10,668
77WISSAM ABRAHAMDORAL, FL$10,668
78JOSHUA GIBSONFORT MYERS, FL$10,668
79BRIAN GREENCHICO, TX$10,668
80YLON SCHWARTZAUSTIN, TX$10,668
81GARY MCCONNAUGHEYGREENFIELD, OH$10,668
82PETER NIGHSAINT LOUIS, MO$9,803
83NOAH SCHWARTZSUNNY ISLES BCH, FL$9,803
84PAULA HOLDERPOMPANO BEACH, FL$9,803
85NIKOLAI SEARSDAVISBURG, MI$9,803
86WILLIAM DURKEEMIAMI, FL$9,803
87GEORGE LAMPERTNAPLES, FL$9,803
88JOHN GULINOBROOKLYN, NY$9,803
89MARIO MINEOLADY LAKE, FL$9,803
90NANCY TODDLAS VEGAS, NV$9,803
91SCOTT HARTCORAL SPRINGS, FL$9,053
92ERIC THOMPSONTAMPA, FL$9,053
93MATTHEW SEDGEMANHANSON, MA$9,053
94ALAN PERCELWESTON, FL$9,053
95LARRY BASSTAMARAC, FL$9,053
96ROLAND ISRAELASHVILIFLUSHING, NY$9,053
97MARLA CRUMPLERFORT LAUDERDALE, FL$9,053
98BRADLEY RUBENHERNANDO, FL$9,053
99EDWARD BLOUNTMINERAL, VA$9,053
100ALAN SNOWLYNNWOOD, WA$9,053
101WILLIAM CHAOEL SOBRANTE, CA$8,707
102MARK ELLERBERICHMOND, TX$8,707
103JOSE DIAZKISSIMMEE, FL$8,707
104GRAYSON NICHOLSWINDERMERE, FL$8,707
105ALLISTAIR MELVILLEHAMILTON, ON$8,707
106TRUONG NGUYENARVADA, CO$8,707
107NICK SHKOLNIKVAN NUYS, CA$8,707
108AZIM POPATIAMARKHAM, ON$8,707
109ARNOLD WEISSDEERFIELD BCH, FL$8,707
110TYLER PATTERSONEVERETT, WA$8,707
111FRANCOIS ZAYASMIAMI SPRINGS, FL$8,361
112DAVID FORSTERALAMEDA, CA$8,361
113LUIZ STADLERNORTH MIAMI, FL$8,361
114JEFFREY GIBRALTERROCKWALL, TX$8,361
115MATTHEW SALSBERGSTUDIO CITY, CA$8,361
116RUSSELL DOHANCORAL GABLES, FL$8,361
117DANIEL SUIEDHALLANDALE, FL$8,361
118CORRIE WUNSTELBATON ROUGE, LA$8,361
119MILLIARD HALE IIIKALAMAZOO, MI$8,361
120CLIFFORD QUICKPLANTATION, FL$8,361
121PAUL STANECHEWSKITAMPA, FL$8,073
122DAVID CASTRANOVAHOLLYWOOD, FL$8,073
123IRA MARCUSAUSTIN, TX$8,073
124NICHOLAS SCHWARMANNORLANDO, FL$8,073
125NGOC VUSOUTH DAYTONA, FL$8,073
126KUNAL PATELFRIENDSWOOD, TX$8,073
127JONATHAN BRODYDAVIE, FL$8,073
128JORDAN SIEGELOCEANSIDE, NY$8,073
129RICHARD VARGASPEMBROKE PINES, FL$8,073
130ROBERT TRIBBLEHOLLYWOOD, FL$8,073
131BRUCE RAWDINTAMARAC, FL$7,785
132GARY GREENLEEMUNCIE, IN$7,785
133ZHEN CAILAKE WORTH, FL$7,785
134LAWRENCE GREENBERGWESTON, MA$7,785
135CRAIG BAGONBOCA RATON, FL$7,785
136KEVEN STAMMENCARTHAGENA, OH$7,785
137T ARNOLDHILLSBORO BCH, FL$7,785
138ARDAVAN YAZDILOS ANGELES, CA$7,785
139JEREMY MENARDRALEIGH, NC$7,785
140ALBERTO DOMINGUEZHOLLYWOOD, FL$7,785
141ANDREW LIPORACEHIGHLAND BEACH, FL$7,496
142ERIK CHRISTENSENMIAMI, FL$7,496
143RAY PRIETOSAINT PETERSBURG, FL$7,496
144ROGAN CHHABRAMADISON, MS$7,496
145MARTIN RAUSMISSISSAUGA, ON$7,496
146ANONYMOUS$7,496
147STUART PATERSONBOCA RATON, FL$7,496
148ORLANDO MALDONADOHIALEAH, FL$7,496
149RYAN RIVERS$7,496
150OMAR MORILLOMIAMI, FL$7,496
151RODNEY RODRIGUELONGWOOD, FL$7,266
152DOMINIC LOPEZTAMPA, FL$7,266
153STEWART NEWMANWESTON, FL$7,266
154RONIT CHAMANIJOHANNESBURG, $7,266
155BERNARD LUBITZSTUART, FL$7,266
156JONATHAN OPASMIAMI BEACH, FL$7,266
157BENJAMIN HAMNETTPITTSBURGH, PA$7,266
158RYAN DANGELOBROOKLYN, NY$7,266
159JOSEPH KUETHERELM GROVE, WI$7,266
160JASON NABLONIAGARA FALLS, NY$7,266
161EVAN DOLLINGERSUNRISE, FL$7,093
162JAMES EGANFORT LAUDERDALE, FL$7,093
163TSION VAZANAN MIAMI BEACH, FL$7,093
164CURT KOHLBERGWESTON, MA$7,093
165JAKE CODY$7,093
166JOSEPH PARRISHRIVERVIEW, FL$7,093
167BENJAMIN ZAMANIBOCA RATON, FL$7,093
168MICHAEL BATHERWICHHOLLYWOOD, FL$7,093
169JEROME BRADPIECELONDON, ENG$7,093
170STEVEN BENNETTDEERFIELD BCH, FL$7,093

 MAIN EVENT SCHEDULE

Winner’s Photo Gallery

Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown

A look at all 20 trophy winners from the Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown

Event Winners

Event 1 ($1 Million Guarantee) Daniel Piela $144,294
Event 2 (Ladies) Elissa Halbreich $2,730
Event 3 (Black Chip Bounty) Henry Fermin $2,711
Event 4 ($1K) Jerome Bradpiece $28,587
Event 5 ($200K Guarantee) Carlos Cruz $35,880
Event 6 (Omaha H/L) Robert Campbell $4,925
Event 7 (PLO) Mohammad Arani $5,880
Event 8 ($500K Guarantee) Ken Begnoche $97,737
Event 9 (Seniors)Robert Transue $7,244
Event 10 (Black Chip Bounty) Zoltan Czinkota $5,400
Event 11 (Double Green Chip Bounty) Ivan Agnelli $3,595
Event 12 (Six-Max) Zo Karim $68,000
Event 13 (Deep Stack) Michael Pickett $15,575
Event 14 (Eight Game Mix) Cory Zeidman $21,000
Event 15 (Championship) Concludes 4/16
Event 16 ($560 NL) Igor Skochilo $16,972
Event 17 (PLO 8B) Leandro Peirano $5,285
Event 18 (Purple Chip Bounty) Azim Popatia $32,225
Event 19 ($350 NL) Sean Cunix ($8,296)

Full Results & Recaps

Event 20 Winner – Jordan Chizik ($13,317)

$200 Buy-in No Limit Hold’em ($50K Guaranteed)

 Jordan Chizick (Ft. Lauderdale, FL)  $13,317
Jordan Chizick (Ft. Lauderdale, FL)
$13,317

Jordan Chizik ends an incredible run at the Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown by winning the final trophy of the series.

Chizik and David Nowling (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) agree to heads up chip chop with Chizik taking the title and
$13,317.

“In the last couple of week’s I made a year’s salary,” said Chizik who recorded his fourth straight final table
in the series.

Chizik recorded a 7th Place finish in the Omaha H/L (Event 6), 3rd place as part of a chop in the 8 Game Mix (Event 14), finished 2nd in PLO 8B (Event 17), before winning this event.

“3-2-1, I like it, it works,” said Chizik, who picked up more than $30,000 in his four cashes.

Chizik is a 34-year-old financial aid planner who’s considering playing poker full time.

“You don’t want to put your whole life into,” he said, “but you can make some money in the short term. We’ll see how the summer goes.”