2015 Seminole Hard Rock “Rock ’n’ Roll Poker Open”
$250 H.O.R.S.E. (Re-Entry)

December 1st, 2015

Total Entries:  53
Total Prizepool:  $11,130

Recap:

A steady performance throughout the day and superb heads-up play by Peter Cleven propelled him to his first title here in Event 14 at the Seminole Hard Rock “Rock ‘n Roll Poker Open”.

53 players started off the day and the final table got underway with David Hassen out in front and Gary Johnson and Cleven hot on his heels.  Joel Harwood was also making another final table appearance in solid shape to make a run at the title.

Bob Mangino’s short stack was the first to quickly fall in 9th place and then Gary Flur was taken out by Cleven in 8th place.  Then the shocker took place as after a few brutal hands, Elsie Rodriguez dismissed David Hassen in 7th place sending the former chip leader to the payout window.

Christian Ivens and his short stack was the next to fall in 6th place at the hands of Gary Johnson.  In the meantime, Peter Cleven and Elsie Rodriguez had found their way as the top two stacks in the tournament.  Johnson was then whittled down and eliminated in 5th place. Then Allen Green came up one card short in Razz against Cleven and exited in 4th place. Joel Harwood then found himself in a difficult spot between the two chip leaders and Elsie Rodriguez finally sent him to the rail in 3rd place setting up the heads-up showdown between Cleven and Rodriguez.

Rodriguez was the chip leader to start things off but Cleven quickly applied the pressure and began to whittle her down.  Cleven hit two big straights to put her in trouble but Rodriguez managed to win two hands to put herself in a competitive position.  But the relentless aggression by Cleven turned out to be too much and Cleven won a Razz hand to put away the championship.

Cleven looked back at his run on the final table.  “The final table I played very aggressive.  I had a big stack and was trying to take out the little stacks but they just kept doubling up on me.  I actually got short at one point and had to play tight for about two or three levels and then from there hit a couple big hands and started rolling people over again.  Heads up I flopped two straights two hands in a row and she had pocket kings on one of them.  I took half of her stack on those two hands and it really solidified the win for me.”

Cleven was thrilled to bring home a title here at the Semionle Hard Rock “Rock ‘n Roll Poker Open”.  “It’s great.  We really both wanted the trophy so I’m really happy with the win.  It was very tough competition.  I’ve been here for most of the other tournaments as well and Hard Rock’s put on a great set of tournaments.   I’m really happy with the result.”

Congratulations to our Event 14 Champion – Peter Cleven!

Results:
1st: Peter Cleven (Fort Lauderdale, FL) – $3,450
2nd: Elsie Rodriguez (Homestead, FL) – $2,449
3rd: Joel Harwood (Hallendale, FL) – $1,558
4th: Allen Green (Weston, FL) – $1,113
5th: Gary Johnson (Pembroke Pines, FL) – $890
6th: Christian Ivens (Miami, FL) – $668
7th: David Hassen (Dania, FL) – $557
8th: Gary Flur (Plantation, FL) – $445